The city of Split known as Croatia’s sports capital has received another recognition as a home to this year's top Croatian inventors.

Two of Split’s residents have been awarded the "Zlatna kuna" (Golden kuna) award handed out by the Croatian Chamber of Economy (HGK) for their scientific contributions.

Scientist Petar Covo invented a robot-surgeon that assists doctors in performance of difficult surgeries. Roki, as the robot is called, could be in use as early as three years from now.

"Forty years are needed for an education of a top surgeon, while we made our robot Roki in seven days," says Covo. According to the inventor, the robot could replace one of the assistants if not a surgeon himself, during a heart surgery. He has a camera and could be operated from anywhere on Earth.

The second recipient, engineer Nebojsa Boskovic, invented a drill
that has greater longevity than its competitors and requires no lubrication.