The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Shipbuilding

What The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Shipbuilding does

The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Shipbuilding (Fakultet strojarstva i brodogradnje; FAMENA/FSB) is a constituent faculty of the University of Zagreb, established in 1919 as the successor to the Royal Technical College. It is the oldest and largest mechanical-engineering faculty in Croatia and the only university department of aeronautical engineering in the country. The institution operates 14 departments and 41 chairs staffed by approximately 500 employees (including ~350 teaching and research staff) and teaches over 2,500 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students across mechanical engineering, naval architecture, aeronautical engineering, and mechatronics and robotics.

Its core product is degree-conferring education — seven-semester undergraduate programmes, graduate programmes, nine doctoral specializations, and one-year professional specialist programmes — delivered on a single Zagreb campus through lectures, 51–54 laboratories (including the National Laboratory for Length and accredited force/torque and welding laboratories), industry internships, and Erasmus+ mobility. Adjacent outputs include contract research, calibration and testing services (ISO 17025-accredited), and proprietary research assets such as the RONNA robotic neurosurgery system (first clinically used in Croatia in 2015), LIQNET/GASNET piping-network software, contributions to OpenFOAM, and the Q1-ranked Brodogradnja journal.

Revenue comes from five streams: (1) state budget funding via the Croatian Ministry of Science and Education, (2) student tuition set under national regulation, (3) industry research contracts and consultancy routed through the wholly-owned Center for Technology Transfer (CTT, est. 1996), (4) EU/international research project funding (Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, ESIF), and (5) publishing and licensing from journals and educational materials. Industry engagement is institutionalised through the Economic Council, the annual Dani karijera FSB-a career fair (30+ companies), and collaborations with named partners including Hyundai Heavy Industries, AVL GmbH, Ford, and UC Berkeley.

Name

The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Shipbuilding

Legal name

Sveučilište u Zagrebu Fakultet strojarstva i brodogradnje

Website

https://fsb.unizg.hr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Shipbuilding (FAMENA/FSB) is the University of Zagreb's 1919-founded public faculty delivering undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and professional education in mechanical, naval, aeronautical, and mechatronics engineering to 2,500+ students, with research, calibration, and technology-transfer services to industry via its Center for Technology Transfer.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Engineering Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Universities with Specialized Engineering Domains (EDAHAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Applied Research & Innovation Universities (EDAHAEAE), Technology Transfer & Innovation-Driven Research Universities (High Commercialization) (EDAHABAH)

Keywords

• Mechanical engineering education
• Shipbuilding engineering programs
• Naval architecture studies
• Aerospace engineering research
• Higher education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Zagreb

HQ country

Croatia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (Republic of Croatia): As a public faculty of the University of Zagreb, FSB receives operational funding from the Croatian Ministry of Science and Education. This covers teaching, research activities, and infrastructure.
2. Student Tuition and Fees: Students pay tuition fees regulated by national policy. Some postgraduate professional programmes and specialized courses involve fee-based participation. Participation costs and part-time study fees contribute to revenue.
3. Industry Research Contracts and Consultancy: Faculty generates revenue through contract research, expert services, and consultancy for industry partners. The Center for Technology Transfer (CTT) facilitates knowledge transfer from faculty to industry, including certified testing, calibration, and professional services.
4. EU and International Research Project Funding: Faculty participates in and coordinates Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, and other EU/international research projects that provide funding for specific research activities, equipment, and staff.
5. Publishing and Educational Materials: The faculty publishes scientific journals (e.g., Brodogradnja, Transactions of FAMENA) and educational materials (Skriptarnica) which generate some revenue through sales and licensing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Public higher education institution offering study programs (undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate) in mechanical engineering, shipbuilding, naval architecture, aviation, and aerospace. Conducts scientific research through 51-54 laboratories and 14 departments, and provides knowledge transfer services to industry through its Center for Knowledge Transfer (CTT). Serves more than 2,500 students and approximately 500 staff.

