EU funding for the promotion of R&D programmes

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the call for proposals Promotion of R&D programmes (TRL 3-6). The call seeks to strengthen collaboration between the research sector and businesses, while fostering innovation in Slovenia. The call is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund, its contribution standing at over EUR 31 million.

The purpose of the call for proposals is to stimulate technological and applied research and help projects move to a higher Technology Readiness Level (TRL). The focus is on deepening academia-enterprise collaborations, particularly by involving micro, small and medium-sized businesses. Knowledge and research collaborations will help develop new products, services and processes and enable the use of advanced technologies in priority areas of Slovenia’s Sustainable Smart Specialisation Strategy.

Additionally, the call will help create the conditions for research institutions, higher education institutions and private sector to work together in line with the objectives of the Resolution on the Slovenian Scientific Research and Innovation Strategy 2030. The call will promote knowledge transfer and circulation and better integration of consortium partners in global value and knowledge chains.  

The call aims to support R&D programmes of university-business consortia that will demonstrate:

• concentration of knowledge and competences,
• scientific and technological excellence,
• market potential in global networks and value chains,
• commitment and ability to invest private capital, and
• durability of projects after the co-financing period.

The purpose of the call for proposals is to strengthen innovation environment and boost internationalisation of Slovenian businesses and research. The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development strives to further support R&D as the key driver of economic competitiveness and sustainable development.

The call makes a total of EUR 58,753,000 available, of which EUR 31,264,150 come from the European Regional Development Fund.

Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency, the implementing body, worked together with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, the intermediate body, and the Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development, the managing authority, to prepare the call for proposals building on the baselines drawn up by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation. It will publish the call for proposals in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia on 21 February 2025.