Based on Article 109 of the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly of the
Republic of Slovenia (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 92/07 –official consolidated text), the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia
adopted the
Resolution on Research and Innovation Strategy of Slovenia 2011-2020

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1

Introduction .............................................................................................. 22

Effective governance of the research and innovation system ........................... 4

3

High-quality research in the public sector ..................................................... 7
3.1

Greater autonomy and responsibility in public research organisations........... 7

3.2

Transfer of knowledge .......................................................................... 11

3.3

Co-operation in R&D area within the EU and worldwide ............................ 13

3.4

Public funding of research and development............................................ 15

3.5
4

Ethics in research and of the researchers ................................................ 18
Establishment of capacities in support of research and development .............. 20

4.1

Strengthening human resources ............................................................ 20

4.2

Specialization ...................................................................................... 23

4.3

Research infrastructure development ..................................................... 25

4.4

Development of business-innovation infrastructure .................................. 28

4.5

Information infrastructure supporting innovation system .......................... 31

5

Innovative economy................................................................................. 32
5.1

Accelerating private investments into R&D .............................................. 32

5.2

More innovative start-up companies ....................................................... 34

5.3

Faster growth of innovative companies ................................................... 35

5.4Strengthening companies’ innovation capabilities .......................................... 38
6

Promotion of science, creativity and innovativeness in society and education .. 41

7

Appendices ............................................................................................. 43
7.1

Approximated funding for RISS implementation....................................... 43

7.2

Indicators of key objectives for monitoring RISS...................................... 44

7.3

Dictionary ........................................................................................... 45

7.4

Starting points and outlines for RISS...................................................... 49

7.5

Data................................................................................................... 49

7.6

Events and received opinions on the RISS 2011–2010 draft ...................... 51

1

1 Introduction
At the beginning of the 21st century, we face challenges that will affect the fundamental
restructuring of the world as we know it today. According to the latest data, Asia will playa key role in the global realities of this century. It is already a global manufacturing
centre and major exporter, and a continuation of current trends will by 2025 result insupremacy of Asia over the USA and Europe in science and technology. Asia will chiefly
develop itself as a centre of research and development of the business sector.
Demographic changes in Europe will lead to a sharp rise in public expenditures to ensure
the needs of an aging population. Environmental migration will be added to growing
political and economic migration. The world will face shortages of natural resources suchas energy, food and water, and major threats associated with climate change1.
These challenges call for critical reflection and investigation of the causes of thissituation, and require above all a change of lifestyle and changes in our socio-economic
behaviour. The processes that we are witnessing place even stronger emphasis on theneed for creativity and knowledge as assets for fulfilling an individual which and canprovide him a proper place in modern society, and enable social inclusion, a sustainable
lifestyle and a sustainable economy, all of which lead to a high quality of life and a fairer
society.
With regard to social responsibility, Slovenia recognises a long-term commitment toscience and development by establishing their important role in social progress and as afoundation of well-being for its citizens. We are aware that without the joint presence andintertwining of different scientific disciplines progress of societies and technologies cannot
be understood. Slovenia supports a comprehensive integration of science and thestrengthening of its autonomy and institutions while supporting harmonised
interdependence between science, development and innovation, which is unique inproviding overall social progress and well-being.
State of affairs
According to assessments from 2010, the quality of life in Slovenia is relatively good. It
is ranked in 29th place2on the Human Development Index among developed countries,
while the capital Ljubljana is ranked 81st among 215 cities3on the quality of life scale.
The European innovation scoreboard based on statistical figures through 2008, ranks
Slovenia among the innovation followers with most indicators close to the European
average. Similarly, ranking of the world's most innovative countries4 puts Slovenia in
24th place according to the indicator of successfulness of innovations, and first among
the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The achievements and discoveries by
Slovenian science in all areas are encouraging and are an appropriate starting point for
further development. The number of scientific publications in relation to public
investment in R&D puts Slovenia above the EU27 average, and just below this averagefor the economic impacts of science.5
The onset of the global crisis in 2008 in Slovenia almost wiped out its progress ineconomic and social development over the past decade, which was already inhibited bymanipulated privatisation and abuses in the 1990s. The crisis has revealed a number ofstructural weaknesses, particularly the fact that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in

1

Luc Soete et al., World in 2025, 2009.

2

Human Development reports, United Nations Development Programme, 2009,http://hdr.undp.org/en/statistics/.
3

http://www.mercer.com/home.

4

A new ranking of the world’s most innovative countries, Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2009,http://graphics.eiu.com/PDF/Cisco_Innovation_Complete.pdf.
5

A more research-intensive and integrated European Research Area, Science, Technology andCompetitiveness.
Key figures report 2008/2009, EC, 2008, ISBN 978-92-79-10173-1,
http://ec.europa.eu/research/era/pdf/key-figures-report2008-2009_en.pdf.

Slovenia is too dependent on low technology industries and traditional services, which
limit the competitiveness of the economy. In these harsh conditions, Slovenia has tofocus on raising the cohesiveness of society and competitiveness of its economy while
consolidating and restructuring its public finances. For this, Slovenia is relying on
creativity and knowledge, which are fundamental values and the sources of the country’s
future wealth. In order to establish the knowledge society, further development in all
scientific areas is needed; only responding to social challenges from multiple diverse
angles can give a comprehensive perspective that leads to appropriate action. In
addition, it is of a key importance to encourage the partnership between science and its
users, cultivating new, sustainably set technologies that are closely associated with
scientific findings and future fields. The Research and Innovation Strategy of Slovenia(RISS) is a programme document for achieving social objectives such as improved living
standards for all and an improved quality of life. These objectives will be achieved
through the establishment of a modern research and innovation system, which willcontribute to increased knowledge and understanding of society, respond to its
challenges, increase the value added per employee, and provide quality workplaces andliving environment. RISS is based on the Development Strategy of Slovenia and is inaccordance with the Europe 2020 documents and leading initiatives of the EU with theaim of achieving synergies in society. It reasonably relates to the National Programme forthe Development of Higher Education 2011–2020 (NPVŠ), and together they constitutethe "knowledge triangle", which is at the heart of the strategic reflection on further
development of the Slovenian and global society. Upon its preparation, studies6 by theinternational group of experts under the auspices of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and by the group in the context of the open methodof European Union (EU) coordination were considered which examined the Slovenian
research and innovation environment and public policies in these areas in the autumn of2010, and subsequently provided recommendations to optimise them.
VisionBy 2020, a responsive research and innovation system, co-created by all stakeholders
and open to the world, will be established. This system will be firmly entrenched insociety, be in its service, will respond to the needs and ambitions of the citizens andenable the resolution of major social challenges of the future, such as climate change,energy, lack of resources, health and aging. As a result, the work of researchers,
developers and innovators will gain greater acclaim influence in society. By adapting
legislation, a legal framework for the operation of the system will be established in 2012.
It will ensure open space for dialogue, while its governance will be democratic andeconomic. The involvement of stakeholders will prevent duplication while promoting andachieving relevant synergies. All actors will fully enjoy the benefits and advantages of thefree flow of knowledge and technology between sectors, and promotion anddissemination of scientific knowledge will encourage responsible behaviour and social
consciousness of the common good. The gaps between research, education andinnovation will be overcome, and their common denominators will include partnership,
lifelong learning, deeper awareness, and sustainable development.
The reputation and attractiveness of the research profession will also grow due toadvanced infrastructure and normative conditions that will lead to effective and efficient
implementation of the most complex research. Human beings will be at the heart of thesystem because only through the human resource development we are able to achieve
higher levels of development. Research institutions will have a strategic, financial and
6
Maja Bučar with Andreja Jaklič and Boštjan Udovič, National system of innovation in Slovenia, Faculty forSocial Sciences, Ljubljana, 2010, http://www.mednarodni-odnosi.si/cmo/CIR/CIR4National System of
Innovation in Slovenia.pdf.

OECD review of Slovenia’s innovation policy: Overall assessment and recommendations – preliminary
draft, OECD, Paris, 2010.
Policy Mix Peer Reviews: Country Report – Slovenia, European Union Scientific and Technical ResearchCommittee, Brussels, 2010.

managerial autonomy, but also responsibility for the implementation of their sociallyrelevant missions. The government will place research and innovation at the heart its
policies and assure adequate financial support. As soon as 2012, 1 % GDP of public
investment will be allocated to research and development and 1.5% of GDP by 2020.
Improvements in economical development will be manifested through implementing ahigher-technology structure of the economy and a higher added value per employee as aresult of technological and non-technological innovations. This will increase thecompetitiveness of the economy while the fiscal and supportive environment willencourage new and increased corporate investment in development, and higher quality
workplaces in particular.
Objective
To establish a modern research and innovation system that will allow for a higher qualityof life for all through critical reflection of society, efficiency in addressing social
challenges, increased value added per employee, and assurance of more and higher
quality workplaces

2 Effective governance of the research and innovation
systemGovernance of the innovation system in recent years shifted from a linear model, whichassumes that economic efficiency follows research efficiency, to the second generation
system, which is no longer focused on technology but based on the interactive
organisational model, which creates conditions for success. However, in the last decade
the world has faced realisation of the third generation system, which is horizontal andrequires a well-coordinated process of planning, implementation and evaluation ofpolicies among all stakeholders involved in the innovation system and continuous
adaptation of the institutions in the field of research, technology and innovation to thechanging environment. The process is open and democratic while sharing of
responsibilities in formulating the research and innovation system is unequivocal.
State of affairs
Since 2010, coordination of policies in Slovenia has been performed by the Umbrella
Working Group for Harmonization and Coordination of Slovenia's Development Planning,
who observes Slovenia's Development Strategy7, National Development Programme of
the Republic of Slovenia for 2007–20138, National Reform Programme for 2008–20109(Europe 202010) and the budget of the Republic of Slovenia for each financial year. The
policies are implemented through the national budget. Competences for research andinnovation policy are shared between the Ministry of Higher Education, Science andTechnology (MVZT), the Ministry of Economy (MG) and in part by the Government Officefor Development and European Affairs (SVREZ) and the Government Office for Local SelfGovernment and Regional Policy (SVRL). The Ministry of Economy implements its
programme through the Public Agency for Entrepreneurship and Foreign Investments(JAPTI), the Public Agency for Technological Development (TIA) and the Slovenian
Enterprise Fund (SPS). MVZT delegated the implementation of most of its measures to
the TIA and the Slovenian Research Agency (ARRS).

7
http://www.svrez.gov.si/fileadmin/svez.gov.si/pageuploads/docs/Strategija_razvoja_Slovenije/SRS_dispozicija__17feb2011.doc

8

http://www.svlr.gov.si/si/zakonodaja_in_dokumenti/zakonske_podlage_s_podrocja_politike_spodbujanja_skladnega_regionalnega_razvoja/drzavni_razvojni_program/09

http://www.svrez.gov.si/fileadmin/svez.gov.si/pageuploads/docs/Razvojni_dokumenti/NRP_koncna_17.11._20
10_FINAL.doc
10

http://www.svrez.gov.si/si/delovna_podrocja/nova_evropska_razvojna_strategija_do_leta_2020/strategija_evropa_2020/

The subject is also covered by two advisory bodies of the Government of the Republic ofSlovenia, the Council for Science and Technology (SZT) and the Competitiveness Council(CC).
A consequence of the fragmented system of governance of research and innovation is amismatch between policies and responsibilities and duplication of instruments, as well as
poor implementation of the adopted strategic documents, notably the existing National
Research and Development Program11 (NRRP).
The increased extent of tasks and responsibilities and particularly the ambitious planningof development, new instruments and more active participation in the international
scientific and innovation environment also increase the responsibilities of the competentbodies in the field of science, technology and innovation. However, this was not followedwith the reinforcement of the expert staff at the competent ministries to allow adequate
preparation and implementation of the policies, an issue which was highlighted in theinspections performed by the international experts. It is reflected in several lost
opportunities, both nationally and international.
Objectives
The objective is to achieve better governance through the following measures:
1. Establishment of an effective common governance system for the research andinnovation system, involving all stakeholders
The system will be based on horizontal and cross-sectoral coordination at all levels ofdecision-making and institutional tiers. It will build on trust and open communication
among all stakeholders. Management will be at the highest level, where it will be theresponsibility of a separate group of ministers (the Umbrella Working Group for
Harmonization and Coordination of Slovenia’s Development Planning), in which MVZT and
MoE will be responsible for research and innovation. This will provide close association of
the implementation of RISS and of Slovenia’s new industrial policy. The subject will becovered by a single government advisory body, the Council for Research and Innovation,
which will liaise with key stakeholders and replace the Council for Science andTechnology and the Competitiveness Council. All key stakeholders will participate in theCouncil for Research and Innovation, and its composition will be determined by legal andexecutive provisions. A system for effective networking at all levels will be established,with the main driver being efficiency of governance. Implementation of RISS will beinstitutionally supported by augmenting highly qualified staff at the competent ministries
and reforming public agencies. The agencies will be partners in providing technicalguidance and evaluation of policy implementation. Funding and implementation of thevarious programmes will be transferred primarily to the professional executive
institutions.
2. Monitoring the implementation and evaluation of the effects of RISS
Implementation of the programme will be based on professionalism, transparency andcost-effectiveness.
To achieve the objectives of RISS it is imperative to ensure regular monitoring of theimplementation of the imposed measures. In order to increase system efficiency andeffectiveness, the existing measures need to be continuously evaluated and, if necessary,
improved, stopped or joined by new ones. The latter must be developed in consultation
with key stakeholders. The system should be upgraded rather than succumb to
duplication and fragmentation.
Because of the inseparable nature of R&D in higher education and the public researchsector, we will establish common monitoring of the implementation and evaluation of theeffects of both programme documents for the areas of higher education and research andinnovation activity. Together, an independent group of experts will monitor the11

Uradni list RS, št. 3/2006.

achievement of the set objectives, the effects, and implementation of measures andreport annually to the competent advisory bodies to the Government of the Republic ofSlovenia for the field of higher education, science and technology. After examining both
documents together, the bodies will report on the implementation of the programmes to
the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and make proposals for new measures andmeasures for more effective implementation of both documents. The Government of the
Republic of Slovenia will report to the National Assembly every other year.
RISS measures are funded through the national budget of the Republic of Slovenia andestablished by the competent ministries in accordance with the Strategy. The monitoring
system in accordance with indicators of RISS is further elaborated in the programmebudget, including target values projected until 2014. In 2015, a thorough assessment of
RISS will be conducted; it will include the evaluation of measures and the achievement oftargets as a basis for updating the strategy for 2015-2020.
3. Periodic evaluation of the effectiveness of all support and executive institutions
Executive institutions and agencies will realise their mission in accordance with theprinciples of efficiency, responsibility and transparency. Efficiency and quality of all
support (e.g. agencies) and executive institutions (e.g. public research organisations;
PROs) will be evaluated on the basis of measurable indicators, which will ensuretransparency, professionalism and ethical standards. The evaluations will be performedby domestic and international experts.
Measures
MeasureResponsibility

Deadline

Indicator

1

Formation of a uniform Government
advisory body – the Council for Researchand Innovation will replace the Council
for Science and Technology and theCompetitiveness Council

Government of the RS(science, technology,
innovation*)

2012

Legal regulation

2

Annual independent monitoring of theimplementation of RISS

Government of the RS(science, technology,
innovation, economy),
Council for Research andInnovation

2012–
2020

Reports to theGovernment and the
National Assembly3

Evaluation of impacts of the instruments
of RISS with measurable indicators

Government of the RS(science, technology,
innovation, economy)

2011–
2020

Reports

4

Reinforcement of highly qualified
personnel composing the competent
ministries

Government of the RS(public administration,science, technology,
innovation, economy)

2011

Augmentation ofhighly qualified staff at
the competent
ministries

5

Evaluation of the impact of policy
measures on the development ofinnovation in society with measurable
indicators (a permanent inter-ministerial
working group for drafting of better
regulations and removal of administrative
barriers in public administration)

Government of the RS(public administration)

2011–
2020

Share of removal ofadministrative barriersin the area ofcompetitiveness6

Evaluation of support and executive
institutions with measurable indicators

Government of the RS(science, technology,
innovation, economy)

2011 and2014

International
evaluation report*

Hereinafter, the text in brackets relates to the competent ministries responsible for each measure. In this casethe competent ministry is the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. If responsibilities are shared, theresponsible ministry is listed first. The indication of the competent ministry also includes its executive
institutions (e.g. agencies).