Product overview

The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Shipbuilding (FAMENA) is an educational institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of academic programs and research services. The core offerings include undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Mechanical Engineering, Naval Architecture, Aeronautical Engineering, and Mechatronics and Robotics, supplemented by nine doctoral specializations and five professional specialization programs. Research infrastructure comprises 51-54 laboratories including accredited testing and calibration facilities. The institution operates the Center for Technology Transfer (CTT) for industry collaboration, publishes two internationally indexed scientific journals (Transactions of FAMENA and Brodogradnja), and organizes major conferences including DESIGN, SDEWES, and ICSID. Student life is supported through Erasmus+ exchange programs, Formula Student racing team, and the CRTA robotics research center. The portfolio integrates modern educational technology platforms including Moodle e-learning, ISVU student information systems, and 3DEXPERIENCE CADLab.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Center for Technology Transfer (CTT): Technology transfer center established in 1996 to facilitate knowledge transfer from the Faculty to industry and promote innovation
• FSB Praktičan spoj
• FSB4school
• Dani FSB-a
• Dan karijera FSB-a
• Veslačka regata

Products and services

• Undergraduate Study Programs
• Graduate Study Programs
• Postgraduate Study Programs
• Research and Development Services
• Center for Knowledge Transfer (CTT) Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 508 PhD degrees awarded since foundation
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

