Croatian-American Nobel Prize winner John M. Martinis honoured by President Milanović
- by croatiaweek
- in News
Professor John Matthew Martinis and President of Croatia Zoran Milanović
ZAGREB, 13 July 2026 – President of Croatia Zoran Milanović has presented one of Croatia’s highest state honours to Nobel Prize-winning physicist Professor John Matthew Martinis, recognising both his outstanding scientific achievements and his enduring connection to his Croatian heritage.
Martinis, an American physicist of Croatian descent, was awarded the Grand Order of King Dmitar Zvonimir with Sash and Morning Star for his exceptional contribution to the development and promotion of quantum physics and technology worldwide, his proud promotion and preservation of his Croatian roots, and his efforts to share leading scientific knowledge with Croatia’s academic community, helping strengthen the country’s international reputation.
Martinis was awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics, together with John Clarke and Michel Devoret, for their work on macroscopic quantum phenomena in superconductors.
Presenting the award, President Milanović congratulated Martinis, who was celebrating his birthday, and highlighted the significance of his achievement.
Professor John Matthew Martinis
He noted that Croatia is a small nation and that only a handful of people of Croatian origin have received a Nobel Prize, particularly in a field such as physics.
Milanović also pointed out that Martinis is the first Nobel Prize winner in decades of entirely Croatian ancestry and praised him for consistently speaking proudly about his Croatian roots, including his family’s origins on the island of Vis.
The President added that Martinis promotes a positive image of Croatia around the world and welcomed him back to the country.
Accepting the honour, Martinis thanked President Milanović for the recognition and invitation.
He said that scientists always strive to bring something unique to their field and described his visit to Croatia as feeling like coming home.
Professor John Matthew Martinis
“This week, when I came to Croatia, I truly felt as though I was coming home,” Martinis said, adding that he had been warmly welcomed, made many new friends and greatly appreciated the efforts of everyone he had met during his stay.
Grand Order of King Dmitar Zvonimir with Sash and Morning Star
The ceremony at the Office of the President was attended by Croatian Ambassador to Sweden Siniša Grgić, US Ambassador to Croatia Nicole McGraw, First Secretary of the US Embassy Ross Johnston, along with senior advisers and officials from the Office of the President.
Croatian Ambassador to Sweden Siniša Grgić, Professor John Matthew Martinis, President Zoran Milanović and US Ambassador to Croatia Nicole McGraw
Photos: Office of the President of Croatia / Ana-Marija Katić, Marko Beljan
