News

Slovenia's Minister of Education, Science and Sport, Dr Jernej Pikalo, and UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, Mr Moez Chakchouk, signed an official Agreement establishing the International Artificial Intelligence Research Centre (IRCAI), which will operate in Ljubljana under the auspices of UNESCO.

From 28 February to 8 March, Cankarjev dom Culture and Congress Centre in Ljubljana, the largest home of culture in Slovenia, will once again host the Fabula Festival of World Literatures. Every year, the festival attracts the most notable authors of world literature.

The OECD has established an artificial intelligence observatory to help countries develop and control responsible artificial intelligence systems through collecting data and preparing analysis.

Excellence can be achieved by risking more than is safe to risk, dreaming more than is possible and expecting more than is expected.

Green is the colour of the Slovenian DNA – in many ways.

In the Bloomberg Innovation Index, measured by the United States Bloomberg Agency, Slovenia took 21st place this year.

Since 2000, 21 February marks International Mother Language Day.

The wandering kurent figures rank among the more visible traditional Shrovetide Carnival customs in Slovenia, and the kurent is the most recognisable Carnival character, with records of his appearance dating back to 1880. The kurent is also one of the symbols of the Slovenian identity.

This year is the International Year of Plant Health.

Adventurers enjoying a descend into the wonders of Slovenia's underground cave system will soon be able to walk a reconstructed trail through the Hanke Canal in the Škocjan Caves. The narrow and rocky path runs high above the river Reka and gives adrenaline junkies something to look forward to.

On the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly for 11 February, the Minister of Education, Science and Sport, Jernej Pikalo, drew attention to the important contribution of Slovenian female researchers in the field of research and development.

At the end of January, the permanent representative of Slovenia to Unesco presented the World Heritage Centre in Paris with the Nomination File entitled "Ljubljana: The Timeless, Human Capital Designed by Jože Plečnik" for inclusion in Unesco’s World Heritage List. According to the Ministry of Culture, the Nomination File is formally included in the 2020-2021 evaluation cycle.

The preparations for Slovenia’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2021 are in full swing.

On the eve of Prešeren Day, the Slovenian Cultural Holiday, a state ceremony will be held during which the Prešeren Prize and Prešeren Fund Prizes will be awarded as the highest recognition in the Republic of Slovenia for achievements in the field of artistic creation.

Slovenia has welcomed a European Commission proposal for a reform of the EU membership process that provides stronger sanctioning of aspiring EU members if they backslide on their reform efforts.

This year’s focus of 2 February, World Wetlands Day, annually celebrated in the framework of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, is on the role of wetlands in preserving biodiversity. Despite the growing awareness of the importance of wetlands, they are still being changed or even destroyed.

4 February marks World Cancer Day. On this occasion, the European Commission presented its initiative for Europe’s new Beating Cancer Plan.

Slovenia can be justly proud of its successful initiative to declare 20 May World Bee Day.

Slovenia and Portugal have urged the European Commission to introduce a clearer system of labelling the origin of honey to give consumers more comprehensive and reliable information.

Just before new year, Slovenia was given an excellent opportunity for cooperation: to partner with the American NBA Dallas Mavericks where Luka Dončić currently plays. The effects of this partnership will be multi-layered and visible in several fields: tourism, economy, mobility. Six partners saw this great opportunity for a better recognition of Slovenia in the American market: the Sport Media Focus Agency, the Government Communication Office (UKOM), the Slovenian Tourist Board (STO), AmCham Slovenia, SPIRIT Slovenia, and Ljubljana Tourism. It has quite often been proven that we achieve greater success and recognition if we collaborate.