National-regional governance of STI

According to the new Law on Science, Research and innovation, the Slovenian research and innovation (R&I) system is overseen by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation. The stakeholder dialogue is ensured in the Law via the Development Council of the Republic of Slovenia, where all relevant line ministries have a seat. The Resolution on the Slovenian Scientific Research and Innovation Strategy 2030 (ReZrIS30) is the R&I strategic document which serves as a basis for policy-making in the areas of social, economic and sustainable development and societal challenges. The strategy is based on the outputs and guidelines that were adopted by the Science and Technology Council of the Republic of Slovenia, which preceded the Development Council. The Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS) as an implementing agency acts as an independent public organisation performing tasks relating to the National Research and Development Programme and creation of European Research Area. The Agency aims to provide the scientific community with instruments enabling stable funding of scientific excellence.

National and regional S3s: organisation and governance

The smart specialisation strategy is the basis for the implementation of European cohesion policy also in the programming period 2021-2027. Slovene Sustainable Smart Specialisation Strategy (S5) is coordinated by the S5 Unit within the Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development, which serves as the Managing Authority for ERDF and Cohesion Funds, and thus a horizontal implication of S5 priorities in other policy objectives beyond PO1 for which S3 represent a TEC are enhanced. The S5 Unit is responsible for technical support to the inter-ministerial group of state secretaries that at the operational level primarily decides on behalf of the government on issues related to the Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (EDP), prioritisation and the policy mix. It also supports in the operation of the Strategic Development and Innovation Partnerships (in cooperation with other competent ministries, especially with the economic sector, the department responsible for science and the department responsible for digital transformation), as well as for the monitoring system, and evaluations of the S5. In formulating the S5 for the period up to 2030 and its priority and focus areas, the EDP took place in several stages, namely: • First phase – introductory meeting with the Strategic Development and Innovation Partnerships (SRIPs). • Second phase – updating the SRIPs action plans and coordination with ministries. • Third stage – extended public consultations. National strategic development priorities are areas where Slovenia has a critical mass of knowledge, capacities and competences and comparative advantages and thus the potential for positioning itself on global markets. National strategic development priorities define priority investments in the R&I field in Slovenia. They were defined during the preparation of the smart specialisation strategy through an in-depth process of stakeholder consultation in the period 2014–2015 and reaffirmed or revised in 2020-2022. The implementation of the smart specialisation strategy is based on a development cooperation model, which emphasises closer, institutionalised multilevel cooperation between the state, business, knowledge institutions and other relevant stakeholders in the R&I field. SRIPs play a key role in promoting cooperation among innovation stakeholders, while inter-ministerial coordination at the national level is crucial, as the implementation of the smart specialisation strategy took place across the competencies of several ministries.

For information on regional S3s, please return to the homepage: https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/assets/s3-observatory/index_en.html