3 High-quality research in the public sector
3.1 Greater autonomy and responsibility in public researchorganisations
Public research organisations (PROs) as defined by the applicable legislation are public
entities established by the Republic of Slovenia or another public entity authorised by law
which meet the conditions to execute R&D activities. PROs include public research andinfrastructural institutions and higher education institutions established by the Republic ofSlovenia (or another public entity authorised by law). According to the applicablelegislation, public service in the field of R&D activities is, in addition to the PROs, also
exercised in the form of research programmes by the programme groups with legally
delegated public and private individuals under concession. For the needs of thisdocument, these contractors are also considered as PROs.
As the main researchers, PROs form the centre of the research and innovation systemthat is rapidly evolving and changing. In such changing circumstances, it is crucial toprovide the best possible conditions for their work. Their effective functioning andperformance in achieving the research mission determines the outcome of
implementation of the complete research and innovation system. The latter should
therefore ensure considerable autonomy (in terms of management, finance and research)while the PROs themselves must bear the social responsibility to effectively convey
scientific discoveries to society and its subsystems.
Scientific excellence is one of the foundations of an innovative, knowledge-based society.
The development of scientific excellence is mainly based on fundamental progress inscience extending beyond the borders of existing cognition. Fundamental progress inscience can only be achieved through research free of preset priorities and based only on
the primal curiosity of researchers. Therefore this area of scientific development shouldbe implemented within autonomous research organisations where the only measure forthe assessment of scientific work is globally comparable excellence. Universities andinstitutes are independent in developing fields in which they might achieve outstanding
breakthrough results, thereby making important contributions to the world’s bank ofknowledge.
Significant changes in the innovation system are reflected in the organisation of R&D
activities in companies where traditional research departments are replacing experts byplacing their development and innovation activities closer to the market. This introduces
significant changes to the scope of research in the public sector as it expands R&D
cooperation between companies and between the business and public sectors. On theother hand, internationalisation/globalisation of R&D is growing strongly, and bothnational and European public research areas are increasingly exposed to international
competition; therefore, they will have to be adapted and trained to the new situation andthus remain attractive to the business sector. The mobility of researchers, students andteachers is increasing, as is the competition to attract the best among them. Theinternational market in higher education is developing, where international systems also
contribute through their evaluation and quality control. Industry, service sectors andother users of knowledge constantly need new knowledge and skills, and lifelong learningand education in the workplace are becoming increasingly important components of theresearch and innovation system.
All of these processes, which take place in the research and innovation system in
Slovenia and worldwide, require the most current, high-level work and organisation in
the public research sector.
State of affairs
Following independence and during transition, Slovenia has managed to maintain relative
stability in its public R&D sector despite the restructuring of the economy, where manylarge companies since independence have lost a large part of the market, closed orreduced their R&D departments. Increased public expenditures devoted to R&D in theearly nineties compensated for the business sector’s reductions in R&D investment andmaintained a high level of scientific development. Due to the shift of R&D from thebusiness to public research sector, the focus has shifted towards basic research. Despite
an upturn in investment in R&D in the business sector in recent years, its cooperation
with the public sector remained at a fairly low level.
As a result, the Slovenian public research sector is characterised by small differences inthe types of R&D activities in higher education and public research institutions (PRI).
Thus the degree of cooperation between public research institutions and the users in
Slovenia is only slightly higher than in the higher education sector. In 2008, thecontribution of Slovenia’s business sector in the budget of the higher education sector
was 10.1% versus 12.7% in that of public research institutes. This leads to duplication ofcontent, poor cooperation among the researchers from various institutions and thefragmentation of R&D realm.
On the other hand, PROs cannot properly adapt to global processes for their strategic
development, as this is prevented by the current system of funding research groups. The
centre of decision-making on development occurs at the level of a basic research cell, i.e.
a programme group, and not at the level of the individual institution that would fully
manage its operation. According to the OECD test methodology, in Slovenia the share of
institutional funding in the overall public funds of PROs is 22.2%, which is the lowest
share among the 13 countries covered in the OECD study. The current administrative
situation of researchers in PROs according laws governing the system of civil servants
and the salary system in the public sector does not allow for the development of
excellence in the R&D system.
The possibility of employing researchers outside the administrative status of civil
servants would attract top-level experts (also foreign) to institutions and motivate themusing methods characteristic of industry, thereby enabling the institution to meet its
development objectives more easily. At the same time, this would eliminate anomalies
the system brings to a particular group of scientists without considering different, sectordependent circumstances.
For monitoring high-level research, data on the number of publications, number ofcitations, number of highly cited publications, the impact factor and number of patentapplications to certain patent offices is typically used. In the period 2004-2008, Slovenia
produced 5,840 publications per million inhabitants in journals indexed in the ISI
bibliographic databases, ranking it 7th regarding publications in that period in the EU,
which accounts for 155% of the EU average. Regarding number of citations per million
inhabitants in the same period, Slovenia holds the 13th position between EU countries
with 18,062 citations per million inhabitants reaching 95% of the EU average. Regarding
the impact factor, i.e. the average number of citations per publication, Slovenia is placedin 22nd position among EU countries, with IF 3.09 and 61% of the EU average, whichshows that Slovenian authors attract relatively poor attention. With 62 highly cited
publications per million inhabitants in the period 1998–2008, Slovenia reached 151% of
the EU average and the 13th place in the EU.
Objectives
The objective is to increase autonomy and responsibility of PROs, which according totheir mission contribute significantly to building a successful research and innovation
system. On the one hand, results of PROs will make a contribution to the basic progressof science and technology, and, on the other hand, to the development of society and theeconomy. Three factors are therefore required:
1. Increased international visibility and competitiveness of Slovenian science on aEuropean and global scale
Encouragement of basic research will follow the efficient European Research Council(ERC) model, with special emphasis on establishing a comparable European system of
evaluating the applications and results of research.
2. Differentiation of the mission and the role of the higher education sector and institutes

In the process of diversification PROs will define their own mission and strategy, buildingon the development of areas and activities where they are or might be particularly
successful. All PROs will develop basic knowledge and cooperation with users; however,research institutes will focus more strongly on such cooperation than universities.
Smaller research institutes which are almost exclusively funded by public resources will
be joined or integrated with the universities based on an in-depth discussion with thestakeholders.
3. Establishing an evaluation system of PROs’ research activities
In order to establish adequate monitoring of research and innovation system functioning,
efficient institutional evaluation is needed that takes into account a wide range ofmeasures in establishing definitive findings. The essence of institutional evaluation is anindependent external evaluation (foreign and national reviewers), which is not based
exclusively on quantitative data. The evaluation system will be developed by the agencies
responsible for research and technological development in cooperation with thecompetent ministries and other stakeholders. Evaluation criteria will be based on theevaluation of results and impact in scientific fields. One set of criteria (number ofpublications with high impact factor, citations, research work growth index, cooperation
among PROs, etc.) will be aimed at measuring the scientific excellence of the institution
and international visibility of the basic research work. Another set of criteria will address
cooperation with the users and measuring social relevance of the research work. In
accordance with the mission, the latter will be more prominent in the evaluation ofresearch institutes and will, among other things, take into account revenues fromlicensing, number of patents in patent offices performing a complete test, number ofspin-off projects from the PRO and applicative success of the PRO (cooperation with thebusiness sector or projects between PROs and users, recruitment of students, juniorresearchers and researchers in the development departments in the companies, thepercentage of research taking place in the priority areas of Slovenian Technology
Platforms, the percentage of research to support projects of social interest, and others).
4. Autonomy and responsibility of PROs to enable their strategic development inaccordance with national priorities
With gradually increasing institutional funding due to reduced/terminated programmefunding, we will ensure greater autonomy and responsibility in preparing the strategy forhuman resources management and development/programme strategy to PROs. R&D
activity has to take place within a partnership in which a PRO assumes responsibility forthe employees and for different social environments, i.e. all its system components andfor society as a whole.
Institutional funding of R&D activity of the higher education sector and institutes will beharmonised and will include two pillars: one fundamental, the other development. The
fundamental pillar will provide stable funding of R&D activity of PROs, and thedevelopment pillar will provide additional funding depending on fulfilment of the missionof institutions and achievement of preset objectives and will be based on the results ofthe evaluation of PROs.
A modified method of funding PROs will allow the achievement of objectives of the RISS
while respecting their autonomy to organise their own institutional strategies and ways inwhich to fulfil the set objectives. Public funding mechanisms will be designed to allow
more independent decision-making by PROs on use and integrated management of
resources earmarked for institutional funding.
In addition to the transition to institutional funding of institutions regarding stable
funding, the existing project funding of research work through the "research hour" unit
will be replaced by (co)funding the actual costs of projects.
Institutions will gain greater autonomy in recruiting and managing human resources,
since researchers of a particular institution will be able to withdraw from the salarysystem due to the agreement between those involved. We expect and we wish that the
management and employees of research institutions will make a common proposal as to
how to regulate the salary system and the rights and duties of the employees, with one

possibility being a collective contract between public research organisations as theemployers and unions as the employees. The existing regulation of rights andresponsibilities can be a starting point for the new system. Until the legislation ischanged, the management of the institutions and the employees will be able to makeproposals concerning the administrative status of the employees. The new salary system
will be uniform for the higher education and research positions. In this case, the basic
rights and duties will be regulated less rigidly, in accordance with the Employment
Relationship Act12.
Measures
Key objective of the sector

Selected indicatorswith target values
Excellence in science
Share of national
scientific publications
among 10% of themost cited
publications in theworld
Integration with theneeds of the economy
Joint publications byresearchers from
PROs and companies(% of allpublications)

Successful, up-to-date public researchsectorExcellent, internationally visible
research

Share of PRO income
from intellectual
property rights in the
total PRO income
Integration withinternational researchInternational scientificpublications(scientificpublications coauthored with foreign
researchers) per
million inhabitants

MeasureResponsibility

Deadline

Indicator

7

Association or integration of universities andsmaller institutes funded mainly from publicresources

Governmentof
the RS(higher
education,science)2014

Legal regulation

8

Establishing an evaluation system of PROs

Governmentof
the RS (science,higher education)

2011

Rules with a systematic
set of measures
Evaluation of PROs in
2012, subsequently
every four years

9

The introduction of stable funding of PROs,
the extent depending on the results ofevaluations

Governmentof
the RS (science,higher education)

2013

Legal regulation

10

In cooperation with unions and PROs,
preparing a uniform salary system andconditions for promotion and work of non-Governmentof
the RS (science,higher education)

2013

Legal regulation

12

Uradni list RS, št. 42/2002, 79/2006-ZZZPB-F, 46/2007 Odl.US: U-I-45/07, Up-249/06-22, 103/2007,
45/2008-ZArbit, 83/2009 Odl.US: U-I-284/06-26.

administrative personnel within the civil
servants system, which will harmonise theawarding ofresearchers andhighereducation teachers
11

In cooperation with unions and publicresearch organizations, preparing the option
for researchers to exit the salary system ofcivil servants.

Government
of
the
RS
(public
administration,science)2013

Legal regulation

12

Transition from the "research hour" unit to(co)funding the actual project costs

Governmentof
the RS (science)2012

legal regulation

3.2 Transfer of knowledge
Knowledge is the fundamental asset in the world of today. According to the OECD,
Slovenian science is on average of rather good quality, but it lacks higher accountability
to the society by which it is mostly funded, an appropriate legislative framework to award
those who are above-average and a system of joint or associated initiatives for the
research sector and companies. A research and innovation system that guarantees social
inclusion, along with a sustainable approach in lifestyle envisages further development
and use of newly generated knowledge in society, aiming at the provision of a better
quality of life for everyone. Special attention should be paid to the management and to
the transfer of technologies that reveal the success rate of scientific and research workfrom the point of view of the society which actually provides funds for the research work;at the same time the management and transfer of technologies create possibilities for abetter and more efficient use of newly acquired knowledge for the benefit of the society.
Flow of knowledge and good governance in the field of intellectual property are key
elements in successful cooperation among public research institutions and industry that
result in new products, processes and services. Knowledge as it relates to the transfer ofknowledge and of technologies is of key importance for the creation of high-tech spin-off
enterprises from the PROs which can exploit the results of the research and development
activities. Non-technological transfer of knowledge to society may contribute to its
cohesion, health and creativity and an overall higher quality of life.
State of affairs
In Slovenia, there is no holistic approach to regulating the field of transfer of knowledge.
The majority of activities are based on ad hoc initiatives from different actors. The largest
number of activities arises from some public research institutions and higher educational
institutes, while the state institutions in the majority of cases do not undertake enoughpro-active roles. Two institutes have established liaisons in the form of independent units
for the transfer of technologies, namely the Jozef Stefan Institute and National Instituteof Chemistry, while the University of Maribor has the TechnoCenter of the University of
Maribor, the University of Primorska operates by means of the University Incubator of
Primorska, and the University of Ljubljana has established a special Office for Research,
Development and Intellectual Property. In 2009, an informal network of Slovene experts
for technology transfer was created (SI.TT). In other ways networking, the flow of
information on good practices and approaches to regulation in comparable foreignsystems make it possible for the Office for Intellectual Property (UIL) to integrate withthe projects of EPO, and the IJS to be involved in the CERN TT Network, and similarcases may be noticed with memberships of Slovene experts in organizations like ASTP
and AUTM.
The field of knowledge and technology transfer is supported by relevant legislation, as
Articles 21 and 22 of the Employment Related Industrial Property Rights Act13 define theconditions for the adoption of inventions and for their management within the frameworkof public research organisations.

13

Uradni list RS št. 15/2007- official consolidated text.

Qualitative implementation of activities and of procedures for knowledge transfer can beachieved only by adequate human resources support and stable working conditions,which is subject to appropriate education and training, to a systematic approach infinancing the knowledge transfer activities and to the establishment of a generally
favourable environment (from the legislative point of view and in agreement with social
acceptance of the activity).
The current situation is reflected in the fact that the return of public investment into theeconomy, which actually enables public financing, is relatively low in comparison withsimilar institutions abroad. The statement refers to the cooperation between knowledge
institutions with private enterprises (contractual research and research for developmentof a component or of a prototype) as well as to the licensing of the newly generated
knowledge acquired through public means, and to the creation of new enterprises on thebasis of this knowledge.

