Commission and Slovenia enhance dialogue on Research and Innovation

Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth met yesterday Igor Papič, Slovenian Minister for Higher Education, Science and Innovation in Primorska to reassure him about Commission’s commitment to the Enhanced Dialogue with Slovenia on research and innovation policy. The Commissioner said:

We appreciate the Slovenian strong commitment to the Enhanced Dialogue and our collaboration to tackle the R&I challenges the country faces. The upcoming technical discussions will make our first meetings into a continuous dialogue.

Mr Papic reciprocated his dedication to the close collaboration between the Commission and the Slovenian authorities, saying:

The kick-off of the Enhanced Dialogue is an important part of working closer together with the Commission’s R&I services. The discussions will certainly build important connections and will reinforce our efforts strengthening research and innovation in Slovenia.

In parallel, the operational discussion between Commission's delegation, led by Deputy Director-General, Joanna Drake and Slovenia, with State Secretary Matjaž Krajnc, started in Ljubljana and will last until 17 March.  During these two days, the delegations will cover a wide range of topics including innovation, hydrogen and green technologies and attracting research talent. The high impact of the meetings is ensured by the wide participation from four ministries and various stakeholders.

As part of the same visit to Slovenia, Mariya Gabriel also met the European Network of Innovative Higher Education Institutions (ENIHEI), with whom she discussed the concrete measures taken in response to the 10 recommendations made by ENIHEI to develop innovation-related actions of the European Strategy for Universities and to foster the role of universities in the implementation of the New European Innovation Agenda.

Background

Enhanced Dialogue

Enhanced dialogues with EU countries are a new, bottom-up channel of cooperation with the European Commission. The goal of these dialogues is to create a country-tailored approach to foster research and innovation in the participating EU country. They are organised on a voluntary basis and built around topics depending on the interests of the country. Slovenia is the 7^th Member State to take part in an Enhanced Dialogue.

New European Innovation Agenda

The New European Innovation Agenda aims to position Europe at the forefront of the new wave of deep tech innovation and start-ups. It will help Europe to develop new technologies to address the most pressing societal challenges, and to bring them on the market. Europe wants to be the place where the best talent work hand in hand with the best companies and where deep tech innovation thrives and creates breakthrough innovative solutions across the continent.

More information

Enhanced dialogue with EU countries

The New European Innovation Agenda

Press contact:

EC Spokesperson for Research, Science and Innovation