All over the world, including Europe, we strive for constant improvement of all socio-economic processes, and for this purpose large sums of money are invested, as well as the knowledge of many experts from all fields in order to achieve it as efficiently and quickly as possible. In Europe, especially in the Member States of the European Union, there are a number of funds from which Member States exercise the rights to grants that they later have at their disposal to improve the living standards of all their citizens. By investing in research and development, all European countries increase their competitiveness in the market and achieve a certain positive reputation. This paper will outline several programs through which it can be concluded that the involvement of the European Union, especially the European Commission, is at a very high level and that they are investing billions of euros to ensure constant progress. Of course, numerous programs such as Horizon 2020, which consists of numerous subsections, have been implemented in the Republic of Croatia. Investments in innovation and research in the Republic of Croatia are largely financed from the European Union in the amount of 85% of the total value of each project. Projects such as e-schools - Pilot Project, Palacin Student Dormitory, Smiling at School, CoolTour Lab, Vučedol Archaeological Park are just some of the many projects funded by the European Union through various funds, but with the same purpose - improving and development of social and economic standards within the borders of the Republic of Croatia, and thus the entire European Union.