Objectives
Improvements in the flow of knowledge will be achieved by the following means:
1. Creation of an environment that favours efficient knowledge transfer
In such an environment, the knowledge transfer is to be defined as a key strategic
mission of PROs towards society. The system will stimulate cooperation and create trustand good integration into the research sphere. Possibilities will be given for theacquisition of entrepreneurial skills and of entrepreneurial culture among students, aswell as for the simple establishment of enterprises. The arrangement of a system oftechnology transfer offices (TTO) and metrics for the evaluation of the system's efficiency
will be established. It will be intended for the knowledge and technologies transfer from
PROs as well as for the transfer between PROs and individuals (researchers, innovators
and artists) and companies. It will strengthen and make use of knowledge essential forevaluating ideas and realising the best of them applied to innovation projects which are
likely to be successful in terms of business. The existing quality core of TTOs will thus bereinforced and integrated into a comprehensive support environment, and stable funding
will be provided. The emphasis will be given on evaluating their success rate as regards
achieving knowledge and technologies transfers in the forms of licensing, spin-off
enterprises (number of enterprises and employees), income growth, etc.
2. Building an efficient system for the protection of intellectual property
National guidelines (manual) for regulation of rights arising from intellectual property will
enable the enterprises to get acquainted with the conditions for the implementation of
the intellectual property rights of PROs; transfer/access will be transparent and quick.
3. Fostering the culture of patent acquisition with thorough premeditated patent policy
and through development of legislation for the intellectual property field
This will enhance sensible acquisition and exploitation of new patents in the academic,
R&D and business sectors. The culture of innovative thinking should be stimulated at all
educational levels; long-term desired results depend exclusively on constantly improving
generic understanding of the significance of this field. Solutions for involving stakeholders
in results usage (distribution of rights arising from intellectual property among the
researcher or inventor, institution and commercial agent) must be incorporated.
4. Determining the knowledge transfer as a key strategic mission of PROs
In view of the optimal functioning of the knowledge transfer system, the PROs should bewell aware of the significance of the field and they should determine it as a significant
part of their visions and strategic documents.
5. Building a relationship of trust and good integration into the research environment
In view of attaining relevant objectives, trust should be established among all the key
actors (research sphere and state institutions), thus an adequate flow of knowledge andinformation will be made possible and consequent synergies of those effects may beachieved.
Measures
Key objective of the sector

Selected indicators withtarget values
Share of business resourcesin funding of PRO research
Joint publications byresearchers from PROs andcompanies per million
inhabitants

Successful transfer ofknowledge from PROs into
industry and the social
environment

Share of PRO income from
intellectual property rights inthe total PRO income
MeasureResponsibility

Deadline

Indicator

13

Regulation of intellectual property
rights among stakeholders incommercialisation of research
results

Government of the RS(economy, science,technology,
innovation)

2013

Regulation

14

Establishment of support forpatenting by PROs

Government of the RS(science, technology,
innovation, higher
education)

2012

Number of supported patentapplications by PRO
Share of supported patentapplications which ended in
granted patents
Share of supported patentapplications which ended incommercialised patents

15

Establishment of a scheme forGovernment of the RS
stimulation of entrepreneurship with (science, technology,
14
young PhDs
innovation, higher
education)

2012

Number of newly createdenterprises by young PhDs

16

Enhancement of offices forknowledge transfer (TTO) from
PROs into industry

2012–
2020

PRO income from licensing

Government of the RS(science, technology,
innovation, higher
education)

2011

Establishing an evaluation system of
TTO
17Attracting PROs to solving
challenges of social development

New enterprises, spin-offs from
PROs (number of enterprises,
number of employees, revenues)
Number of PRO patentscommercialised within a year
after the patent has been granted

Government of the RS(science, technology,
innovation, higher
education)

2011–
2020

Share of resources for central
social challenges in national
budgets for R&D activity (e.g.
objectives of "efficient use ofnatural resources" and"renewable energy resources")

3.3 Co-operation in R&D area within the EU and worldwide
The increasing globalisation demands an improvement of the scientific and technologicalexcellence and of sustainable development. Without increasing of the scientific andtechnological co-operation in the European and worldwide context, it is not possible toaddress effectively the challenges which are crossing the national and continental
borders. Globalization calls for new and different approaches and methods on local,
regional and national level. On a global international level the co-ordination of the R&D
policies, instruments and measures has become a necessity, compelling also for Slovenia.

14

Young PhDs are PhDs in the first seven years after being awarded their doctorates.

The international R&D co-operation must be based on principles of reciprocity, equality
and mutual well-being as well as on efficient protection of intellectual property. Such a
co-operation is of key importance for development, sharing and dissemination ofknowledge throughout the world, and also a basis for increasing the mobility of
researchers or "brain circulation" in a spirit of strengthening the European research area,and broader.
State of affairs
Slovenia is officially participating in the EU Framework Programmes for Research (FP)since 1999. The preliminary data from the European Commission (EC) for Slovenia on its
first two years of participation in the Seventh Framework Programme show that Slovenia
is being represented by 0.9 % of the participants. Therefore, Slovenia receives 0.6 % of
all the allocated EC founds which is relatively successful, considering that it has 0.4 % of
the EU population. On the other hand, the success rate of applicants (number ofparticipants in selected projects in comparison with participants in all applications) is only
ca. 15 %, which sorts Slovenia among the last few in the EU (24th place or 25th place in
EU-27), indicating that applications are poorly prepared. Also, Slovenia is not very
successful considering the number of co-ordinators and participation in tenders ofEuropean Research Council, but is more involved in intergovernmental programmes
EUREKA and COST.
Bilateral co-operation of Slovenia on R&D area has been increasing rapidly after Slovenia
has gained its independence, due to larger recognition of Slovenian R&D within European
framework, and in wider context. The aim was faster inclusion in the EU, and also
deepening the co-operation with the other countries (neighbouring countries, Western
Balkans countries, advanced non-European countries and regionally important countries).
With the new strategy we wish to exceed the mobility in the framework of bilateral cooperation, and upgrade it in particular with priority countries of the Slovenian foreign
policy by 2020.
Slovenia is starting co-operation also in activities of the OECD and the European Space
Agency (ESA).
Objectives
The aim is to improve international co-operation, namely:
1. The increase of international multilateral co-operation
We will be supporting opening of the Slovenian R&D area to the EU Member States andassociated countries to the EU framework programme – mainly by the system of national
contact points (NCP) for EU FP and representatives in relevant Programme Committees of
the European Commission – which needs to be adapted to the changed circumstances.
Upon development or entry into the new instruments, we will strive for simplicity,transparency and prevention of their duplication in order to make the system as simple
as possible for the researchers and the business sector. By means of financial incentives
we will further support inclusion of Slovenian researchers in European research
programmes and networks, so to also include to the greatest extend the companies
which develop and/or commercialise newly generated knowledge.
2. The increase of international bilateral co-operation
It will be directed towards neighbouring countries and regions, Western Balkans countries
and so called BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) that are becoming newworld centres of R&D, and towards other complementary countries in the research area.
We will be constantly improving bilateral co-operation with the most advanced countries
in the world, as for example USA, Korea and Japan, while the co-operation with the othercountries will be supported in accordance with the interests of the scientific sphere andforeign policy orientations of the Republic of Slovenia.
By strengthening the bilateral research co-operation with the countries of South-East
Europe, and in particular with the Western Balkan Countries, Slovenia must become an
attractive hosting country for the excellent researchers and enterprises from these areas.

A special emphasis will be given to cross-border R&D co-operation, since it has the mostdirect impact on knowledge transfer to the local economy.
We will gradually switch from financing mainly mobility to encouraging research projects
as prevailing form of bilateral co-operation.
New guidelines will be recorded in the Development Plan for Bilateral International Cooperation of the Republic of Slovenia in the Area of Research and Development in the
2012-2020 Period. The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology is
responsible for its preparation, and shall submit it to the Government of the Republic ofSlovenia for adoption.
Measures
Selected indicators with target
values

Key sector objective

International scientificpublications (scientificpublications in co-authorship withforeign researchers) per millionof inhabitants

Targeted and quality
international co-operation

18

MeasureResponsibility

Deadline

Indicator

Measures for increasing thescopeofinternational
cooperation and the scope ofparticipation of the Slovenian
partners
ininternational
research projects

Government of theRS(science,technology,
innovations)

2011–
2020

Budget funds for international cooperation
Increasing the number ofscientific publications in coauthorship with foreign
researchers
The amount of national funds ininternational research projects
with Slovenian participation(without research infrastructure)
The amount of foreign funds,
obtained by Slovenian
researchers by means of cooperation in international
research projects (without
research infrastructure)

19

Development Plan for BilateralInternational Co-operation of the
Republic of Slovenia in the R&D
Area in the 2012-2010 Period

Government of theRS(science,technology,
innovations)2012

Adoption of the plan
Proportion of priority countries inthe value of all the bilateralcontracts
Proportion of research projects incommon funds for bilateral cooperation.
Amount of funds for bilateralscientific projects

3.4 Public funding of research and development
Public investment into research and development constitutes one of essential foundationsof research and innovation system, since, in the majority of cases, determines its
outcome, and is a requirement for autonomous scientific work. For effective carrying outof the RISS objectives, the long-term stabile financing of research and development
activities needs to be assured. On the other hand, the amount of public investments does
not present only an incoming variable into this system, but it also reflects the very
functioning of the system itself. The Barcelona goal, as a part of the Lisbon Strategy, in
the EU Member States sets the target to achievement of the 3 % of GDP investment intoscience and research. One third of these investments (1%) should arise from publicfunding, while the other two thirds (2%) from the economy. The majority of the EU
Member States have not yet attained this goal, and Slovenia, according to the current
trends in public investment, is to attain the goal already by the 2012.
State of play
The funding of research and development activities in Slovenia bares the following
characteristic features:- In spite of the ambitious goal to carry out the Barcelona target of the 3% of GDP goingfor research and development by 2010, the share of funding for research anddevelopment activities has in 2008 attain only 1.65 % of GDP or the amount of 616.9
MEUR of gross national expenditure. In this connection, the share of the state budget
amounted to 0.52 % of GDP or to 193.1 MEUR, and the share of total public sources(together with public inflows from the abroad) to 0.57 % GDP or to 212.9 MEUR.
– From the funds for research and development (R&D) from the state budget (being aslightly different aggregate that the Barcelona one) 15 , Slovenia in 2008, allocated tostate sector or public research institutes 45.8 %, to higher education sector or higher
educational establishments 41.2 %, followed by 12.2 % to private sector, by 0.7 % to
non-profit private sector and by 0.1 % to foreign sector. Share of the budged funds for
R&D in higher educational sector in a number is too low, since currently, in the statisticalreport, the money used by the state to cover research work, carried out by researchers
in the framework of their gainful employment, is not presented. This money is included in
the funds for pedagogic activity, and will have to be corrected in the future.
- Funds for research in the business sector are, understandably, intended almost
exclusively for natural science and technical science (99 %), while the share of funds forthese sciences in researches, conducted by public research organisations , is 77 %, andfor social science and humanistic 23 % (data for 2008). Furthermore, typical for Slovenia
is relatively low use of funds for research and development in the service sector (in 2008,
the service activities used 16 % of funds, spent for research in the business sector, andat the same time, contributed 55 % of added value, created in the economy).
The funding system for research activities in Slovenia is characterized by relatively highnumber of different instruments, which leads to its fragmentation, and lowers
effectiveness of invested funds. Also, we still have not developed a comprehensive
system of ex-post analyses of scientific results, which could be used for measurement of
concrete societal impacts of the research work, financed by the state.
Objectives
The aim is to improve the system of public funding for research and innovation. It will bereached by the following:
1. The increase of funds for research and development activities
In 2010, the Government has adopted the target of joint venture by public and private
sector into research and development in the amount of 3 % GDP by the year 2020. For
this purpose, the Coalition Agreement 2008–2010 anticipates public investments in theamount 1 % of GDP already in 2012.
The Council for Science and Technology has in grounds for RISS set this goal even higher- joint ventures in the amount of 3.6 % GDP by the year 2020, of which public funds
amount to 1.2 %. In Slovenia, the share of funds for research and innovation activities
shall increase in the framework of European cohesion policy funds, both in the current
and in the future programme period.
The increase in public investments into research and development activities will beachieved by the growth of national and structural funds, intended for research and
15This aggregate includes all the funds, intended for research and development by national state budget,
regardless of where they are used (consequently, also outflows abroad), however, the indicator of Barcelona
target includes all the funds for research and development, used within the state, regardless of where theycome from (consequently, also inflows from abroad).

development activities. The share of the latter will increase in the future financial
perspective; however, national, structural and other European funds (e.g. operative
programmes) will be used synergistically. The areas and activities for development ofresearch and innovation system in the EU programme period 2014–2020 will be definedin the Research and Innovation System Development Plan with National and StructuralFunds 2014–2020. The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, andMinistry of Economy are responsible for its preparation, and shall submit it to theGovernment of the Republic of Slovenia for adoption.
2. Enhancement of frontier 16 research
The research policy will support frontier research, having the most significant importancefor science and social development, and will be, upon increase of public investment into
frontier research, increasing the funds. There are no prospects for an efficient applicative
work and for a transfer into economy if there is no science of excellent quality, and at thesame time, only a generation of academic knowledge - lacking potential and actual
implementation in the economy - is not sufficient. Besides, the traditional border line
separating basic research from applicative research becomes more and more blurred.
The frontier research that will not be limited by priority area will be carried out
complementary with projects and regular work at universities, enabling transfer of theexcellent knowledge to the future generations.
3. Encourage projects in co-operation with the innovative economy
Upon increasing of public funds investments into research and development, we will
allocate additional funds to incentives for projects in co-operation with innovative
economy, final goal being achievement of the 60:40 ratio in favour of the latter.
4. Increase the diversification of sources of funds for research and innovative activities,
and within this framework, ensure environment for development of donor activities asprivate financing source of growing importance
We will encourage donor activities for science and research, inter alia, with tax relief.
Long-term development of donor activities is necessary for better integration of research
activities with the society, and consequently, improved position (reputation) of theresearchers and innovators in the society. The key prerequisite for donor activities istrust in science as a catalyst of the development, and of establishing a creative,knowledge-based society. Considering that the segment of donor activities is an
important part of co-financing of research activities in the developed countries, the goalof RISS is to encourage the long-term development of this segment in society, also bymeans of tax relief, bearing in mind that this is a continuing process, having much longer
horizon then the expected for the current financial crisis.
5. Enhancement of the investments into research and development activities in thebusiness sector
A special attention should be paid to the investments into research and development
economies.
For encouragement of such investments, the supporting measures of the state are of
extreme importance, figuring in wholesome financial resources for development of
products, processes and services, and in tax exemptions for investment into R& D andinto market development.
Measures for the encouragement of the investments into research and development
economies are explained in detail in the chapter 5.1.
Objectives and measures
Key sector objective

16

Selected indicatorswith target values

The expression frontier research in the entire document encompasses basic and pioneer research.

