In his opening remarks, Minister of Cohesion and Regional Development Dr. Aleksander Jevšek said that Slovenia launched the 2021-2027 Cohesion Policy programme in the beginning of the year and that the ministry had already issued funding decisions worth nearly half a billion euros. ''Slovenia also successfully closed the 2014-2020 period; we are one of the 7 member states that had used all the funding made available in the 2014-2020 period,'' explained Jevšek. 

The European Union, through cohesion policy, provides financial support to foster innovative and smart economic transformation and promote regional ICT connectivity. In the 2021-2027 period, the relevant funding is primarily available under Policy objective 1, A Smart Europe. The latter aims to support development, enhance research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies, support digitalisation, and strengthen growth and competitiveness of SMEs. 

The Minister also announced an important legislative milestone reached to step up innovation and competitiveness of EU industry. ''The Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) is the common European action to boost investments in critical technologies in Europe. STEP also introduces a new Sovereignty Seal - an EU label for high-quality projects that meet STEP goals and can be financed by the EU, also through combined funding'' he said. 

The panel discussion Development potentials of science and innovation within the framework of EU cohesion policy was facilitated by State Secretary for Cohesion Policy mag. Marko Koprivc. State Secretary Koprivc opened the debate by underlining that Slovenia's Cohesion Policy Programme pursues multiple goals. ''We aim to reduce development disparities via territorial mechanisms which support mobility infrastructure projects, water and wastewater development projects, business environment development projects and social care programmes. At the same time, cohesion policy provides funding for the green transition, energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, climate action, road and railway network investments,'' he said.

Two strands of action are particularly important under Slovenia's Cohesion Policy Programme. Under Policy objective 1, A Smarter Slovenia, investments will be made in R&D, support to SMEs and digitalisation. A total of 730 million euros has been earmarked for this purpose. Under Policy objective 4, A More Social Slovenia, investments worth 400 million euros will be made in labour market and education and training.

State Secretary Koprivc invited all panelists and participants to reflect on ways to ensure social development once cohesion policy funding is no longer available.

''Despite successful absorption of cohesion policy funding, Slovenia should start preparing for a time when it becomes the net contributor to the EU budget. Our goal, here and now, is to mobilise funds for measures and projects that have the potential to generate long-term development and added value as well as investments in multiplicative effects. Obviously, research and innovation have all that, '' underscored State Secretary Koprivc.

The panel discussion featured Matevž Frangež, State Secretary at the Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport, dr. Jure Gašparič, State Secretary at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Natalija Stošicki, director of strategic development and internationalisation at the Chamber of Commerce of Slovenia, Assistant Professor Dr. Igor Kovač from the Jožef Stefan Institute and Director of SRIP Factories of the Future, and Assistant Professor Dr. Aleš Hančič, Managing Director of TECOS Slovenian Tool and Die Development Centre.

As part of the event that put into spotlight the role of cohesion policy in science and innovation, stands were put up where participants could learn more about EU-funded projects that had been carried out by various organisations.