Renovated laboratory makes great contribution to region’s development as development of Slovenia as a whole
Minister Jevšek at the opening ceremony of the renovated research laboratory at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Maribor | Author Miloš Vujinovič
“I am convinced that the renovated laboratory will not only ensure the continuation of the successful research work that has been carried out so far but will also motivate researchers and students to use their knowledge to make a significant contribution to the development of the region and Slovenia as a whole,” said Minister Jevšek.
In addition to the importance of the renovated laboratory, the Minister also pointed out the importance of cooperation between the education, science and the economic sector. Integration is the foundation of cohesion, the objective of which is to achieve an even distribution of economic and social development factors, said Minister Jevšek, adding that he is committed to integration and cooperation between the Ministry and all stakeholders, namely local communities, regions, the economic sector, educational and other institutions and all ministries.
As a former Mayor of Murska Sobota, Minister Jevšek pointed out that the renovation of the laboratory was financed by the companies in the Pomurje region: “By investing in knowledge by supporting research, the companies of the Pomurje region have shown their ambitions to develop and achieve higher added value. At the same time, these companies are an example of good cooperation practice in training people who are already employed or will get employed and create added value, many of them in these companies.”
According to Minister Jevšek, such partnerships also bring opportunities for cooperation in European and other projects. The Minister drew attention to the opportunities of the European Cohesion Policy and the 2021-2027 programming period, which Slovenia launched last year: “Around 730 million euros is earmarked for investment in research and development, digitisation and support for small and medium-sized enterprises. In the field of research and development, measures mainly focus on incentives for knowledge transfer, support for strategic research and innovation partnerships, research infrastructure, participation within the European Research Area and strengthening synergies of different funding sources.”