PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

Branimir Makanec

Branimir Makanec is a Croatian electrical engineer and roboticist whose career includes a humanoid robot prototype and computer-based teaching systems. He studied electrical engineering in Zagreb, designed TIOSS and a programmable computer, and used the computer to set up an electronic classroom. He led Zagreb's Multimedia Center, designed the Ivel Ultra personal computer, and later made 3D worlds through his work with gifted children. He received a lifetime award for video-game development in January 2026 and, as of October 2026, holds an honorary presidency of the Zagreb Computer Association.

Now at
Zagreb Computer Association
Badges

Timeline

  1. 1932–1963

    Electrical engineering in Zagreb

    Born in Koprivnica in 1932, he studies electrical engineering at the Technical Faculty in Zagreb during the 1950s and graduates in 1963.

  2. 1961

    The TIOSS robot

    While still studying, he designs the remotely controlled humanoid robot prototype TIOSS in 1961.

  3. 1963–1964

    The Digital Simulator

    In 1963, he designs Yugoslavia's first externally programmed computer, the Digital Simulator, then uses it in 1964 to set up an electronic classroom at the Medical Faculty's Institute for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Zagreb.

  4. 1968–1978

    The Multimedia Center

    In 1968, he founds Zagreb's Multimedia Center (MMC) and installs a Hewlett-Packard 2000 time-sharing system for education and learning. He leads the center through 1978, helping young people gain computer literacy.

  5. 1979–1993

    The Ivel Ultra

    He joins Ivasim in 1979 and designs the Ivel Ultra in 1984, Croatia's first serially produced personal computer. From 1989 until his retirement in 1993, he works at Zagreb's Radničko i narodno sveučilište “Moša Pijade,” which becomes the Open University in 1990.

  6. 1996–2018

    Awards in computing and robotics

    He receives a Croatian Technical Culture Association award in 1996, lifetime achievement awards in 1998, 2002 and 2003, and awards from Croatian information-technology education and robotics groups in 2012 and 2018.

  7. 2020

    3D worlds for gifted children

    He works with virtual reality and 3D programming in 2020, making 3D worlds through his work with gifted children.

  8. As of October 2026

    An award and an honorary role

    In January 2026, he receives a lifetime achievement award for contributions to video-game development. As of October 2026, he serves as an honorary president of the Zagreb Computer Association; his tenure starts in 2009.

Career

  1. Since 2009Zagreb Computer AssociationHonorary President
  2. From 1979Ivasim
  3. 1968–1978Multimedia CenterFounder, Leader

Education

  1. 1963Technical Faculty in Zagreb

From the biography.

  1. Google had the most people shaping AI every year from 2014 to 2025Our estimates of which organizations employed the most people shaping AI from 1961 to 2025, with a year-by-year chart.
  2. The United States employs an estimated 53% of people in our data with a known employment countryOur estimates of where AI careers are concentrated now and how countries’ shares of dated positions changed over time.
  3. 46% of living people in our data with known birth and employment countries work outside their birth countryOur estimate of cross-border careers in AI, from country of birth and the country of each current organization.
  4. More people shaping AI studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than at any other institutionOur estimates of where the people shaping AI studied and where their careers led, from education records in cited biographies.

Sources and credits

Photo: We have no published photo of Branimir Makanec yet. Send us a free-licensed photo.

  1. Hrvatski inženjeri: Branimir Makanec – European Young Engineers Croatia eyecro.wordpress.com. Checked 18 October 2026.
  2. MAKANEC, Branimir - Hrvatski biografski leksikon hbl.lzmk.hr. Checked 18 October 2026.
  3. 'Otac je ušao u sobu, poljubio me i više ga nikada nisam vidio. Ne znam ni gdje mu je grob' - Večernji.hr vecernji.hr. Checked 18 October 2026.
  4. Muzej povijesti videoigara dodijelio nagradu za životno djelo Branimiru Makancu - HRT magazin.hrt.hr. Checked 18 October 2026.
  5. Muzej povijesti videoigara dodijelio nagradu za životno djelo Branimiru Makancu - Novi list novilist.hr. Checked 18 October 2026.