Successful event on recruitment and opportunities within SRIP associations

katjasinur
Jun 5
2 min read

On Wednesday, June 4, 2025, an event was held at the Podbreznik Business Incubator that opened the doors to the ecosystem of smart specialization (S5) and SRIP associations for companies, startups, and other players in the innovation environment. The event was organized by the Novo Mesto Development Center and Rudolfovo – Novo Mesto Science and Technology Center, with support from the Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development.

The main focus was on how to develop or find suitable personnel and how to join SRIP partnerships as a key bridge to financing, cooperation, and growth. Through presentations and a round table discussion, participants gained insight into current challenges, good practices, and concrete opportunities at the intersection of business, research, and education.

Key thoughts from the speakers:

Franci Bratkovič (Razvojni center Novo mesto d.o.o.):“When it comes to human resources, organizations must also start relying on themselves and think about training their staff, with even more attention and resources being devoted to this issue in the future.”

Marko Hren (Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development):“SRIPs are at the heart of the Slovenian RRI ecosystem. However, in order to achieve a breakthrough, we need to strengthen the involvement of all actors and improve support at the international level.”

Tomaž Kordiš (GZDBK):“High added value per employee is no coincidence—it is the result of investments in technical, innovative, and soft skills, as well as the awareness that people create competitiveness.”

Dr. Tomaž Savšek (SRIP ACS+, MATPRO, TOP):“The mobility of the future is digital and sustainable. SRIPs enable companies to join the new supply chains required by these shifts in a timely manner.”

Dr. Zoran Marinšek (SRIP Factories of the Future):“If we want to catch up with Slovenia's lag in innovation, we need to establish a functional RRI system that will connect ministries, companies, and knowledge—SRIPs are the foundation of this synergy.”

Prof. Dr. Janez Povh (Rudolfovo):“The DIGITOP project represents a comprehensive approach to the digitization of factories of the future – by using artificial intelligence, robotics, and digital twins, we are strengthening the competitiveness of the Slovenian economy.”

In addition to strategic guidelines, the event also offered insights into specific projects such as TPV4LIGHT, DIGITOP, and EVA4GREEN, as well as opportunities for networking between companies, researchers, and innovation platforms.