Access to research equipment, excellent human resources, investment funds and support services is really crucial for startups and scaleups, so it is extremely important that Eastern Slovenia also moves toward getting more funding for the most ambitious ones. 

The formal roundtable "Challenges for the Development of the Eastern Slovenia Cohesion Region", organised by the University of Maribor, provided a very interesting debate on the efforts to strengthen the innovation ecosystem of the Eastern Slovenia Cohesion Region as much as possible, in line with the Slovenian Development Strategy 2030, and to accelerate the transfer of knowledge into concrete economic projects.

The occasion was also marked by the inauguration of the new sustainable FERI platform, which connects the Faculty and the urban environment. The unveiling was accompanied by a speech by the mayor of Maribor, Mr Arsenovič, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

At the round table moderated by dr. Zdravko Kačič, Rector of the University of Maribor, participated: Mr. Zvonko Černač, Minister Office of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for Development and European Cohesion Policy, dr. Mitja Slavinec, State Secretary of the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports, Mr. Saša Arsenovič, Mayor of the Municipality of Maribor and President of the Development Council of KRVS, Mr. Uroš Rozman, director of RDA Podravje - Maribor, Mr. Jaro ŽURAJ CO-FOUNDER OF SIMARINE & INFI7 and dr. Tomaž Rotovnik, director of SkyLabs.

All the participants shared a common goal, which was to work together in co-creating regional development policy and to contribute to the development of the economy by integrating research and development infrastructure in the area.

Nina Skok

All posts by author