Navigation path

Research - Slovenia

Updated 04/2010

Legal requirements

A European objective, set down in the Lisbon strategy, is to increase financial resources for research and development (R & D) to 3 % of GDP by 2010. In relation to this objective, Slovenia encourages companies to invest in research and development, which in turn promotes growth and an increase in employment.

The principles and objectives of the research & development policy, as well as the financial resources for pursuing this policy are regulated by the Development and Research Activities Act. These activities are financed from the State budget and other financial sources which are directed towards the attainment of the economic and social development of Slovenia.

  • Research and Development Activities Act slovenščina

The foundation and operations, as well as the rights and obligations of the Technology Development Fund of the Republic of Slovenia are regulated by the Technology Development Fund Act.

  • Technology Development Fund Act slovenščina

The development and research activities are financed from the State budget and other financial resources in accordance with the objectives and priorities, which are laid down in the National Research and Development Programme, in particular for:

  • research
  • staff training
  • international collaboration relating to science and technology
  • The Agencies make decisions on the selection of programmes, professionaly and independently. They also provide for financial resources.
  • Slovenian Research Agency (ARRS) slovenščina
  • Slovenian Technology Agency (TIA) slovenščina

R & D bodies

Research and Development policy in Slovenia is governed by the following Ministries:

  • Ministry of the Economy slovenščina
  • Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs slovenščina
  • Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology slovenščina

 The Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SAZU) takes care of, encourages and promotes science and the arts and with its activities has contributed to the development of scientific ideas and artistic creativeness.

  • Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts slovenščina

 Public Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Entrepreneurship and Foreign Investments is a State organisation for the implementation of policies for encouraging entrepreneurship and competitiveness in Slovenia.  The major part of its work is the management of invitations to tender relating to research and development in the field of technology.

  • Public Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Entrepreneurship and Foreign Investments (JAPTI) slovenščina

Alongside R&D, innovation is essential for businesses to develop and stay competitive.

Intellectual property must be protected to encourage research.

Administrative procedures

Invitations to tender

The Agency's task is to complete tender documentation for an invitation to tender. On the basis of this documentation the applicants, research institutions or private researchers, submit their projects for competition. The selected projects are granted financial resources for their realisation by the Agency, which is an indirect user of the State budget.     From investments in projects the Agency expects considerable profits and added value.

  • Invitations to Tender and Calls for Competition slovenščina

Entry in the register of private researchers or scientific institutions

A private researcher will obtain the status of a private researcher by being entered in the Register of Private Researchers, which is kept by the Slovenian Research Agency (ARRS). Reports on the work done in the field of research and development must be filed with Agency biennially.

  • Slovenian Research Agency (ARRS) slovenščina
  • Information on Private Researchers slovenščina

Resources

 The Interregional Database of R&D Organisations offers data on research institutions in Slovenia, Italy, Hungary and Austria.

The Information System of research activities in Slovenia is developed and maintained by the Institute of Information Science (IZUM) in Maribor(Slovenia), and Slovenian Research Agency (ARRS).

  • IZUM slovenščina
  • ARRS slovenščina
  • SICRIS slovenščina

Programmes

The National Research and Development Programme of Slovenia lays down the basic objectives, scope and financial resources, as well as indicators for monitoring the effectiveness of national policies for pursuing and promoting research and development activities.   The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology manages the Programme, and public agencies are set up for implementing Programmes.

  • Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology slovenščina
  • ARRS – Slovenian Research Agency slovenščina

 The Slovenian Research Agency is entrusted with the implementation of national R & D programmes and other activities for promoting R&D activities. It also processes various Government invitations to tender and manages the Registers of research institutions and private researchers.

  • ARRS – Slovenian Research Agency slovenščina

 The Slovenian Technology Agency performs various activities relating to the implementation of the national research and development programmes and promotes research activities and innovative technologies at national and international levels.

  • Slovenian Technology Agency slovenščina

Check also the legislation on this topic in:

  • References

    Legal texts

    • Research and Development Activities Act, No. 411-01/95-40-11, Ljubljana, on 10 February 2006, National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia slovenščina
    • Technology Development Fund Act, No. 412-01/93-11/3, Ljubljana, on 22 February 1994, National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia slovenščina
    • Regulation on Norms and Standards for Determining Financial Resources for the National Research and Development Programme slovenščina
    • Regulation on the Financing and Co-financing of International Collaboration in Science slovenščina
    • Resolution on the National Research and Development Programme for the period from 2006 to 2010 slovenščina

Living and moving in Europe

Still need help?

Still need help?

Enterprise Europe Network - Contact points

The Enterprise Europe Network provides businesses with information and advice through its local contact points. 

Choose your nearest contact point for personalized help and advice:

Further help

The research organisations may include universities, independent institutes, public research institutes and private profitmaking or non-profitmaking organisations, which pursue their activities in accordance with the Research and Development Activities Act.

The Institute "Jozef Stefan" (IJS) is the leading Slovenian scientific research institute, which conducts research programmes, research studies, development projects and research projects relating to construction work and infrastructure.

  • Institute Jozef Stefan slovenščina

The Institute for Economic Research (IER) is a non-governmental, non-profitmaking research organisation which has developed a wide range of regional and international research and consulting activities, in particular macroeconomics and microeconomics analysis.

  • Institute for Economic Research slovenščina

The National Institute of Chemistry is an internationally recognised research organisation in the field of chemistry and related disciplines.

The National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana is a public research institute, which carries out scientific research and surveys in the field of biology and related natural and environmental sciences with the objective of providing for the accumulation and dissemination of this knowledge for the benefit of the quality of life, support for environmental policies and the development of biotechnology.

  • National Institute of Biology slovenščina

The Agricultural Institute of Slovenia is a public research institute which carries out basic, applied and development research, consultancy, studies and laboratory services, as well as the control and verification of the quality of agricultural yields and products.

  • Agricultural Institute of Slovenia slovenščina

The Technology Park is an organisation and environment for the development of technology entrepreneurship. It may include all those business initiatives (project, new enterprise, old enterprise) which fulfill the mission of the Park: the introduction of new technology or dissemination of new products or services in the market as soon as possible, and with optimum investment.

  • Technology Park, Ljubljana slovenščina

The ZRMK Holding (BCEI) company has highly qualified staff. It offers to its business partners effective solutions and consultancy in the building and civil engineering sector.

  • Building and Civil Engineering Institute (ZRMK) slovenščina

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia, represents the interests of companies in the contractual relations of businesses with the State and Unions during the creation of working conditions and business operations, as well as providing conditions for economic development.

  • Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia slovenščina