AI capability3 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• DOK-ING, ENT, FERminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026FSB signed an agreement with DOK-ING, Faculty of Electrical Engineering (ENT), and Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing (FER) for the development of next-generation unmanned systems.
• UCLan CyprusminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Second transnational partner meeting of Erasmus+ ExQuMe project (Experiential Quantum Mechanics) held June 2026 at UCLan Cyprus, focusing on virtual reality experiences for teaching quantum mechanics.
• ExQuMe Erasmus+ Project PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Erasmus+ project ExQuMe (Experiential Quantum Mechanics) involving FSB and multiple international partners developing virtual reality experiences to help students understand complex quantum mechanics concepts.
• CARNET (Croatian Academic and Research Network)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026FSB is a full member of the CARNET network. FSB's IT department fulfills all obligations towards CARNET as a member institution of the CARNET network.
• National Reference Laboratory for Emissions from IC Engines for Non-Road Mobile MachinerycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Project launched in October 2017. Total project value HRK 57,000,000. Funded by European Structural and Investment Funds. First FSB project to receive this grant. IC Engine and Motor Vehicle Laboratory designated as National Reference Laboratory.
• Center for Technology Transfer d.o.o. (CTT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1996Founded by FSB in 1996, CTT's strategic objective is to improve the Faculty's innovative contributions to sustainable development by facilitating knowledge and technology transfer from the faculty to industry. CTT organises conferences (MOTSP, ICIL, GALP), supports PLM initiatives, and provides technology transfer services.
• University of ZagrebcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSB is a constituent faculty of the University of Zagreb, Croatia's largest and oldest university. All degrees are awarded by the University of Zagreb. The faculty operates within the university's governance, quality assurance, and administrative frameworks.
• Ministarstvo znanosti i obrazovanja (Ministry of Science and Education, Croatia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ministry of Science and Education is the primary government body overseeing FSB's operations, funding, and strategic direction as a public higher education institution.
• Erasmus+ Partner Universities (European)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFSB participates in Erasmus+ KA131 mobility programmes with European universities for student study exchanges, staff mobility, and combined intensive programmes (BIP). Active in both programme countries and third countries (Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Mozambique).
• International University Partners (Bath, Bratislava, Cambridge, Maribor, Ljubljana, Sarajevo, Ecole Centrale Paris, TU Denmark, TU Munich, TU Lulea, Stevens Institute)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDepartment of Design collaborates with similar departments at leading European technical universities for student exchange, joint projects, and research collaboration. Nature of collaboration includes 3DEXPERIENCE CADLab projects with multinational student teams.
• Hyundai Heavy Industries (South Korea)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarine Engineering Laboratory collaborates with the world's largest shipyard on research into noise and vibration on ships, providing applied research and expertise to advance shipbuilding quality.
• AVL GmbH (Graz, Austria)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with world-leading automotive engineering company AVL on internal combustion engine research, numerical modelling, and testing of engine processes and phenomena.
• Ford Motor Company (Dearborn, USA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChair of Mechanical Handling Equipment and Steel Structures collaborates with Ford Motor Company on mechatronic systems including magnetorheological clutches and servo wet/dry friction clutches (active differentials and dual clutches) through the Interdisciplinary Team (ACG Group).
• UC Berkeley (USA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration with UC Berkeley on internal combustion engine development and numerical modelling research.
• CRORIS (Croatian Research Bibliography)minorOthersFaculty staff publications are indexed in the CRORIS database. Faculty bibliographies are searchable through the CrosBi system at croris.hr.
• KBC Rebro (Clinical Hospital Centre)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDepartment of Industrial Engineering introduced lean management principles into KBC Rebro hospital, transferring knowledge from industry to the public healthcare sector.
• SDEWES (Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSB, through its Department of Energy, is the main organizer of the SDEWES conference, one of the most prominent international conferences in sustainable development of energy, water, and environment systems.
• HAZU (Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSB staff actively participate in HAZU activities. Prof. Nikola Vladimir was elected associate member of HAZU. Faculty contributes to HAZU publications and events.
• DESIGN ConferencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational scientific conference in the field of product development and design organized by FSB's Chair of Design and Product Development. Reference scientific event for product development and design community.
• SORTA (Theory and Practice of Shipbuilding)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational naval architecture symposium 'SORTA - Theory and Practice of Shipbuilding' organized by the Department of Naval Architecture. Key event for the naval architecture community in the region.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Technical University of Cluj-Napoca: Romanian technical university with mechanical engineering programs of comparable size and Eastern European positioning. Comparable in structure, scale, and EU funding access profile.
• University of Ljubljana - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering: Direct regional peer located in neighboring Slovenia, offering mechanical engineering programs of comparable scale and structure. Both faculties share historical ties through the former Yugoslav technical education system and operate in similar small EU member-state markets.
• Budapest University of Technology and Economics: A leading Central European public technical university with similar focus areas in mechanical engineering, mechatronics, and transportation engineering. Comparable in size, regional positioning, and heritage to FSB, serving as a benchmark for engineering education in former-Yugoslav/Central European markets.
• Czech Technical University in Prague: One of the oldest and largest technical universities in Central Europe, with comprehensive mechanical engineering and mechatronics programs. Comparable institutional profile with similar revenue mix of state funding, tuition, and EU research grants.
• University of Belgrade - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering: Direct peer from the former Yugoslav academic tradition, offering mechanical engineering programs of similar scale and structure. Shares historical roots, language/regional ties, and comparable industry-partnership patterns.

Broad incumbents

• Politecnico di Milano: Top-tier European technical university with strong mechanical engineering, naval architecture, and aeronautical programs. A benchmark for industry collaboration models, journal output, and applied research intensity.
• Technische Universität Wien (TU Wien): Larger, well-established Austrian technical university with strong mechanical engineering and aeronautical programs. Represents a regional benchmark for FSB's aspiration to be a leading institution in South Eastern Europe.
• Warsaw University of Technology: Major Central European technical university with comprehensive mechanical engineering and mechatronics programs. Comparable scale and public-university funding model, with stronger industry ties in Poland's larger economy.
• National Technical University of Athens (NTUA): Prestigious Southern European technical university with mechanical engineering, naval architecture, and aeronautical programs. Comparable heritage and Mediterranean EU positioning, with significantly larger scale and resources.

Others

• Center for Technology Transfer (CTT): Wholly-owned FSB subsidiary providing technology transfer services to industry. Listed as a peer because it operates as the commercial arm of the faculty and could be analyzed as a standalone entity for spin-out or partnership opportunities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/fsb.unizg.hr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fmena-zagreb
• Xx.com/fsb_unizg

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Shipbuilding