This is a historic agreement on strategic cooperation between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (GZS), the Coordination of Independent Research Institutes of Slovenia (KosRIS), the Slovenian Rectors’ Conference (RKRS), and the Government of the Republic of Slovenia in the field of technological development and innovation breakthrough. It will contribute to the achievement of Slovenia’s high development goals – higher quality of life for citizens, environmental sustainability and high value added.

The agreement was signed on behalf of the partners to the agreement by Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob, President of the Chamber of Commerce Tibor Šimenka, President of the Rectors’ Conference Dr Gregor Majdič and President of the Coordination of Independent Research Institutes of Slovenia Dr Gregor Anderluh.

Prime Minister Golob also stressed the importance of increasing value added: "The only way to achieve greater prosperity is to increase the value added generated by the economy. Today’s signing of the agreement is the first concrete step in this direction, bringing together politics, research institutions and the business community. Business and science are already prepared for this challenge, and now politics is joining them."

The Prime Minister emphasised that without innovations and advancements in knowledge, we as a country will not be able to achieve higher value added. "Only investment in knowledge can lead to resilience to crises and at the same time provide sufficient public resources to finance prosperity for citizens." Prime Minister Golob is confident that the agreement will ultimately lead to a value added of more than EUR 88,000 per employee. "Only together can we make Slovenia one of Europe’s leading innovators again. Our people are ready for this, and from now on our politicians will be too," he concluded.

According to Vesna Nachtigal, Director General of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the purpose of this alliance is to increase Slovenia’s resilience to the various crises that we have experienced in recent years, and in drafting the agreement, the objectives set out in Slovenia’s Vision 2050, the European Green Deal and the Slovenian Industrial Strategy were also taken into account.

The strategic objectives of the agreement thus include increasing public and private funding for science, research, development and innovation activities to at least 2.8% of GDP by 2027. Public funding should reach at least 1.0% of GDP, while private funding should reach at least 1.8% of GDP. Further increases should be sought after 2027.

Other objectives are to strengthen the training of top-level personnel, improve the research, innovation and business environment, and de-bureaucratise and reduce the tax-burden on research and development. A new Agency for Science, Research and Innovation should be set up with additional resources for its operation. It is also planned to set up a special fund and mechanisms to finance all stages of the development of innovative companies. The fund would be financed by European funds, funds from international development banks and funds from private institutional investors.