SCIENCE

Research in Slovenia
Famous Slovene researchers and scientists
The goal: a skilled core of scientists
Stimulation of technological development
The Slovene Academy of Science and Art
Research at universities
Bilateral cooperation

Number of research organisations (1997): 340
Number employed in research organisations (1997): 11,586
Those employed in research organisations per 1,000 employed (1977): 13
Number of researchers and professional assistants (1997): 6,949
Share of GDP devoted to science and technology (1997): 1.42%
Finance for the Ministry of Science and Technology (as % of GDP):
1998 0.69
1999 0.68
2000 0.70

Source: Statistical Office of the RS, Ministry of Science and Technology and IMAD, January 2001

gor Research in Slovenia

There are approximately 7,000 researchers in Slovenia. Among them, the great number are university teachers (43 per cent), 15 per cent are employed in national research institutes, 22 per cent in other institutions and 20 per cent in the research departments of various companies.
Slovenia's scientific, research and innovation activities are exceptionally multi-faceted and, because of the maintenance of very high standards, recognised across the world.
The research achievements of the Slovene people are nearly five hundred years old and Slovene researchers started joining various associations in the 17th century.

gor Famous Slovene researchers and scientists

The development of science, medicine and technology was particularly stimulated by the discovery of mercury in Idrija in 1490. In 1693, the first scientific organisation was founded in Ljubljana, the Academia Operosorumm Labacensium. The 17th century was marked by the works of the polymath Janez Vajkard Valvasor (1641-1693), who in 1689 published an encyclopaedia of Slovenia in 14 volumes entitled The Fame of the Duchy of Carniola. On the basis of his research work into the intermittent Cerknica lake, Valvasor in 1687 became a member of the Royal Society in London.

The Fame of the Duchy of Carniola

Slava vojvodine Kranjske (The Fame of the Duchy of Carniola) from 1689 was the first Slovene encyclopaedia. Its author, Janez Vajkard Valvasor, was a member of the Royal Society in London.
The mathematician and ballistics expert Jurij Vega (1754-1802) was also the author of the logarithm tables, which were used world-wide until electronic calculators prevailed. The Slovene apiculturist Anton Janša wrote a book entitled Complete Teachings on Apiculture, which was published in 1775. Baron Žiga Zois (1747-1819) was a mentor and benefactor of numerous Slovene artists and scientists, as well as being a mineralogist. Josef Ressel (1793-1857), a Czech inventor, while living in Ljubljana developed the ship propeller. In 1879, Jožef Štefan (1835-1893), discovered the law of light radiation, which is now called Stefan's Law. In the period between 1852 and 1875, Franc Miklošič (1813-1891), the most important Slovene linguist of the 19th century, wrote an extensive work entitled A Comparative Grammar of Slavonic Languages. Baron Anton Codelli (1875-1945) in 1928 patented his mechanical-optical television system. In 1909, Edvard Rusjan (1886-1911) became the first Slovene to achieve motor-powered flight, in an aeroplane which was constructed by himself. Herman Potočnik-Noordung, in 1929 published a book entitled The Problems of Space Travel, which is considered one of the key pioneer works in the area of space technology. The chemist Dr Friderik Pregl is so far the only Slovene to have received a Nobel Prize in 1923.

gor The goal: a skilled core of scientists

Slovenia currently dedicates 1.5 per cent of its gross domestic product to science and research.
The resources for this activity are increasing in line with the National Development Programme adopted in 1995.

gor Stimulation of technological development

By promulgating a special law on the subsidies given to commercial enterprises for the development of new technology up to 2003, the Slovene Government has started to build an overall strategy, as well as mechanisms for the stimulation of technological development, which in addition to the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport includes all the ministries connected with the economy and other ministries which are able to take measures to encourage the development and introduction of new technologies.

gor The Slovene Academy of Science and Art

Most Slovene scientific research takes place at the Slovene Academy of Science and Art, the two universities, national institutes and research companies, whilst the work of scientists is also stimulated and financially supported by the Slovene Science Fund, founded in 1994. The Slovene Academy of Science and Art (SASA) had, at the end of 2000, 66 full and 22 associate members, as well as 73 corresponding members from scientific organisations abroad.

gor Research at universities

There are 753 research teams within Slovene scientific establishments and there are important research centres at the two universities (at the University of Ljubljana there are 255 research teams, whilst at the University of Maribor there are 86 such teams.
There are another 58 research establishments working independently, 18 of which have the status of national research institutes. Slovene scientists also work in 175 research and development teams within commercial companies, particularly in industry.

gor Bilateral cooperation

To date, Slovenia has signed 18 bilateral agreements in the area of science and technology and it co-operates in other ways with more than 70 countries.