As part of the call, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation will establish new Knowledge Transfer Offices (KTO) while upgrading the existing KTOs that operate within Slovenian public research organisations. In this context, attention will be paid to promoting links, cooperation and transfer of knowledge and experience both within the consortium and beyond, as well as to fostering new skills and competences of KTO employees.

Slovenian public research organisations differ in terms of the nature of knowledge transfer and the need for it. Accordingly, the work and activities of KTOs differ in terms of the role of public higher education institutions and the role of public research organisations in the Slovenian knowledge landscape. The latter focus on the transfer of knowledge through the protection and marketing of intellectual property in the research area, whereas the scope of work of public higher education institutions goes beyond this focusing on the impact of university knowledge and includes both students and researchers. The call for proposals seeks to support the establishment of two consortia that will deliver targeted activities to meet the respective specific needs of the partnerships. The aim of the exercise is to bring together the two consortia and strengthen synergies. The eligible area under the call is the entire country, i.e., cohesion region Vzhodna Slovenija and cohesion region Zahodna Slovenija. 

The funding that will be made available under the call for proposals equals 4.3 million euros, of which over 2.5 million euros, more specifically 2,552,050 euros, will come from the European Regional Development Fund.

The call for proposals will contribute to the achievement of the objectives set in Slovenia’s Cohesion policy Programme 2021-2027. It is expected to be published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia on 22 December 2023.