EU funding for human resources development in small and medium-sized enterprises  

Ljubljana, 8 October 2024 – The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the project Competence centres for human resources development 4.0. European Regional Development Fund contribution for the project stands at 15.4 million euros. The project aims to improve employees’ knowledge and skills, enhance creativity and innovation and thus boost the productivity of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).    

The project will bring together various partners to develop new skills in areas identified in Slovenia’s Smart Specialisation Strategy (S5) with a strong emphasis on information and communication technologies (ICT) and other relevant sectors. The aim is to equip employees with skills needed for the transition to the industry of the future, smart specialisation and enhancing entrepreneurial activity.    

The available funding will also support more significant investments in employees which will increase corporate social responsibility and contribute to higher value added in the economy. The project will facilitate the adaptation of enterprises to technological change and the challenges of industrial transition while helping employees acquire key skills for the future more quickly.

The project will thus contribute to enhancing the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises, improving their business performance, and strengthening their position in various branches of the economy. The project will also promote the networking of enterprises, the exchange of knowledge and good practices, and facilitate greater mobility of employees. The project will also focus on raising awareness of the importance of lifelong learning and training, which is key to the long-term development of employees and businesses. The project worth 23,416,200 euros will receive 15,478,108.19 euros of European Regional Development Fund support, with the Public Scholarship, Development, Disability and Maintenance Fund of the Republic of Slovenia acting as the beneficiary. 

Photo: Freepik