MINISTERSTVO HOSPODARSTVA SLOVENSKEJ REPUBLIKY

Their core work

The Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic is the national government body responsible for energy policy, industrial policy, and SME support in Slovakia. Within H2020, it participates in EU-wide coordination actions focused on implementing the Energy Efficiency Directive at national level — covering audits, building retrofits, heating/cooling systems, and public procurement of energy-efficient solutions. It also engages in cross-country learning on SME innovation support schemes, contributing its national perspective on startup and scale-up ecosystems.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Their early H2020 involvement (2017) centered on basic Energy Efficiency Directive transposition — understanding EU requirements and aligning national legislation. By 2021-2022, two shifts occurred: the energy work deepened significantly into specific implementation areas like decarbonisation, building audits, public procurement, and heating/cooling financing, while a new thread on SME innovation support appeared. This suggests the ministry is moving from passive directive compliance toward active policy implementation and broadening its EU engagement beyond energy alone.

Deepening into practical decarbonisation measures (building retrofits, heating systems, public procurement) while exploring SME innovation policy — a useful partner for projects needing a national policy implementation perspective.

How they like to work

Exclusively a participant, never a coordinator — consistent with its role as a national ministry contributing policy expertise rather than leading research. It operates in large consortia (48 unique partners across 28 countries in just 3 projects), which is typical for Concerted Action projects that include all EU member states. This means it is experienced in large multi-country coordination but unlikely to take a project leadership role.

Despite only 3 projects, the ministry has worked with 48 distinct partners across 28 countries — a reflection of the pan-European Concerted Action format that brings together all member states. Its network is wide but institutionally driven rather than built through selective partnerships.

What sets them apart

As a national ministry, it offers something research institutes and universities cannot: direct access to national energy and industrial policy-making in Slovakia. For consortium builders, this means a partner who can provide real regulatory insight, facilitate policy uptake of project results, and represent the Central European perspective on energy transition challenges. Its dual involvement in energy and SME policy makes it particularly relevant for projects bridging clean energy technology with market deployment.

Highlights from their portfolio

• CA EED3
  Continuation of the flagship EU-wide Concerted Action on energy efficiency, running until 2026 — signals long-term commitment and up-to-date expertise on current EU energy policy.
• GO - SME
  Represents a strategic expansion beyond energy into SME innovation support, focused on identifying best practices for EIC Accelerator selection and national startup schemes.