Public investments in
R&D as % of GDP

Achievement of the highinvestment into research anddevelopment activities, inaccordance with national values
for so called Barcelona target

and as indirect effectGross domestic
expenditure for R&D
as % of GDP

MeasuresResponsibility

Deadline

Indicator

20

Effective use of public funds for
R&D

Government
of
the
RS
(science,technology,
innovation,highereducation, economy)

2011–
2020

Improved values ofeffectindicators(output) compared to
input for at least 20%

21

Tax relief for companies as theencouragement for investments into
R&D

Government
of
the
RS
(science,technology,
innovation, economy)

2013–
2020

Improvement ofrelief instrument

22

Encourage research projects ofpublic research organisations in cooperation with innovative economy

Government(science,
innovation,
education)

of

2011–
2020

60 % of public funds
for R&D are directed
into projects, involving
participationofeconomy23

Encouragement of frontier research

Government(science)

of

RS

2011–
2020

Increase of funds forfrontier research

24

Increasing the share of funds forresearch and development, andinnovation activities in Structural
Funds

Government
of
the
RS
(science,technology,
innovation,highereducation, economy)

2011–
2020

Percentage
growth25Document Synergic Use of Funds
fromDiverse
SourcesforStrengthening
ResearchandDevelopment System (national,
structural, and European, such as
OP and CIP).

Government
of
the
RS
(science,technology,
innovations,
economy,regional
policy,development,
Europeanaffairs)

2011

Document

26

Action plan for financing thestrengthening of research anddevelopment system with nationaland Structural Funds 2014-2020

Government
of
the
RS
(science,technology,
innovation,
economy,regional
policy,development,
Europeanaffairs, finance)

2013

Adoption of the plan

27

Establishment of the framework fordevelopment of donor activities insupporting investments into R&D

Government(science,
innovation,
education)

2015

Legal regulation

of

the
RS
technology,
higherthetheRStechnology,
highertax

share

3.5 Ethics in research and of the researchers
The growing integration of research and innovations into social environment, and searchfor solutions of fundamental problems and questions posed by the society, together withthe difficulty of the assessment of research and development activities results on human
life, and on the environment, create growing need for the researchers to be aware of
ethical issues. At the same time, the research profession requires a high degree of
integrity and a strong sense of responsibility, because, particularly in a small area, likethe Slovenian one, researchers often encounter situations that could be understood as aconflict of interests, or they may interfere with reputation of the research institution andthe research profession in general.
State of play
In Slovenia, the questions of ethics in research are dealt with by the Commission of the
Republic of Slovenia for Ethics in Medicine, being an independent body and EthicalCommission for the Experiments on Animals, operating at the Ministry of Agriculture,

Forestry and Food. The Commission of the Republic of Slovenia for Ethics in Medicine has
a long tradition, being one of the oldest national ethics commission in the world, and has
contributed its share to forming of European ethical standards for biomedical research on
human. This covers the Council of Europe Oviedo Convention on Human Rights andBiomedicine, and additional Protocol on Biomedical Research to Oviedo Convention. Bothof them are legal and ethical instruments with force of law, and Slovenia ratified them as
one of the first countries. Regarding the ethics of research on human, they are both
directly applicable in practise. Slovenia has some special aspects regulated in respective
laws, e.g. research on human embryos, handling human cells, tissues and other.
Moreover, it promptly follows the development of ethics in biomedicine, and continues toco-operate in creating international standards, e.g. guidelines for ethical assessment ofresearch.
Partly, the ethical control over research on the other areas, for example in social
sciences, is not yet set, where the rights of people, included in the research, can beviolated. Due to the fast development of science and the use of its achievements, theneed for ethical assessment of all scientific projects as requirement for commencementof work is becoming more and more explicit. This also applies for the areas, where theprobability of direct violation of human rights and ethic norms seems small. The
possibility of so called double use of achievements also needs to be taken into
consideration. This can involve unforeseen misuse - making of a new weapon or meansfor criminal or terrorist activities, unacceptable interventions for the benefit of individual
or society. Consistent with the tendencies in the developed world, it will be reasonable toconsider the ethical control over publishing which should not affect the freedom ofscience and freedom of spreading its results. In any case, the legislation and legal
arrangements will have to be supplemented in accordance with the development acrossthe world. In addition, the acceptance of codes of moral integrity and good practise inscience that will be a basis for forming such codes as well in all the scientific institutions
will be important.
Objectives
The aim is to ensure high level of ethical awareness of researchers at their work andoutwards.
1. For assessment of ethnicity of research outside biomedicine, the needs for new
independent sector commissions for research ethics are indicated. In co-operation withall the stakeholders we will prepare systematic institutional arrangement of dealing withthe ethical questions in all the important areas, following the example of the European
Union countries.
2. A national code of ethics, honour and good practices in science will have to be
adopted. It could serve as a basis for codes of individual research institutions.
3. Court of Honour for the scientific area needs to be established.
Measures

Key sector objective

High ethical standards inpublic research anddevelopment activities in
Slovenia

MeasureResponsibility

Deadline

Indicator

28

Establishment of Court of Honour
for the scientific area consistingof the topmost impartial andethical irreproachable membersof the scientific community

Government of the
RS (science), SASA

2012

Constitution of Court of Honour
for the scientific area

29

Institutionalised examination of
ethical issues in science

Government of the
RS (science), SASA

2012

Adopted plan

30

Public debate on guidelines for
ethics in science

Government of the
RS (science), SASA

2014

Formulating the guidelines in thenational code of ethics, moral
integrity and good practice inscience

4 Establishment of capacities in support of research anddevelopment
4.1 Strengthening human resources
In Slovenia, the awareness of importance of human resources development is present fora long time. Parallel to the recognition of the importance of science for the general socialand economic development, the strengthening of human resources in science has a
predominant place in the medium-term national research and development programmes.
State of affairs
In 2008, there were 16243 employees in research and development activities, of which
10123 (62 %) researchers. Measured with the employment under full time equivalent(FTE), we had 7032 FTE researchers, of which 3058 (43 %) in the business sector, 2156
(31%) in the state sector (public research institutions), 1795 (26%) higher educational
sector, and only 23 (0, 33%) in the non-profit private sector. The highest growth among
the researchers was detected in the business sector, namely 58 % between 2005 and2008. The proportion of researchers in the business sector has therefore achieved 43 %in 2008 which is slightly below the EU 27 average (46 %). The international comparisonof the proportion of FTE researchers among the employees places Slovenia with 0.71 %above the EU 27 average (0.68 %), and still under the EU 15 average (0.75 %).
The proportion of employees with doctoral degrees is gradually improving. In 1990,
among the employees in research and development activities, there were only 12 % of
doctors of science, and in 2008, 25 % the proportion of doctors of science among the
researchers was 41 % in the same year (e.g. 39 % in Ireland), of which the lowest ratio
was in the business sector (10 %, in Ireland 14 %), but in higher educational sector 62% (in Ireland 56 %), and in the state sector 46 % (in Ireland 71 %).
In terms of age and gender the structure of Slovenian researchers is satisfactory, since
the share of researchers aged 34 years or younger is increasing. This share amounted to
34 % in 1990, and already to 39 % in 2008. At the same time a program of "Youngresearchers" includes increasing number of women, especially in the field of biotechnicalscience, medicine, social sciences and humanities, where women also have a majority
share. Current share of women among the researchers amounts to 34 % for Slovenia,
and exceeds the EU 27 average (30 %). However, in the academic sector, there were
only 17 % of women with a title of full professor in 2007.
According to the data from 2008, among the employed researchers the majority works inthe area of technical science (42 %) and natural science (34 %), followed by social
science (9 %), medical science (7 %), humanities (5 %), and biotechnical science (3 %).
Objectives
The aim is to achieve a greater development of human resources, namely:
1. Increase the number of researchers and developers in the economy

Excellent research stuff will be attracted by the introduction of incentive measures in thefield of tax, labour, immigration and other legislation. We will design a comprehensive
system of encouragement mechanisms for increasing the mobility of personnel between
public research organisations and economy, for employment of researchers in companies,
for "a lease" of researchers, and for strengthening research and development capacities
in the economy. The costs of employers for researchers and developers in the companies
will be comparable or lower to those in the neighbouring and other applicable countries.
A special emphasis will be given to personnel in natural science and technics, including
encouragement of study in these areas on tertiary level. In addition to developing
personnel, as wide as possible circle of employees needs to be included in the innovation
processes.
2. Increasing the number of doctors of science
Upon the selection of areas, the principle of integral development of all the disciplines will
be protected when determining the number of doctoral candidates to whom the state will
co-fund the study costs, and in particular, there will be more funds for the areas that will
be designated as national priorities, based on recognised competences and competitive
advantages in science and in economy.
3. Strengthening the qualifications of the personnel
The strengthening of the personnel qualifications has to be systematic, and is based on
the livelong learning. Newly generated knowledge in the relation to the acquisition ofmanagement skills and the preparation of national and international R&D projects are ofparticular interest for researchers. In addition, researchers will have to gain knowledge
on new managerial techniques, communication, intellectual property rights, andentrepreneurship.
4. Ensuring effective inter-institutional and interstate mobility of researchers
We will enable the integration and mobility of researchers between different publicresearch organisations. Equalisation of status of researchers at the institutes anduniversity teaching staff will contribute to this aim. Interaction and mobility between
public research organisations and industry will be systematically encouraged throughtechnology platforms and other mechanisms.
Slovenia must open more to the EU and the rest of the world regarding the intellectual
and work movements. Therefore, we will encourage international mobility of researcherswhich significantly contributes to their quality, and to attractiveness of research career.
We will systematically encourage integration and mobility of researchers between publicresearch organisations and economy, and inclusion of the excellent professionals fromthe companies into educational and research system.
5.
Improvement of career opportunities for researchers, and inclusion of the gender equality
principle
The basic requirement for establishment of career opportunities for researchers is
effective information network on possibilities of research work in Slovenia and abroad. It
is necessary to create a living environment that will attract people from abroad, andencourage domestic researchers for international mobility. Foundation for theestablishment of career opportunities is also an introduction of encouraging statutory
provisions which will assure social security for researchers, favourable working
conditions, and clear employment procedures.
National efforts for the development of research careers will be, according to thesubstantive premises and intention, comparable to the international ones, regardless of
the area of research work, and primarily in conformity with the European premises forcommon framework of the scientific career development.
It is necessary to reduce vertical segregation, therefore, support from a decision making
level for changes, and modernisation of research organizations, are very important. The
first is necessary to adopt measures for gender equality, to change legislation, and to
focus attention to the role of gender in research, in pedagogic work, and in management

of institutions. The basic requirement for such support is a good acknowledgment with
importance of gender equality. Therefore, with a help from professional body Commission
on Women in Science, we will support promotion activities, follow the principle ofbalanced representation of both genders when appointing working bodies within thecompetence of MVZT, and when preparing legal acts and other strategic documents. The
areas and activities for improving career opportunities for researchers in all the career
periods, and for ensuring the gender equality principle, will be defined in Action Plan for
Improving Career Opportunities for Researchers in all the Career Periods, and for
Ensuring the Gender Equality Principle. MVZT and MG are responsible for its preparation,and shall submit it to the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for adoption.

Measures
Key sector objective

Selected indicators with target
valuesShare of researchers in the
FTE among persons in
employment

Strong, quality andadequately allocated humanresources in research
activities

Share of researchers in thebusiness sector
Share of researchers withforeign citizenship among
all the researchers

MeasureResponsibility

Deadline

31

Encourage study in natural andtechnical
sciences(scholarships, promotion)

Government of the RS(higher
education,science,technology,
innovations)

2011–
2020

Increasing the number ofgraduates in natural andtechnical sciences in thetertiary field of education to1000 inhabitants aged
between 20 and 29 years.

32

Scheme for the growth of thenumber and the share ofresearchers in business sector,
inter alia:

Government of the RS(science,technology,
innovations, finance)

2011–
2020

Increase of the number andthe share of researchers in thebusiness sector (unit: FTE)

- updating the incentives
for employment ofresearchers in thebusiness sector

Government of the RS(science,technology,
innovations)

2011

Increase of the number andthe share of PhDs among
researchers in the businesssector (unit: FTE)

- subsidization or imposed
upper limits for social
security contributions, paidby the employers in thecompanies- co-financing activities by
the business sector forstrengthening educationand training of theemployed in the R&D area,
and organisational
improvements in this area
- content extension of the
tax relief for the companies
for investments in R&D(already including
expenditures for new
researchers) with relief foreducating personnel fromthe business sector

Government of the RS(finance,science,technology,
innovations)

Government of the RS(science,technology,
innovations, finance)

Government of the RS(science,technology,
innovations)

2014–
2020

20122014

2014

Indicator

33

Encouragement of interstate
mobility of researchers- elimination ofadministrative, technicaland tax barriers forinternational mobility inboth directions

Government of the RS(science,
highereducation, technology,
innovations)

2011–
2020

Share of PhDs who have for atleast three months studied,worked or researched abroadin the last 10 years
Share of researchers withforeign citizenship among all
the researchers
Share of foreign students
among the new PhDs

- systematic measures forencouragement ofinternational mobility inboth directions, inter alia
- forming international
compatibility ofmechanisms for recognitionof researchers'
qualifications
34

Action Plan for Improving
Career Opportunities for
Researchers in all the Career
Periods, and for Ensuring theGender Equality Principle

Government of the RS(science,technology,
innovations)2012

Adoption of the Action Plan

4.2 Specialization
Excellency on the world-wide basis is necessary for successfulness in the global world.
Similar to comparative advantages in economy theory, a lack of critical mass and limited
resources in smaller and less developed regions due to complexity of scientific problems,and due to the size of necessary investments in the infrastructure, speak in support ofknowledge and competencies concentration in the selected fields. Such a concept of
specialization of a country or of a region that exploits local advantages, given features,characteristics, and prior investments into the establishment of capacities and of
scientific excellence, enables the development of quality domestic competences andleading position in these areas upon the most optimal use of financial resources.
State of affairs
The Resolution on the NRDP 2006-2010 followed the example of Central European
priorities and provided five broad priority fields (information and communication
technologies, advanced (new-emerging) synthetic metallic and non-metallic materials
and nanotechnologies, complex systems and innovative technologies, technologies forsustainable economy, health and life sciences). At the same time, it also definednarrower technological fields by means of technological feasibility studies. It has been
foreseen that the SZT after a two year period, executes a detailed evaluation of priority
setting, and complements the list of priorities where necessary.
The broadly identified fields in the NRDP 2006-2010 could not provide for implementationof the concept of the specialization. For this reason, the funding for research anddevelopment has been spread around a wide spectre of activities in a balanced way until
2009, which interfered with the establishment of a critical mass of capacities that would
ensure a possibility of quality in a global context.
Although the Council for Science and Technology did not carry out the evaluation ofpriority fields, the past years have been marked with numerous attempts for set out
narrower thematic priority fields. The Study on »Technological Foresights and Slovene
Development Priorities« (2008, Institute of Economic Research) and the documents on
National Technological Platforms were based on qualitative analyses, complemented byquantitative data on implementing enterprises, and on research groups and theircompetencies. The Report on Results of Identification of Narrow Priority Development
Themes (2008, TIA - Technology Development Agency), and the recommendations of thegovernmental counselling body The Competitiveness Council (2009) that are based on
evaluations of a large number of co-operating experts from the economy and the science,
are also important. Additional guidelines have been elaborated on the basis of theevaluation of the Call on Centres of Excellence (2009) which involved evaluations by
national and by foreign experts that had taken into account social implications andqualities of the public research sphere and co-operating economy. On the basis of allthese studies, the Government took a decision on seven narrow priority fields for theCompetence Centres. In the past two years, we awarded over 120 MEUR from publicfunds to those set out 15 priority fields by means of tenders for Centres of Excellenceand Competence Centres for the period till 2013, and started implementing specializationof the Slovenian science and technology. Complementary to these fields, eight industrial
sectors have been pointed out and supported with 185 MEUR within the framework forDevelopment Centres of the Slovene Economy.
The prior efforts point to the future development of specialization fields in Slovenia.
Instead of on a basis of a top-down decision that could have been made by the policy,
possibly supported by expert opinions in studies of technological foresights or by opinionsfrom the economy and from the researchers, the development of smart specialization
fields has been established as a permanent and open process that involves all the key
stakeholders. The use of specialization conception is becoming implemented with larger
extend of public funds on the selected fields.
Objectives
The aim is to create smart specialization fields of state or region, on which Slovenia will
be able to establish itself as excellent and competitive country in the international
context. RISS as a long-term strategic document defines a way of formulating andevaluating fields of specialization, and not the fields themselves, that must be chosen on
the basis of permanent, inclusive and top-down open process, and substantiated withcomparative analyses of competences in the individual fields that contribute to solvingsocial problems.
Two measures for enhanced specialization:
1. Establishment of formulation and evaluation of fields of specialization
This shall be permanent and bottom-up open process of recognition and selection ofpriority fields. The latter will be identified on the basis of incentives by individual
stakeholders, and substantiated with comparative analyses of their competencies, either
within the framework of research and innovation policies, or either of industrial policies.
Selection and development of the selected priority fields will be subject to internal andforeign evaluations every second year, which may lead to changes in the earmarked
support to particular priority fields. Therefore, the programmes will be based on
partnerships among quality segments of public and of private sectors, and they will becomplemented by the establishment of target capacities (e.g. personnel andinfrastructure).
2. Increasing the extend of funding in the fields of specialization that enable building ofdomestic competences and competitive advantages in the science and the economy
We will invest additional funding into the selected smart specialization fields, and at thesame time, we will continue to support projects in all the other fields, based on the
excellence and perspectives for growth and development, enabling development of newly
generated knowledge and competences, and ensuring scientific broadness.

