Born on November 20, 1957 in Široki Brijeg (Bosnia and Herzegovina), studied philosophy, German, and philosophy of religion at the universities of Sarajevo (1978-1980) and Freiburg im Breisgau, where he completed his M.A. in 1985 and his Ph.D. in 1989 with the dissertation Verstehen und Nichtverstehen. Zur Entstehung und Bedeutung der Schlegelschen hermeneutischen Kritik, both under the direction of PD Dr. Michael Elsässer.
Since 1990 Zovko has conducted research at the Institute for Philosophy, Zagreb. He is a lecturer at and co-founder of the interdisciplinary program in: Croatian Studies at the University of Zagreb (Department of Philosophy, undergraduate and graduate studies program, since 1992). From 1993-2000, he was Deputy Minister for Science and Technology of the Republic of Croatia. He has been Professor for Ontology at the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Zadar since 2000 (undergraduate and graduate program). He has been a guest professor in Vienna, Mainz, Tübingen, Münster Sarajevo. Now he is appointed guest professor at Shanxi Normal University (Xi'an) from 2019 to 2022.
He was a Summer Scholar at the Center for Hellenic Studies, Washington, D.C., 1999. His research specialisation includes: Hermeneutics, Ancient Greek philosophy, German Idealism, Philosophy of Science. He is co-editor, with Andreas Arndt (Berlin), of the international philosophical journals Studia hermeneutica (Parerga Berlin), Studia philosophica Iaderensia (Wehrhahn Hannover), Hegel-Jahrbuch (Walter de Gruyter Berlin;
Duncker & Humblot Berlin) and Hegel-Forschungen (Walter de Gruyter Berlin, Duncker & Humblot Berlin); Philosophy in International Context.
He is since 2008 a permanent member of Institut international de philosophie (Paris);
Since 2010. He is also titulaires member of L' Académie Internationale de Philosophie des Sciences (Bruxelles).
Since 2010 he is vice-president of Internationale Hegel-Gesellschaft.
He was a president of Comité de cooptation de Institut International de philosophie (2015-2018) and Member of the Presidium, the assesor of the Academic Council of Académie Internationale de Philosophie des Sciences (2015-2018).
He is since 2018 vice-president of Institut international de philosophie (Paris);
He is a member of Steering Committee of FISP (Fédération Internationale des Sociétés de Philosophie).
He is a member of philosophical associations Deutsche Gesellschaft für Religionsphilosophie; International Plato Society, Internationale Hegel-Gesellschaft, Schlegel-Gesellschaft.
Since 2021 he is president of L' Académie Internationale de Philosophie des Sciences (Bruxelles).
Since 2021 he is president Institut international de philosophie (Paris - Nancy). 


Research projects:

1. Head of the research project "Contribution of Matthias Flacius Illyricus to the European Thought" (Institute of Philsophy), financed by the Ministry of Science of the Republic of Croatia (1991-1996);
2. Head of the research project "Plato's Theory of Understanding" (University of Zadar) funded by the Ministry of Science of the Republic of Croatia (1996-2002);
3. Head of the research project "Theory of Philosophical Irony" (University of Zadar) funded by the Ministry of Science of the Republic of Croatia (2002-2006);
4. Head of the research project " Philosophical relevance of culture and cultural identity" funded by the Ministry of Science of the Republic of Croatia (2006-20012)
5. Head of the research project for the research project „Relevance of Hermeneutical Judgment (5672)“ funded by the Croatian Science Foundation (2017-2021.)


International research projects:

1. Head of the research project together with Prof. Peter Kampits: " "The Relevance of Cultural Identity of Central Europe" (2007-2011) funded by OEAD & Ministry of Science of the Republic of Croatia (2006-20012);

2. Head of the research project together with Bärbel Frischmann (Erfurt): “Grenzziehungen und Grenzüberwindungen in der Philosophie“ (2010-2011); funded by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.

Awards and Fellowships:

1. Award "Katarina Zrinski" by the President of the Republic for promoting the ideas of humanity 1997;
2. Award "Rudjer Boskovic" for science by the President of the Republic of Croatia (1998)
3. Prize of the Ministry of Science on the occasion of the admission to the Academy L'Institut International de Philosophie (Paris).
4. Felowship of the foundation "Konrad-Adenauer-Stitfung - Institut für Begabtenförderung" from 1983 to 1989.