The traditional SRIP MATPRO conference took place at the Grand Hotel Bernardin in Portorož on October 16, 2025. This annual event, aimed at fostering dialogue between national institutions, Slovenian industry, and knowledge organizations, serves as a meeting point of expertise, entrepreneurship, and collaboration — placing materials and technologies at the heart of Slovenia’s innovation progress.
The central theme of this year’s conference was “Innovation as the Core of Strategic Resilience.” The speakers shared their perspectives and reflections on how innovation can connect different parts of Slovenia’s innovation ecosystem into a synergy that transcends individual achievements.
Marko Drobnič, Chairman of the SRIP MATPRO Council, opened the event by welcoming the participants and emphasizing that in today’s context — across time, space, and environments in which we operate — the materials industry must invest exceptional energy to achieve success. The audience was also addressed by Vesna Nahtigal, Director General of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (GZS), and Tjaša Dobnik, Director of the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS).
Bojan Ivanc (GZS) presented an analysis of the performance and significance of companies represented in SRIP MATPRO, highlighting the link between R&D and economic strength, and noting that during the period 2022–2024, the energy crisis negatively affected the performance of energy-intensive industries. Katja Pokeržnik, coordinator of the GZS Best Innovation Awards project, underlined the major economic importance of innovation. Representatives from Impol 2000 d.d., SIJ Acroni d.o.o., Talum d.d., and Siliko d.o.o. presented their paths to achieving national innovation awards and discussed the challenges that innovations help address.
A panel discussion followed, featuring Matic Korun (Head of the Innovation Sector, Directorate for Science and Innovation, Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation), Prof. Dr. Jožef Medved (Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, University of Ljubljana), Dr. Peter Cvahte (Director of Strategic Development, Impol), Tjaša Dobnik (Director, ARIS), and Marko Hren (Head of the Smart Specialization Coordination Sector, MKRR). The participants discussed the synergies within Slovenia’s innovation ecosystem, the key challenges it faces, and the importance of innovation in ensuring the strategic resilience of the country in a rapidly changing world.
Tina Kastelic, Director of Kompetence d.o.o., spoke about the competencies needed by top innovators to achieve breakthrough development. Prof. Dr. Bojan Podgornik (Institute of Metals and Technology) concluded the event by presenting the excellent results achieved so far and highlighting opportunities for strengthening the SRIP MATPRO partnership for 2026–2035.
More information is available at:
🔗 https://www.gzs.si/matpro/vsebina/Aktualno/Arhiv/ArticleID/90508/letni-posvet-srip-matpro-2o25-sodobna-industrija-materialov-gradi-na-inovativnosti-z-ustrezno-sistemsko-podporo-smo-lahko-na-nekaterih-segmentih-tudi-zmagovalci