Measures
Key objective of thespecialisation

Selected indicators with target
valuesExcellence in science
Share of national scientificpublications among 10% of themost cited publications in theworld
Rise of scientific andeconomicalcompetitivenessProductivity
Value added per person in
employment
Technological complexity of theeconomyShare of high-technology andmiddle-high technologicalproducts in the export ofproducts

MeasureResponsibility

Deadline

Indicator

35

Permanent evaluation andrecognition of the fields ofspecialisation

Government of the RS(science, technology,
innovation, economy)

2011–
2020

Comparative analyses ofcompetitive advantages andcompetences

36

Investments intodevelopment of competences
and strengthening ofdevelopment cores in thefields of specialisation

Government of the RS(science, technology,
innovation)

2011–
2020

Budget share for science andtechnology, intended for fields ofspecialization
Relative factor of influence of
publications in the research areas,
covered by the fields ofspecialization, in comparison torelative factor of influence for theentire Slovenia- changes 2010-2014-2020
Expenditure for R&D per
researcher in economic activities,
covered by specialization, incomparison to such expenditureof the business sector- changes 2010-2014-2020

37

Attracting Pros into solving
challenges of social
development

Government of the RS(science, technology,
innovation, higher
education)

2011–
2020

Share of resources for central
social challenges in national
budgets for R&D activity (e.g.
objectives of "efficient use ofnatural resources" and "renewableenergy resources")

4.3 Research infrastructure development
Research infrastructures are facilities, resources or services that encompass larger setsof research equipment or instruments, and they complement knowledge resources suchas collections, archives and database. They are engines of innovation and the basic
condition for research work. At the same time, in particularly larger and medium-sized
infrastructures, are essential for excellence of this work and for conducting the mostsophisticated research. Around 50000 researchers from Europe are using at least 300
large research infrastructures every year. This results in 3000 to 6000 research articles
with very high impact, chains of patents, spin-offs from Pros, and contracts with theindustry. Their use enables answering to important social challenges, such as humanhealth, climate changes, aging of the population, and energy supply, monitoring andresponding to changed social relations, values and behaviour of individuals, and helps
industry to develop new high-performance materials and medicines, and to monitor theenvironment.
Access of Slovenian researchers to developed and large research infrastructures istherefore essential for reaching and maintaining level of scientific development on the
globally comparable level. This access can be provided by construction of national
research infrastructure, and by international integration in the establishment of suchcommon infrastructure. By 2020, several tens of new research infrastructures will beready, and Europe will be among the leading in the world in terms of e-infrastructures.
The network of all the research infrastructures will reinforce human resources in science,
enable free movement of people and ideas within the European research area, and withthe cooperation among the higher education sector, economy and research institutes,
encourage emergence of new innovation ecosystems.
State of affairs
In Slovenia, research infrastructure is wide spread (there is no adequate overview of
duplications of equipment within institutions), partly obsolete, and in most cases does
not attain the critical mass neither the excellence, comparable with large European andglobal research infrastructures.
The main instrument for development of research infrastructures are various forms of cofinancing by Slovenian Research Agency, which by means of calls of proposals and direct
allocation of funds subsidizes purchases of equipment to organisations, the activity ofwhich is an infrastructural condition for carrying out the national research programme.
For purchase of new equipment the Slovenian Research Agency earmarks from 2 to 4
MEUR annually, in addition to 7 to 8 MEUR for infrastructural programmes of research
institutions.
Under competitive conditions, larger part of foreign research infrastructures can beaccessed. However, the needs of Slovenian researchers to access international research
infrastructures (which Slovenia is not a member of) are far larger from actually realised.
In 2009, eight new Centres of Excellence (COs) have been established, out of which four
will allocate more than half of assigned funds (8 to 10 MEUR) to purchase of researchequipment until 2013, and can therefore, together with excellent researchers, represent
the critical mass in a sense of a research infrastructural centre: COs for nanosciences andnanotechnologies, for integrated approaches in chemistry and protein biology, for lowcarbon technologies, and CO for the Study of Structures and Interactions in
Biotechnology and Pharmacy for research in biotechnology, pharmacy, and matterphysics.
Objectives
The aim is to provide access to excellent research infrastructure, namely:
1. Better exploitation of the existing national research infrastructure
To grant access to research equipment, which is at disposal of PROs in Slovenia, atransparent and publicly accessible virtual centre (portal) will be established, enabling
fast and clear overview of available capacities, together with registration and information
for all the shareholders on how to access this equipment. Such centre will link to similarcentres in nearby countries. This way, we will link the equipment together, and increase
its exploitation, enabling the international exchange of spare capacities, and establishinga mechanism for the usage of the available capacities. State will continue to assure apart of funds for maintenance and functioning of research infrastructure in the PROs.
Access to research infrastructure will be granted to all the users under the same
conditions, following the measures of scientific excellence and importance.
2. Upgrading and constructing new research infrastructure in priority areas

For reaching the critical mass and the scientific excellence, Slovenia will be developing
national research infrastructure in priority areas, complementing the areas of smart
specialization, and contributing to a balanced development of the society. The areas andactivities for reaching these aims will be defined by Research Infrastructures
Development Plan 2011-2020. The MVZT is responsible for its preparation, and shallsubmit it to the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for adoption. The selection of theareas will be evaluated and revised in line with the process, defined in Chapter
Specialization.
In longer term, the aim is to reach critical mass and scientific excellence in at least one
scientific field, to bring together the international partners to form an infrastructural
centre on the highest global level in Slovenia, and to place this research infrastructure on
the European agenda in developing research infrastructures.
3. International integration upon accessing large research infrastructures
It is reasonable for Slovenia to provide itself access to large research infrastructures until
2020, by co-operation in international projects, evaluated as the priority projects anddescribed in the national Research Infrastructures Development Plan 2011-2020.
Slovenia will aspire to participate in international infrastructural projects in a mannermost suitable for it, following the principle that the benefits of Slovenian contributions tointernational research infrastructures must be larger for our science than in case of theseresources invested in national infrastructure of this kind. In this connection, theSlovenian contributions will have to be spent in the largest possible extent within thenational economy or directly returned to it as soon as possible.

Measures
Key sector objective

Selected indicators withtarget values

Strong, up-to-date, well
exploited and internationally
supported research
infrastructure (RI)

Budget funds for research
infrastructure (RI) per
researcher in the public
sectorMeasure38

Responsibility

Deadline

Indicator

Arrange open access to research
infrastructure per publicresearch organisation

Government of the RS(science, technology,
innovation, higher
education)

2012

Establishment of virtual centre
for access to RI, and of
mechanism to access sparecapacities

Government of the RS(science, technology,
innovation)

2012

40

Concentration of the funds for a
new RI on the selected areas

Government of the RS(science, technology,
innovation)

2012

Increasing of the funds for a
new RI on the selected areas

41

Establishment of national
centres for medium-sized RI

Government of the RS(science, technology,
innovation)

2020

Two new centres

42

Ensuring conditions for theEuropean RI centre in Slovenia

Government of the RS(science, technology,
innovation)

2020

The head office of European
Research Infrastructure
Consortium in Slovenia

43

Inclusion in international RI
centres (projects)

Government of the RS(science, technology,
innovation)

2012

International RI centres, atwhich Slovenia isparticipating as co-investor -39

Legal regulation
Share of external RI users in
the common hours ofequipment usage
Public access to virtual centre
Number of registrations forspare capacities throughvirtual centre

funds for this purpose as %of all the funds for RIInternational RI centres, atwhich Slovenia isparticipating as a user, basedon paid "fee" funds for this purpose as %of all the funds for RI
44

Adoption of the Research
Infrastructure Development Plan

Government of the RS(science, technology,
innovation)

2011

Adopted plan

4.4 Development of business-innovation infrastructure
Innovations are one of the most important elements of economic growth, and at thesame time, the answer to social challenges. Entrepreneurs are those who play a central
role in the innovation process, as they are adding commercial value to ideas andknowledge, and generating employments. For the development of a competitive economy
it is extremely important to establish the effective business-innovation infrastructures.
Business-innovation infrastructure includes government executive institutions, entities ofthe supporting environment, defined in the Supportive Environment for Entrepreneurship
Act17 (ZPOP-1), and also other public and private institutions, and financial intermediaries
that provide support for entrepreneurs and enterprises in developing their businessideas.
While research and development are still very important part of the innovation process,new value in companies is, due to the changed nature of innovations and changed role ofstakeholders, primarily created by the interweaving of several different activities. In themodern business environment, the process of innovation is conducted in co-operation
with suppliers, customers, competition, higher education sector, scientific researchorganizations, and of course other companies. This network allows for everyone,
especially for small innovative companies, to overcome numerous obstacles andlimitations related to their size, limited resources or stage of development, and inparticular, the difficulties in accessing funds, partnerships and markets, limited
technological capacities, and lack of managerial skills.
Business-innovation infrastructure must support the concept of open innovation andnetworking that include small, medium and large enterprises, higher educational
institutions, research institutes, various government institutions, and other stakeholders
in the innovation process. It must ensure support not only to technological, but also nontechnological innovations. This means that special attention has to be paid tomanagement, organisational changes, new business models, design and creativity,
marketing, and in general to the development of capability to control and to adapt to thechanges. Non-technological innovations and industry, creative in such a manner, areimportant in particular in service activities which present a substantial share of the
Slovenian economy.
Entrepreneurial-innovation infrastructure includes also wider
regulatory environment, and general atmosphere, encouraging creativity, innovation, andentrepreneurship.
State of affairs
Slovenia has developed a broad business-innovation infrastructure with a large numberof implementing and supporting institutions, the biggest shortcoming of which are highfragmentation and inconsistency.
The mission of diverse implementing institutions and their responsibility for achieving theobjectives of development policy are not defined clearly enough. The programmes andmeasures are duplicating and are not integrated; therefore, the system is opaque,insufficiently exploited and not efficient enough, and unstable.

17

Uradni list RS, št. 102/2007.

In Slovenia, based on encouragement measures by the state, diverse public and private
institutions were established that connect companies and PROs, and ensure supporting
services for them (e.g. technological centres, technological parks, entrepreneurship anduniversity incubators, clusters, and technological networks ...). By means of Supportive
Environment for Entrepreneurship Act, the legal bases are set for co-investments of thestate into development of services by supporting institutions, but are being carried out
partly and unsystematically. The role of these supporting institutions in comparison to
public implementing agencies is not clear; therefore, the programmes and measures are
duplicating in places.
System of monitoring and evaluating of the effects is not established.
To create a positive innovation microclimate, Slovenia must continue to move towards
strengthening the culture of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship, as defined in
Chapter 6.
Objective
The aim is to establish a comprehensive and high quality network of supporting
institutions, namely:
1. Improving effectiveness of operation of implementing institutions
With integration and restructuring of public implementing institutions from the areas ofresearch and development, innovations and entrepreneurship, the duplication upon
preparing and carrying out of measures of development policies, will be eliminated.
Bigger efficiency of operation will be ensured by means of clearly defined mission, tasks,
and responsibilities for achieving the objectives of the development policy, and forregular evaluation of their work, in accordance with measures from the Chapter 2. Theirexpert and cost effective implementation of various public functions is going to beverified, and the potential for their optimisation by the transfer of powers to the mostqualified public or private institutions examined.
2. Updating the network of supporting actors in entrepreneurship and innovation
To make better use of entrepreneurial and innovative potentials and to encourage linking
in the economy, and also between research, educational and cultural organisations,individuals (researchers, innovators, and artists) and the economy, we will form
comprehensive strategy for the development of the network of supporting institutions (asfor example, technological and development centres, clusters, design centres,
technological parks, incubators, ...) which can assure additional supporting services forthe wider circle of users by means of inclusion into the network. A special attention will
be paid to the development of services in support of implementing new business models,and of encouraging international integration. In this framework, an efficient and easy
access to facilities of current R&D infrastructures is also needed, along with promoting
technology transfer or activities for technology transfer offices, as defined in Chapter 3.2.
My means of forming comprehensive network of supporting institutions, we will enable
users’ better transparency and easier access to these services. Larger reliability andforecast of functioning of the entrepreneurship-innovation infrastructure will be ensured
by financing multi-annual programmes of individual institutions, selected according to thequality of services and by means of regular evaluation of the implementation
successfulness.
3. Improving transparency and accessibility of information on public calls
The measure calls for the establishment of a single portal for the publication of all public
calls, along with a search engine for interested users, and implementation in accordancewith the Public Finance Act18 and the provisions on public and transparent publication of
public tenders, which is at the moment assured with the publication in the Official
Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia. The portal will become a single and sole point for
18

Uradni list RS, št.11/2011- official consolidated text.

publishing all public calls, by the example of publication of calls for public procurement,
and at the same time, will result in simplification, and reduction of the costs.
Ukrepi
Selected indicators withtarget values

Key sector objective

Population of the companies
Net accrual of companies
Innovation
Net accrual of companies
Share of companies which
introduced either
technological or nontechnological innovation,
among all the companies
Innovation co-operation
Share of SMEs, co-operatingwith other companies
and/or PROs in innovations,among all such companies

Comprehensive, quality andsolid network of supporting
institutions for favourable
innovation environment

Number of successfullytransferred inventions by
individuals into economic
usage
Industrial property
Number of patentapplications according to
PCT19 per MEUR GDP
Number of protectedtrademarks per MEUR GDP(Community trademark)Number of protected
designs per MEUR GDP(Community design)

MeasureResponsibility

Deadline

Indicator

45

Restructuring of public agencies
for technological development
JAPTI and TIA

Government of the RS(economy, science,technology,
innovation)-{}-2011

Evaluation Report on JAPTI and
TIA - assessment of expert andcost effectiveness46

