Slovenia

The ARD landscape in Slovenia

National Research and Development Programme 2006-2010 is the main strategic document which defines the science strategy and policy and priority areas. The NRDP is a constituent part of the national development strategy and governmental policies embodying development goals and influences whose common purpose is promoting development towards an economically and socially successful society.

Main Slovenian institutions dealing with research in Agriculture and Food related issues:

University of Ljubljana: Biotechnical Faculty, Veterinary Faculty, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology
University of Maribor: Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical engineering, Pedagogical faculty
University of Primorska: Science and Research Centre of Koper
University of Nova Gorica
National Institute of Biology
Slovenian Forestry Institute
Agricultural institute of Slovenia
Institute for Sustainable Development
Institute for Hop Research and Brewing Žalec
National Institute of Chemistry
“Jožef Štefan” Institute
The Urban Planning Institute of the Republic of Slovenia

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Priorities

Funding of research programmes and projects represents the main instrument for the implementation of the National Research and Development Programme and for the promotion of scientific research at universities and non-university public research establishments.

The main research programmes are dealing with: Functional food, Food safety and health, Food related issues for development and chemical hazard, Microbiology and biotechnology of food and environment, Competitiveness of the agri-food sector, Sustainable agriculture, Communities, relations and communications in the ecosystems, Agrobiodiversity, Plants in agriculture-genetics and modern technologies, Animal health, Environment and food safety, Fauna, flora and vegetation of Slovenia and neighbouring regions, Plant physiology and biotechnology, Pharmaceutical biotechnology: man and environment, Forest biology, ecology and technology, Research on immune status enhancement, development and productivity of plants and animals, Comparative genomics and genome biodiversity, Nutrition and ecology of gastrointestinal tract, Applied botany, genetics and ecology, Horticulture and Plant biology.

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Main programmes

Research programmes and projects

Research programmes are large research projects lasting up to 5 years. All-together, around 30% of the public budget for science is allocated to research programmes. Around 2500 researchers and 600 technicians and other ancillary staff are included in the programme financing. Project funding has been based on a competitive mode. Post-doctoral projects and applied research projects (at least 25% co-financing of end users needed) have a priority.

Young researchers training programmes

The programme »Young Researchers« that has been successfully operating since 1985 presents one of the most successful initiatives to strengthen the research abilities of human resources. The programme has made it possible to employ about 250 new young researchers annually. 17,5% of the Slovenian Research Agency budget is allocated to the financing of this programme, which contributes to the renewal and rejuvenation of research personnel in research institutes and universities and educates highly skilled personnel for the business sector.

Characteristics of the programme “Young Researchers”:

postgraduate study through direct engagement in research,
covering of study costs, supporting material’s expenditures of research;
within the training and education at home, they can also study abroad (from 1 month to 12 months).

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

BILATERAL SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION

Based on 100 bilateral documents with 50 countries and other legal bases Slovenia co-operates with more than 70 countries. Co-financing of bilateral co-operation is provided in accordance with the Rules on financing and co-financing of international scientific co-operation of the Republic of Slovenia and on the basis of public tenders for co-financing the scientific and technological co-operation with individual countries.

MULTILATERAL SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology promotes and supports the participation of Slovenian R&D organisations in projects financed or co-financed by the European Commission, agencies of the United Nations, and other international and intergovernmental organisations.

Since its independence in 1991, Slovenia started to participate in the European Union programmes until the full membership in 2004 (from 3rd to 7th Framework Programme, PECO, INCO-COPERNICUS, COST, EUREKA, TEMPUS, and ACE). Since 1992, Slovenia is a full member of the United Nations Organisation and co-operates with UN specialised agencies, funds and programmes on a regular basis. Slovenia actively participates in the NATO Science Programmes.

Slovenia co-operates with the following international organisations:

United Nations Development Programme(UNDP)
United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO)
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
International Centre for Science and High Technology (ICS)
International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP)
International School for Post-graduate Studies (SISSA)
International Institute for Refrigeration (IIR)
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
International Centre for Promotion of Enterprises (ICPE)
International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Bio-technology (ICGEB)
European Molecular Biology Conference (EMBC)
European organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN)
International Centre for Sustainable Development(ICSD)
International Conference for Scientific Research of the Mediterranean Sea (CIESM)
International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agricultural Studies (ICAMAS)

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Perspectives

In the National Research and Development Programme (NRDP) 2006-2010 the agriculture topics are related to life quality within the themes of biotechnology and pharmacy and new technologies for sustainable development of economy that is focused on environmental protection technologies. The new National Research and Development Program for the next five-year period 2011-2015, which is under preparation, will put greater emphasis on the EU priority areas such as energy efficiency, and clean technologies, eco-innovation, and organic farming and will seek to promote a sustainable agriculture.

Bilateral cooperation is strengthening in the last years by launching more regular bilateral calls with more countries. The strategic interest for bilateral cooperation is focused on EU member countries neighbouring countries, West Balkan and Mediterranean countries, non-European science and technology leading countries (like US, Japan…), regionally important countries like China, India, Brazil and South Africa, new countries formed after secession from the Soviet Union, developing countries in the 3rd world, as well as on international organisations, active in the field of research and technology development.

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Funding mechanisms

Organisation	Funding	ARD - Budget (€) Year 2008
Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology through Slovenian Research Agency	Research programmes	4.396.868
	Bilateral cooperation	416.181

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Donors and Recipients

The system of R&D funding institutions in Slovenia incorporates public, as well as private entities. The main research funding institution in Slovenia is the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (MHEST). Most of MHEST national and international calls for project proposals are implemented through the Slovenian Research Agency. In minor extent some applied research and other support activities devoted to agriculture are funded by the Slovenian Technology Agency, Ad Futura, the Slovenian Science Foundation, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Nutrition and the Ministry for Environment and Spatial Planning.

The recipients are national public and private research organisations and researchers . Lodging expenses and daily allowances for foreign researchers visiting Slovenia are covered according to the approved bilateral projects.

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