Development of new services
and supporting subjects forstrengthening innovation
process,

Government of the RS(economy, science,technology,
innovation)

2012

Changes in user structure of
supporting services according to
the area of activity

including services for
implementing new businessmodelsChanges in user structure of
supporting services according to
the size of companies
Number of successfullytransferred inventions by
individuals into economic usage
Share of companies which
introduced technologicalinnovation, among all thecompanies
Share of companies which
introduced non-technologicalinnovation, among all thecompanies
Share of companies in service
activities which introduced

19

Patent applications according to PCT (International Patent Cooperation Treaty) = PCT patent applications

innovation among all thecompanies in services activities

47

Open platform for integration or
networking (e-Environment)

Government of the RS(economy)

2012

Establishment of platform

48

Single portal for publication of all
public calls

Government of the RS(public administration)

2011

Introduction of the portal

4.5 Information infrastructure supporting innovation system
Information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure is one of the key
strategic pillars for European research and innovation policies. Innovations and related
economic and social developments are mostly dependent on the pace of scientificprogress which is today possible only with open and cross-border cooperation ofscientists from all over the world via broadband network. In addition, the contemporary
science for modelling complex systems and processing very large amounts of data bases
deploys more and more opportunities, offered by ever larger computer power, andalmost unlimited possibilities for storage of vast amount of scientific data bases.
In recent years, ICT infrastructure has crucially changed the way researchers work
which is demonstrated with new research approaches and methods in many research
fields. This change, named E-Science20 can be compared to "scientific renaissance" whichis the basis for modern science.
State of play
To keep its integration in modern research flows, Slovenia has to accept this paradigm
and secure budget for development and maintenance of needed e-Infrastructure which
will ensure "to make full use of the emerging distributed forms of research activity (eScience) based upon international research networks made possible by the availability
and quality of European network infrastructures like GEANT and e-Science GRIDnetworks."21. Slovenia is connected into GEANT and e-Science GRID-network throughactivities of the public institute ARNES, the functioning of which is ensured with fundingby the MVZT. To support complete development of broadband connectivity, has in 2008
adopted Strategy of development of broadband networks in Slovenia.
Objectives:
1. Strengthen the basis of scientific e-Infrastructure which supports Slovenian researchcommunity
Basic components of scientific e-Infrastructure are dependable and fast broadband
optical networks enabling connection to international research network GEANT2 and escience GRID-network, which enable scientists to solve complex questions more
efficiently and faster, to access ever increasing scientific data bases, and to participate ininternational virtual multidisciplinary research groups or to have the possibilities toprepare new research environments. One of the basic components of scientific eInfrastructure is also national point for high performance computing.
2. Free access to research data from public funding
Free access to raw data from public funding via Internet, also free of charges, will
improve and increase knowledge and information transfer. This way, we will prevent
duplication in research, increase efficiency of research work, and enhance the return ofthe public funding for research and development.
20
21

ICT Infrastructure for e-Science COM(2009) 108, 5. 3. 2009.

Competitiveness Council, 22-23 November 2007,(www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/intm/97225.pdf).

Ukrepi
Key sector objective

Selected indicatorswith target values

Establishment of modern, ICT
infrastructure for an
expansion of science in
Slovenia

Broadband
penetration rate

MeasureResponsibility

Deadline

Indicator

49

Implementing Strategy ofdevelopment of broadband
networks in the Republic ofSlovenia.

Government of the RS(information society,telecommunications)2013

Selected indicators in
Strategy of developmentof broadband networks
in Republic of Slovenia

50

Support to functioning of public
institute ARNES

Government of the RS(information society,telecommunications, science)

20112020

Annual budget funds for
ARNES

51

Inclusion of the field of ICTdevelopment to support R&D
infrastructure in National
programme of information society

Government of the RS(information society,telecommunications,innovation)

2011

National programme of
information society

52

Ensuring functioning of national
co-ordination centre for GRIDtechnology, SiGNET NGI

Government of the RS(information society,telecommunications, science,
innovation)

2011

Functioning of the centre

ARNES
53

Ensuring and spreading
functioning of stabile and highperformance ICT-infrastructure
for educational, scientific, andcultural sphere (Eduroam, AAI).

Government of the RS(information society,telecommunications, science,higher education)

20122020

Functioning of highperformance ICTinfrastructure foreducational, scientific,
and cultural sphere

54

Ensuring access to highperformance computer capacities
for PROs.

Government of the RS(information society)2014

Activating the access

55

Preparation of action plan for freeaccess to data from publicly
funded research

Government of the RS(science)

2014

Action plan, harmonisedamong relevant actors in
Slovenia

5 Innovative economy
5.1 Accelerating private investments into R&D
Investments in R&D are one of the key factors for competitive capability of companies.
Therefore, creating simulative environment and conditions for increase of private
investments, is a priority of the state.
State of affairs
In recent years, the scope of investments of the private sector into research anddevelopment has been increasing in Slovenia, and approaching EU average, but is still far
from the most successful countries. This progress also shows a positive influence of tax
incentives for investments into R&D, but their share in Slovenia is still lower then in the
majority of the most successful countries. There still remains the fact that above-average
investments and the trend of increasing investments into R&D in the private sector
remain limited to only certain sectors of activities and a small group of companies,
whereas the vast majority, in particular small businesses, invest into development way
below the average, and are also capable of exploiting the advantages of innovation
activities below the average.

Also the amount of investments of public resources for R&D in the economy has
significantly increased in recent years, especially due to the use of funds provided by
European structural and cohesion policy. In addition, incentives to the companies aremostly intended for implementing R&D projects in connection with public research sector.
Direct (non-refundable) financial incentives for investments into research anddevelopment have favourable effects, but the sources are limited, and not sufficient forcovering actual needs, in particular, because of the reduction of sources from European
structural policy. The shortcomings are shown mainly at ensuring access do refundable
sources of financing for investment into R&D, and into projects with higher risk, nottypically acceptable by the financial market. Access to (mainly commercial) sources offinancing of the development is, according to success indicators of innovation system(EIS 2009), far under the EU average (67 % average).
Objectives
The aim is to increase private investments into R&D, namely:
1. Strengthen incentives for increasing private investments into R &D from public funds.
We will direct 60% of these public funds into projects in co-operation with the economy,
as defined in Chapter 3.5. Also, a special emphasis will be given to improvement ofcompanies' access to commercial sources of financing for research, technologicaldevelopment, and commercialisation of new products and services, based on their own
knowledge. To increase financial capabilities for these purposes, the additional publicfunds will be directed into instruments of financial engineering through existing financial
institutions, in order to achieve the strongest possible financial affect, and at the sametime, ensure access to favourable (debt and equity) financing resources for R&D activities
on diverse levels of development.
2. Support the employment of researchers or developers in economy.
stated in Chapter 4.3.

Measures are

3. Strengthen the system of tax incentives for investments into R&D
A positive effect of tax incentives for investments into R&D is confirmed for the economy
and clearly demonstrates the efficiency of the measure and multiplicative effect to theeconomy, although the level of incentives in so far lower as in numerous developed
countries. A complete comparative analysis of the systems in applicable countries will be
made, a proposal for the optimisation will be prepared, and accordingly also an update ofthis measure. The purpose is to expand the existing level of tax relief or to expand
existing relief for investments into R &D also to investments into human resources
development and lifelong education, and to simplify the implementation system in a waythat it will be encouraging for wider public, especially for small businesses.
Measures
Key sector objective

Selected indicator with target
value

Increase of private
financing, mainly by thebusiness sector, into R&D

Measure56

Increased public funding
for R&D projects
responding to needs of theeconomyPrivate investments in R&D as% of GDP

Responsibility
Government of the RS(science, technology,
innovations)

Deadline
2012

Indicator
60 % of public funds for R&D are
directed into projects, responding
to needs of the innovative economy
Extend of private investments into
R &D, encouraged by public sources

5.2 More innovative start-up companies
The environment for innovations is changing. In the past, innovation policy emphasizedinvestments into R&D, but now we need to take into consideration the entire invention
and innovation process. Innovations are not just science and technology; they also
encompass new marketing methods and changes in the way of company organization,
their business practices and relationships with external stakeholders. Within thisframework, establishing new businesses by supporting entrepreneurship and innovations
is becoming a central figure. New innovative companies are a group with specific needs.
Since they mainly enter with new products and technologies, and to large extend(between 30 and 50 %) on the global market, they face even more obstacles then theother small companies when accessing outer financing resources, information, andconnections with markets.
The significance of new and small businesses in the process of innovation has increased,
as they develop and introduce new products in a more efficient way. They are using
technological and business opportunities that are often neglected by already established
enterprises. In addition, they adapt more easily to the market demands, cover not yet
exploited niches, and provide the commercialization of knowledge that is created at higheducation and research institutions. New and innovative companies co-operate in the
movement of knowledge, and are both users and sources of knowledge and penetrating
business ideas at the same time.
State of affairs
For simplified establishment of companies, Slovenia has made an enormous progress byintroducing the points VEM (all at one place) that ensure general informing ofentrepreneurs, and the online system e-VEM that allows for a fast and affordable
registration of a company. Instruments were created in order to support the companies
at early stages of their development, such as subsidies for the start-up of innovative
companies, voucher system of training for potential entrepreneurs and rising enterprises,
and incentives for self-employment.
Despite the progress in recent years, Slovenian environment still does not sufficiently
support assuming risk, entrepreneurship and responsibility for the realisation ofundertakings. Consequently, activity and development of small, particularly high-techcompanies, are still very weak (e.g. in the area of pharmacy, bioscience andnanotechnology). This is also reflected in less than 5% share of high-tech exports andtwo to three times lower added value per worker than in applicable countries of EU(Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands and Austria).
Nevertheless, Slovenia is achieving high level of knowledge of researchers in individual
technological areas of the public sector, and the amount of co-operation with enterprises
is also increasing. Relatively large start-up investments in the area of high technology
make it difficult for new and innovative companies to emerge. Due to insufficientincentives and not enough transparent and also unregulated environment, researchersand other individuals and groups do not assume risks and do not create high-techcompanies In addition, public research organizations that are not provided with sufficient
support to commercialize research results and actively manage intellectual property
rights, passively contribute to this state as well.
Objectives
The main goal is to increase the influx of new innovative companies, namely:
1. Create stimulating environment for the commercialization of knowledge in PROs
These measures are described in Chapter 3.2. (Knowledge Transfer) and encompass
regulations in the area of legislation that will enable and stimulate institutions andresearches to create spin-offs from the PROs, the development of innovation
infrastructure for founding spin-off from PROs, and an efficient system of intellectual
property rights management.

2. Set up complete scheme of financial and other incentives for the start-up and initial
running of businesses
Existing measures of financing with grants have turned out to be effective, but not
sufficient. We will strengthen debt and equity financing resources with instruments thatwill stimulate financial institutions and private undertakings to invest into seed capital.
Experience have also shown that financial incentives are effective in early stages ofdevelopment if they are connected with the transfer of knowledge and experiences forleadership, development of activities and marketing in new enterprises. Financial
incentives will be complemented with the development of services, supporting newly
founded enterprises, in order to make the support comprehensive and adapted to actual
needs.
3. We will form measures to support these start-up companies, entering global markets(so called BornGlobals). In connection with the foreign policy, and programmes forencouragement of internationalisation of the companies, we will establish a system,
supporting new global enterprises to connect with innovation centres, international
networks, and potential partners. Through institutions of supporting environment, we
will be strengthening programmes for training and international integration. We will
direct incentives for development of the venture capital market in such a manner tostimulate co-investments of foreign specialized trusts into new innovative companies in
Slovenia.
Measures
Key sector objective

Selected indicators with target
valuesNumber of newly founded hightech micro and small-sizedcompanies (annual growth or growthof the target period, expressed in index
of increased number of thesecompanies compared to previous
comparative year or period)

Increase the number ofhigh-technological microand small-sizedcompanies with fast
growth of new ones

Share of high-tech companies in
the whole number of micro andsmall-sized companies

Measure57

58

Responsibility

Comprehensive system of
support to newly founded
companies

Government of theRS (economy)

Supporttostart-upcompanies, entering on the
global market

Government of theRS (economy,
science, technology,
innovation)

Deadline
2011–
2020

Indicator
Number of companies, included into
start-up schemes
Availability of seed capital sources

20112020

Extend of investments by specialized
trusts of venture capital into companies

5.3 Faster growth of innovative companies
Innovative and fast growing companies are a big unused potential for economic growth,and the creation of added value. They are also a key factor of structural changes and asource of dynamics in many sectors.
With existing measures and focus on the phase of company founding, state is notcontributing enough to economic growth and employment. The basis for such thinking is
the fact that only 1.7% of all emerging and new SMEs have expressed an extraordinary
growth potential (which means that in a 5-year period, they will create at least 100 newwork places), and they actually contribute 50% of all new work places created. 90% of
new work places are created by one quarter of newly founded SMEs.22 These facts show
22

Global Report on High Growth Entrepreneurship (GEM), 2007.

a big opportunity for directing activities in the area of encouraging growth of businesses
and orientation to the areas with high added value, whether they are technological ornot.
The key obstacles, identified by fast growing innovative companies are access to outersources of financing for development of products and internationalisation, access tohighly qualified personnel, to information about markets, and also a legislative system,
particularly from the point of view of patenting and standardisation.
State of play
Slovenia has developed a wide range of instruments for helping companies grow. The
progress has been made in equity financing by forming a venture capital fund, in order tosupport companies with a clear growth potential, but also with a higher risk rate. We also
strengthen debt finance in forms of micro-guarantees, guarantees with interest rate
subsidies, and direct loans. But there is still much room for improvement of support
system by directing measures towards innovative companies with great growth potential
which work in areas with high added value.
International comparisons (European Innovation Scoreboard 2009) show that Slovenia is
far behind according to indicators of innovative companies growth; in relation to growthand employment in technologically intensive sectors, in particular services (72 % of EU
average), in relation to intensity of implementing new solutions and products in themarket (67% of the average), and in relation to share of high-technological services inexport (43 % of the average).
At the same time, the state can do much more to develop markets and policies on theside of the demand that have effects on innovations. One of the instruments that areavailable but have not been properly used so far is "innovative and green" public
procurements.
Slovenian economy does not have sufficient internal market, which is severely limiting
the development of new products and technologies. Therefore, in order to encourage fast
growth of innovative companies, we need to promote the internationalization of operating
activities, connecting and networking outside national frameworks, and upgrading other
instruments for strengthening international co-operation, more effectively.
Objective
The main aim is faster growth of innovative companies, namely:
1. Improve the system of access to the capital and other incentives for innovative
companies.
By means of directing public funds to financial institutions, we will strengthen sources fordebt and equity financing of companies' development projects (Chapter 5.1.). For initialdevelopment and fast growth of innovative companies, equity finance is of great
importance, bringing not only capital but also knowledge, market connections and accessto international value chains. The already established venture capital fund thatencourages development and investments of private funds will be further strengthened
so that it will influence the development of venture capital in Slovenia more actively, by
inviting foreign specialized funds, encouraging co-investments and strengthening
connections with international market.
2. Special attention paid to groups of fast growing companies
We will pay special attention to these fast growing companies that show a clear potential
of international breakthrough, and fast growth.
We will establish open system of support to strategic R&D projects for products andservices of new generations, and to strengthen their position on the market. Namely,
the existing system of incentives for carrying out strategic R &D projects by companies orgroups of companies is not adapted to actual needs. Therefore, an open programme will
be introduced which will enable fast and prompt responding to recognised opportunitiesfor technological breakthrough of companies or groups of companies with new solutions
or products on the global markets. The measure will be closely linked to measures of theindustrial policy for recognising opportunities in individual sectors or areas ofconvergence technologies, and toh measures for recognising and supporting priority
areas, presented in Chapter 3.3. The support to fast growing companies has also wider
synergy effects in form of linking with other companies, suppliers, and local partners.
3. Encourage systemic measures for the development of market through innovative
public procurements
With public procurements, the state can enable the development and testing of new
products and services on national market (flagship projects), and therefore accelerate
the development of new products, services or processes in the global market, making animportant contribution to a faster growth of innovative companies. From this point ofview, public procurements are important in particular when solving social challenges –aging of the population, management of the environment, renewable sources of energy,
etc.
We will prepare an action plan and a system for implementation of innovative public
procurements on all levels, which will enable development and implementation of
innovative solutions on the market. We will introduce a concept of demonstration andtesting into the system of public procurements in order to also encourage implementationof new solutions into the system of standardization and technical legislation. Analyses
show that for the increase of innovation, the system of standardisation is as important as
the system of intellectual property rights protection. Such aspect should not be
neglected, since demonstration projects enable inclusion of companies, in particular
SMEs, in the processes of standardisation, and at the same time, apply more and more
important model of innovating from the point of view of the end user, and simultaneously
contribute to establishment of Slovenian knowledge on the broader market.
4. Strengthen international development and business cooperation
Because the market for the companies is global we will pay special attention to theinclusion of companies into international and open innovation systems, and international
value chains. This means that we will support companies with entering into international
chains, take part in international projects and strengthen their capabilities for acompetitive performance by introducing required standards and necessary organisationalchanges and knowledge.
International R&D cooperation is a wonderful source to acquire access to up-to-dateknowledge and to become a part of the most advanced networks and consortiums, that is
why we need to support it even more by including the best public and privateorganisations into international industrial projects, also by financing participation on
events that enable access to strategic information, decisions and participation. In
addition to international cooperation, we need to encourage interdisciplinary industrial
projects that offer new possibilities and different mechanisms of connections ofcompanies.
5. Create encouraging legislation environment
When defining priorities, we will, inter alia by means of international scales ofcompetitiveness, identify factors which are of key importance for successful growth ofnational system of innovations, and pay special attention to them, and also to the key
inhibitors. This is of key importance for the growth of companies. Within this framework,
legislation in the area of companies, employment and taxes as well as standardizationand technical regulations are of great importance. We will establish favourable treatmentof companies when they pass to the next size class, which bears even bigger significancein changing business environment.
Measures
Key sector objective

Selected indicator with target
valuesNumber of fast growing SMEs
innovative companies (nonexisting in 2011).

Increase the growth anddynamics of the innovative
SMEs development

59

MeasureResponsibility

Improve access to financing
redssources and further
development of the venture
capital market

Government of the RS(economy)

Deadline
2011–
2020

Indicator
Investments of venture capital as% of GDP
Share of state funding in overall
venture capital in the country
Accessibility of venture capitalsources - WEF

60

Support at the inclusion andestablishment of companies
in international value chains

Government of the RS(economy, science,technology, innovation)

2012

Increasing value added per
employee in the companies recipients of funds in comparison
to increasing value added incompanies baseline61

Preparation of the Action Plan
and the system of innovative
public procurement

Government of the RS(finance, science,technology, innovation)

2012–
2020

Adopted plan62

Supporting strategic R&D
project for breakthrough tothe global markets

Government of the RS(science, technology,
innovation, economy)

2012

Number of companies, leading in
niche markets (champions)

63

Arrangement of businessenvironment in accordancewith the Action Plan based on
the Small Business Act

Government of the RS(economy)

2012

Regular monitoring and updatingof Action Plan

Share of public procurements forinnovative products and services
in all public procurements

Introducing changes of businessenvironment.
Progress in the GEM assessment of
the business environment

5.4 Strengthening companies’ innovation capabilities
In today’s world, companies must constantly and systematically develop and wisely andquickly introduce new business models, organisational solutions, innovative products,
master new business connections and markets, thereby strengthening their innovation
capabilities. This is the only way they are able to compete in the global environment oreven be one step ahead of their competition. It is about strengthening the managerial,organisational and technological capabilities with which companies maintain and increase
their competitive advantages.
State of affairs
Slovenia was hit by the economic crisis even harder than many countries due to thestructure of its economy with a large, prevailing processing industry with low added value
and due to its strong export orientation. In 2007, these activities produced 68.3% ofexported Slovenian goods and services and employed 41.9% of all workers in companies;that is why it is one of the weakest as well as the most important segments of Slovenian
economy in terms of export significance and the number of workers. In 2007, the added
value per worker was only EUR 31,235 (in 2000, the average in low-tech industries in the
EU was EUR 42,000) and a 4.3% profit share in its revenues. Slovenian companies
primarily fall into the segment of low and medium technological difficulty, are notsufficiently active in the area of research and innovation and are competitive in the global
market mainly in segments with strong competition, which is why they are under strongpressure in terms of prices. Another problem is that within Slovenia’s structure of
products there is only a small share of finished products, since individual components,
segments and processing of products prevails. This means that numerous companies are
only able to control individual components of innovation activity, with an emphasis on
process and less on product innovation.

Another side to this is that the service industry, which represents a large proportion of
the Slovenian economy and has an added value of 62% of the total economy, does notuse innovation capabilities to a sufficient extent. Innovation opportunities are unrealisedin public services such as health care, environment and public administration.
Due to inadequate business models and a poor focus on development, most Sloveniancompanies still operate on the basis of economies of scale, where the main emphasis ison quantity and less on added value. Development possibilities for the Slovenian
economy are limited by the potential of marketing Slovenian products and services andthe small share of sales to end-customers. The Slovenian economy does not have asufficient internal market which limits the development of new products and technologies
and makes it difficult to enter the global market.
Objectives
The main goal is to strengthen innovation capabilities of companies and thereby increase
added value, create quality jobs and promote the long-term competitiveness of theeconomy. Measures in this field strongly relate to policies in education and industry. To
reach this goal, adequate incentives are needed:
1. Incentives to strengthen innovation capabilities of companies
To create this, encouraging restructuring of companies’ business models is the mostimportant. RISS will encourage companies to focus on long-term restructuring of theirbusiness models, product strategies and leadership systems and the inclusion of creative
industries. It will direct measures towards strengthening managerial, organisational andtechnological capabilities of small and medium-sized companies in particular. The
programme will particularly encourage different forms of horizontal and vertical
integration of companies in supply chains, technological networks and clusters andservice providers.
2. Incentives for the development and introduction of new products, services andmarkets
Encouraging the development and faster introduction of new products and services aswell as the development of new markets includes a series of measures to support
commercialisation of knowledge, which is recognised as one of the key deficiencies in theexisting system of R&D support. The support encompasses direct incentives for thedevelopment and formation of products and indirect financial and fiscal incentives fortheir market testing and introduction. With public procurements that include innovations
RISS can accelerate the introduction of new solutions and thus create demand. The
possibility and effectiveness of introducing additional tax incentives for the development
and introduction of new products (tax holiday) will be tested.
3. Encouraging internationalisation
Innovation and internationalisation of companies are two intertwined determinants ofgrowth and competitiveness. Internationalisation and successful performance in foreign
markets is dependent on the innovation capability of companies, and on the flip side
performance in foreign markets and integration in international chains strengthens theinnovation capability of companies. A review of development policy measures in the fieldof internationalisation, competitiveness and innovation will be prepared, as well as acomprehensive programme of measures which support them and provide synergies. The
measures will be focused on encouraging internationalisation, inward investments whichbring knowledge and international connections enabling improved performance ofcompanies in foreign markets, and outward investments of Slovenian companies whichstrengthen their technological and innovation capabilities. A closer association with theprogrammes of international development cooperation will also be established.
4. Incentives for augmenting innovation in the area of services
Services are closely integrated into raising the competitiveness of other parts of theeconomy and public sector. Knowledge-based services which enhance innovation in theeconomy and public sector in a horizontal manner play a special role. Technologicalinnovations are not very important in services: non-technological innovations prevail inmany industries, particularly those with very high added value and mutual
complementarity (e.g. pharmaceuticals, ICT). Mechanisms and incentives (the existingand new) to encourage innovation will be adapted in a way to enable service companies
or companies in general to enhance technological and non-technological innovation. We
will focus mainly on encouraging the development of services in technological branches
which provide more sustainable and long-term competitiveness.
3. Implementing and supporting intellectual property rights protection and managementin the private sector
Companies’ intangible assets and suboptimal intellectual property management offer
opportunities not previously utilised to increase competitiveness and increase added
value. This programme will give priority to protection and implementation of intellectual
property rights over business interest, including complete international testing.

Measures
Selected indicators withtarget values

Key objective of the sector

Innovation intensity
Share of companies which
implemented technologicalor non-technologicalinnovation among allcompanies
Share of sales of new
products for the company
and of new products forthe market in total sales

Increase in innovation capacityof companies to augmentinternational competitivenessof the Slovenian economy

Productivity
Added value per employee
Performance in the market
Share of high and middle
high technology exports of
total exports

64

MeasureResponsibility

Support to companies in preparing
and implementing new products,
processes and services in themarketGovernment of the RS(economy)

Deadline
20112020

Indicator
Share of companies which
implemented technological or
non-technological innovation
among all companies
Share of companies which
implement new products andservices in the total structure

65

Improved business environment inaccordance with the Action Plan
based on the Small Business Act

Government of the RS(economy)

2011–
2020

Extent of implementedchanges and removed
administrative barriers
Better rating of businessenvironment

66

Preparation of Action Plan toencourage innovation withinternationalisation

Government of the RS(economy, science,technology,
innovation)

2012

Plan adopted

67

Implementation and support ofintellectual property rights
protection and management in theprivate sector

Government of the RS(economy)

2011–
2020

Indirect (systemic) impact
European high-tech patents
per million inhabitants
Patent applications according
to PCT per billion Euro GDP
Protected trademarks per
billion Euro GDP (Community
trademarks)
Protected designs per billion
Euro GDP (Community
designs)

6 Promotion of science, creativity and innovativeness insociety and education
The driving force of the concept of a knowledge-based society is individuals thatapproach problems and challenges from a scientific and research point of view. At thesame time this concept implies the presence of a societal environment that functions as
an incubator for new ideas and scientists. In such a society knowledge and creativity arevalues, while in the economy they are capital and investment. As such they are perceived
in particular by daring individuals who offer knowledge or an idea to everyone on themarket and hence contribute to the blooming of the economy and to common progress ofthe society as a whole. A balanced research and innovation system equips individuals
with both knowledge and with the courage and skills for responsible entrepreneurship.
State of affairs
The public image and position of researchers in Slovenian society are inadequate. Theirachievements often remain unknown and their work is perceived as insufficiently relevant
to society. Citizens are often not aware of the contributions of researchers to solvingsocial problems and the competitiveness of the economy and are typically not familiar
with globally recognized findings and products originating from domestic scientists andinnovators. The responsibility that the work of researchers and innovators is notrecognized is shared by all – the researchers, their institutions, the mass media, andindifferent individuals and also by the research and innovation system, including
ministries and executive agencies that insufficiently facilitate such promotion. At thesame time researchers also lack courage and particularly entrepreneurial skills andknowledge for the commercialisation of their findings. Such knowledge is acquired byresearchers on their own in most scientific fields and most commonly very late in theircareers, as the Slovenian educational system at all levels and, most notably at the lower
ones, does not provide for such knowledge to a sufficient degree.
Objectives
1) Popularization of science
Establishment of scientific culture and research mentality begins with the education ofyoung people in particular. School curricula are not optimally oriented in this area –insufficient part of their content is dedicated to demonstration of different modes of using
science and knowledge. We will therefore strive for an increase of such content.
Science must become a matter of curiosity of the young. Through promoting activities
and supporting centres that enable spending leisure time in touch with science, RISS will
strive to bring science closer to them and establish the basic infrastructure to practicallytest their ideas.
2) Promotion of creativity, innovativeness and the culture of entrepreneurship
For the development of an innovative Slovenian society it is necessary to promote
entrepreneurship and create a positive climate to stimulate creativity, innovativeness andentrepreneurship. The values of creativity and innovativeness should be better
communicated in all media and at all levels of the educational process. It should be
adapted to enable independent thinking, problem solving, creativity, inventiveness,entrepreneurship and development of other personal skills, and to encourage realisation

of ideas and entrepreneurship particularly at later levels of education. Inclusion of
established professionals from the entrepreneurial sector into the tertiary level
educational process will provide qualification of more students and improve the quality of
research work of the young.
3) Renovation of study programmes at the tertiary level
In modernising university and higher education study programmes, more attention will
be paid to measures and content supporting and encouraging creativity, innovativeness,goal-orientation and entrepreneurship. One of the accompanying activities of tertiarylevel study should include student networking with employees and potential sources offunding, which enables career development. To achieve this, universities and the state
have to develop appropriate mechanisms, e.g. meetings with socially establishedgraduates (alumni) and visiting lecturers who are successful entrepreneurs and young
student entrepreneurs, networks of connections with chambers of commerce andindividual companies, guided and targeted meetings of students of technical trades andbusiness, seminars on entrepreneurship, start-up of company, creativity, legal issues forcompany success and reputation management, individual mentoring of business ideas,etc. Modernisation of professional study programmes will include participation ofcompanies, specifically to help define competence profiles of study programmes, taking
into account the balance between the general academic approach and industry needs.
Measures
Key objective of thesector

Selected indicators with target
valuesReputation of science
Innovation culture

Reputation of scienceand a high innovation
culture in society

Share of companies active ininnovation among allcompanies

MeasureResponsibility

Deadline

Indicator

68

Wholesale promotion ofscience and innovativenessin society and promotion ofresearch achievements andinventions

Government of the RS(economy, science,technology, innovations,higher education,
culture)2014

Increase of resources forpromotion from 1 million Euro in2010 to 2 million Euro in 201469

Wholesale promotion ofcreativity, innovativenessand entrepreneurship forthe young

Government of the RS(economy, culture,
education, higher
education, science,technology, innovations)

20112020

Promotion strategy and action planput into effect
Increase of practical programmesof creativity and entrepreneurshipfor primary and secondary schools– establishing a network ofcreative schools modelled after
eco-schools
Share of schools included in the
network among all schools
Number of young people included
in workshops or competitions per1000 pupils

7 Appendices7.1 Approximated funding for RISS implementation
The basis for the RISS for 2011-2020 should be the awareness that spending money for
R&D is not primarily a cost but an investment which is expected to increase the value ofthe invested funds by several times in the long term. A well-coordinated and targeted
approach to providing adequate support to R&D activity is required for Slovenia’s longterm competitiveness and building a knowledge-based society.
The RISS follows an ambitious goal of combining scientific, development and innovation
activities, which is in accordance with the EU strategy – Europe 2020. The key measuresof the proposal are also financially evaluated while others are primarily normative, andtheir direct financial impact is insignificant. The basis for financial planning is to channel
1% of public funding into R&D until 2012 and then 1.2% until 2020. Increased publicfunding will also enhance multiplier effects in the private sector, where we want toincrease investments in R&D and gradually achieve the target investments in R&D in theamount of 2.4% GDP until 2020 by means of by systemic and financial incentives.
The resources to achieve the target goals are anticipated from an intense increase ofnational funds, and notably by a significant increase of investments in R&D throughEuropean cohesion funds. Strategic documents and operational programmes for using
these funds will therefore have to be adapted accordingly, since an important resource
for funding this area will cease upon expiration of the existing financial perspective, andwill have to be replaced by new resources to the same or larger extent.
Breakdown of required funding is shown in Table 7.1.
Current
prices
2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

37,226,883,4
13

39,032,875,5
21

41,466,300,1
06

44,203,535,5
86

47,117,748,3
33

Resources for RISS
implementation

577,423,975

580,557,184

590,000,601

620,000,056

650,000,283

1% of GDP – target
forinvestmentin
R&D until 2015**

313,247,865

390,328,755***

414,663,001***

442,035,356***

471,177,483***

12,257,074

12,328,020

12,478,000

12,701,000

13,420,000

High-quality researchin the public sector

138,471,130

165,446,225

165,753,601

175,603,056

185,722,283

International
cooperation

19,593,631

19,230,922

20,184,000

21,228,000

22,270,000

Human resources

52,730,169

60,462,461

60,262,000

63,379,000

66,496,000

Specialization

150,298,363

117,967,149

117,906,000

120,177,000

127,448,000

Research infrastructure

25,029,722

41,029,722

45,214,000

52,863,000

60,512,000

Nominal GDP in EURManagement

Information
infrastructure

24,858,187

25,322,424

25,232,000

26,744,000

26,256,000

47,975,575

37,099,774

40,592,000

46,364,000

47,136,000

Growth of companies

82,959,719

71,909,054

72,191,000

69,295,000

69,636,000

Strengtheningofinnovation capability ofcompanies

19.033.992

24.907.330

26.332.000

27.694.000

27.056.000

Promotion of scienceand innovativeness insociety

4.216.413

4.854.103

3.856.000

3.952.000

4.048.000

Increasein
investments

private* for 2011, the adopted budget is shown** target of 1% investment in R&D will be reached in 2012.
*** the target of 1% also includes the estimate of annual income of researchers directlyfrom the EU framework programmes in the amount of 20,000,000 EUR.

7.2 Indicators of key objectives for monitoring RISS
R&D investments•

Gross domestic expenditure on R&D as % GDP – EU Barcelona objective- of which public investments in R&D as % GDP- investments of private/business sector in R&D as % GDP

Human resources in R&D•

Graduates of life science and technical programmes of tertiary education per 1000
inhabitants aged 20-29 years - Eurostat•

Share of researchers among persons employed/FTE•

Share of researchers in the business sector/FTE Share of researchers with foreign
citizenship among all researchers [Share of foreign students among doctoral
students]

Public research infrastructure•

Budget funds for RI per researcher in the national public sector

Transfer of knowledge from the public research environment•

Share of business sector funds in financing research of PROs Joint publications ofresearchers from PROs and companies per million inhabitants•

Income of PROs from intellectual property rights•

Share of funds for central social challenges in national budgets for R&D

Innovation cooperation•

Share of SMEs cooperating with other companies and/or PROs in innovation among all
SMEs

International cooperation and mobility•

Scientific publications co-authored with foreign researchers per million inhabitants•

Share of researchers with foreign citizenship among all researchers•

Share of foreign students among doctoral students

Scientific productivity•

Scientific publications per million inhabitants

Scientific excellence•

Share of national scientific publications among the 10% of the most cited publicationsin the world

Innovativeness•

Share of companies which implemented technological or non-technologicalinnovation23among all companies Share of companies which implemented
technological innovation among all companies•

Share of companies which implemented non-technological innovation among allcompanies•

Share of companies in the service industry which developed innovation among allcompanies in this industry•

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) which developed innovation on their own
or in cooperation as % of all SMEs

Knowledge capitalisation•

Share of sales of new products for the company and of new products on the market in
total company turnover•

Number of patent applications according to PCT per billion Euro GDP•

Number of protected trademarks per billion Euro GDP•

Number of protected designs per billion Euro GDP•

European patent applications (EPO) filed by SMEs or individual inventors per million
inhabitants•

European high-tech patents per million inhabitants

Economic competitiveness•Labour productivity: Gross added value per employee•

Added value of the activity with high share of knowledge in the total added value•

Share of employees in activities with a high share of knowledge among all employees•

Share of export of high and middle high technology products in total export ofproducts•

Share of export of services with a high share of knowledge in total exports

7.3 Dictionary
AAI
Authentication and Authorization Infrastructure
ARNES(Public institute) Academic and Research Network of Slovenia
ARRS
Slovenian Research Agency
ASTP
Association of European Science & Technology Transfer Professionals
AUTM
23

Monitoring of the actual innovators instead of companies active in innovation brings
us closer to the approach used in similar EU indicators.

Association of University Technology Managers
GDP
Gross Domestic Product
BRIK
Brazil, Russia, India, China
CERN
European Organisation for Nuclear Research
CIP
Competitiveness and Innovation Framework ProgrammeCOCentre of Excellence
COST
European Cooperation in Science and Technology
EIS
European Innovation Scoreboard
EC
European Commission
EPO
European Patent Office
ERC
European Research Council
EU
European Union
EU 27
All members of the European Union (2010)
EUREKA
Intergovernmental programme for market-oriented, industrial R&D activities
FTE
Full time equivalent

GEANT

European multi-gigabit computer network for research and education purposes
GRID
Technology of connecting independent computer capacities with an aim of performing
common computer task
IER
Institute for Economic Research
IJSJožef Štefan Institute
ICT
Information-communication technology
JAPTI
Public agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Entrepreneurship and Foreign Investments
PRO
Public research organisationKI
National Institute of ChemistryMF
Ministry of Finance
MG
Ministry of the Economy
MJU
Ministry of Public Administration
MK
Ministry of Culture
MVZT
Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology
NCP
National Contact Points
NMR
Nuclear magnetic resonanceNPVŠ
National Programme for Higher Education
NRRP
National Research and Development ProgrammeOECD
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
FP
Framework Programme of the European Community for Research, Technological
Development and Demonstration Activities
IPCT
International Patent Co-operation Treaty
AIF
Average Impact Factor
RI
Research infrastructure
RISS
Research and Innovation Strategy of Slovenia
RS
Republic of Slovenia
SASA
Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts
SI.TT
Network of Slovene experts for technology transfer
SiGNET NGINational co-ordination centre for GRID-technology
CC
Competitiveness Council
SEF
Slovene Enterprise Fund
SME
Small and Medium sized enterpriseSVLR
Government Office for Local Self-Government and Regional Policy
SZT
Svet za konkurenčnost in tehnologijo
SVREZ
Government Office for Development and European Affairs
SZT
Council for Science and Technology
TIA
Slovenian Technology Agency
TTO
Technology Transfer Office
SIPO
Slovenian Intellectual Property Office
VEM
All at one place
WEF
World Economic Forum
USA
United States of America
ZPOP
Supportive Environment for Entrepreneurship Act

7.4 Starting points and outlines for RISS
Starting points and outlines for RISS were adopted on 7 July 2010 by Council for Scienceand Technology of the Slovene Government. They are available at the following web
address:
http://www.mvzt.gov.si/fileadmin/mvzt.gov.si/pageuploads/pdf/odnosi_z_javnostmi/IZH
ODI%C5%A0%C4%8CA_NRIP.pdf

7.5 Data
We formed:

1. an analysis of NRRP 2006–2010, and an estimate of carrying out the NPVŠ 2007–2010(http://www.mvzt.gov.si/fileadmin/mvzt.gov.si/pageuploads/pdf/odnosi_z_javnos
tmi/IZHODI%C5%A0%C4%8CA_NRIP.pdf
2. indicators of NRRP 2006–2010 realisation(http://www.mvzt.gov.si/fileadmin/mvzt.gov.si/pageuploads/pdf/odnosi_z_javnos
tmi/IZHODI%C5%A0%C4%8CA_NRIP.pdf
When preparing RISS, we took into consideration the national and international
evaluations of research and innovative system, and of public policies and theirrecommendations.
3. Maja Bučar with Andreja Jaklič and Boštjan Udovič, National system of innovation
in Slovenia, Faculty of Social Sciences, Ljubljana, 2010(http://www.mednarodni-odnosi.si/cmo/CIR/CIR4National System of Innovation
in Slovenia.pdf);
4. OECD review of Slovenia’s innovation policy: Overall
recommendations – preliminary draft, OECD, Paris, 2010.

assessment

and

5. Policy Mix Peer Reviews: Country Report – Slovenia, European Union Scientific andTechnical Research Committee, Brussels, 2010.
We have drown data also from the following international reports and documents:
6. Human Development reports, United Nations Development Programme, 2009.
(http://hdr.undp.org/en/statistics/)
7. Quality of Living worldwide city rankings, Mercer, 2010.
(http://www.mercer.com/press-releases/quality-of-living-report-2010)
8. European Commission, The World in 2025, 2009.
(http://ec.europa.eu/research/social-sciences/pdf/the-world-in-2025report_en.pdf)
9. A new ranking of the world’s most innovative countries, Economist Intelligence
Unit Limited, 2009.
(http://graphics.eiu.com/PDF/Cisco_Innovation_Complete.pdf)
10. European Commission, A More Research-Intensive and Integrated European
Research Area, Science, Technology and Competitiveness. Key figures report
2008/2009.
(http://ec.europa.eu/research/era/pdf/key-figures-report2008-2009_en.pdf)
11. European Commission, ICT Infrastructure for e-Science, 2009.
(http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2009:0108:FIN:EN:PDF)
12. Global Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship, 2007.

Monitor,2007

GlobalReport(http://www.gemconsortium.org/download.asp?fid=606)

onHigh-Growth7.6 Events and received opinions on the RISS 2011–2010draft
To exchange opinions, we organised the following consultations with actors in researchand innovation system:•

6. 10.: Consultation DARING SLOVENIA in City Museum of Ljubljana;•

5.11.: Consultation with rectors, deans, and managers of public research
institutions, Hotel Kokra, Brdo;•

8.11.: Consultation with professional public, the Ministry of Education and Sport
hall;

•

8.11.: consultation, organised by Chamber of Commerce and Industry of
Slovenia;•

15. 11.: consultation with the Education, Science and Culture Trade Union of
Slovenia;•

29. 11.: consultation with the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts;•

6. 12.: consultation with the Slovenian Academy of Engineering.

We published the first RISS draft on 4 October 2010, and upon it received the following
written comments (all being published on the MVZT web pages):
1. Irena Šumi, PhD, European Centre Maribor
Publication date: 15. 10. 2010
2. Tomaž Grom, ASI Kamnik
Publication date: 26. 10. 2010
3. Institute of Macroeconomic Analysis and Development of the Republic of Slovenia
Publication date: 2. 11. 2010
4. Scientific Council of Jožef Štefan InstitutePublication date: 2. 11. 2010
5. Srna Mandič, PhD, Centre for Welfare Studies
Publication date: 2. 11. 2010
6. Mitja Guštin, PhD, professor, Science and Research Centre of Koper, University of
Primorska
Publication date: 4. 11. 2010
7. Slovenian Research Agency (ARRS),
Publication date: 9. 11. 2010
8. Scientific Council of the ARRS
Datum objave: 9. 11. 2010
9. Marko Juvan,
SASA

PhD, Institute of Slovenian Literature and Literary Studies ZRC

Publication date: 9. 11. 201010. Coordination of Independent Research Institutions of Slovenia (KOsRIS)
Publication date: 11. 11. 2010
11. National Institute of Biology (NIB)
Publication date: 11. 11. 2010
12. University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts
Publication date: 15. 11. 2010
13. Scientific Council of National Institute of Biology
Publication date: 15. 11. 2010
14. Scientific Council of National Institute of Chemistry
Publication date: 15. 11. 2010
15. Zdenko Kodelja, PhD
Publication date: 17. 11. 2010
16. Vladimir Boštjan Bregar, PhD,
Publication date: 17. 11. 2010
17. Mojca Pavlin, PhD, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering
Publication date: 18. 11. 2010
18. Konrad Ajster
Publication date: 18. 11. 2010
19. Igor Zajc, PhD, Jožef Štefan InstitutePublication date: 18. 11. 2010
20. Government Office of the Republic of Slovenia of Climate Change
Publication date: 18. 11. 2010
21. Association of Slovenian Technology Transfer Professionals (SI-TT) administrative
committee
Publication date: 19. 11. 2010
22. University of Primorska - opinions and proposal for amendment.
Publication date: 22. 11. 2010
23. Jožef Vlah
Publication date: 24. 11. 2010
24. Innovation Centre ASI
Publication date: 24. 11. 201025. Martin Klanjšek, PhD, 31.
Matjaž Ličer, PhD, 31.
Samir El Shawish, PhD,
Toni Petan, PhD, Erik Zupanič, PhD, Damjan Dvoršek, PhD, David Jezeršek, PhD,
Gregor Gunčar, PhD, Sašo Petan, PhD, Nejc Košnik, PhD, Andrej Zorko, PhD, RokŽitko, PhD, Peter Jeglič, PhD, Miha Fošnarič, MSc, Samo Penič, PhD, Luka Šajn,PhD, Uroš Tkalec, Andrej Mihelič, PhD
Publication date: 24. 11. 2010
26. NSIS - National Committee of the Slovenian Innovation forum, and business group
SPATINOVA
Publication date: 24. 11. 2010
27. Grega Gostenčnik, Jerneja Penca, Urška Petrovčič (European University Institute)Publication date: 24. 11. 2010
28. Committee for Protection of Higher Educational and Scientific Work
Publication date: 29. 11. 2010
29. Researchers of the Institute for the Ethic Studies
Publication date: 29. 11. 2010
30. I. class of SASA
Publication date: 30. 11. 2010
Based on the suggestions in public debate, we prepared 2nd draft of RISS, andpublished it on 8 December 2010. We received the following comments upon it:
31. Irena Šumi, PhD, European Centre Maribor
Publication date: 15. 12. 2010
32. Konrad Ajster
Publication date: 15. 12. 2010
33. Gašper Tkačik, PhD
Publication date: 16. 12. 2010
34. Slovenian Research Agency (ARRS)
Publication date: 17. 12. 2010
35. Interest group of non-commercial fields in the National Council
Publication date: 23. 12. 2010
36. Educational and Research Institute Ljubljana
Publication date: 23. 12. 2010
37. Ministry of HealthPublication date: 23. 12. 2010

38. Roman Jerala, PhD, national Institute of Chemistry
Publication date: 23. 12. 2010
39. University of Primorska
Publication date: 23. 12. 2010
40. Active Slovenian Inventors (ASI) - letter and proposal for amendments
Datum objave: 24. 12. 2010
41. Slovenian Research Agency (ARRS) - 2
Publication date: 24. 12. 2010
42. Inoverzum d.o.o.
Publication date: 27. 12. 2010
43. Grega Gostenčnik, Jerneja Penca, Urška Petrovčič (European University Institute)Publication date: 29. 12. 2010
44. Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs.
Publication date: 29. 12. 2010
45. Ministry of Education and Sport
Publication date: 29. 12. 2010
46. University of Ljubljana, faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology
Publication date: 4. 1. 2011
47. Development Initiative of Slovenia (RIS)
Publication date: 11. 1. 2011