MINISTRSTVO ZA VISOKO SOLSTVO, ZNANOST IN INOVACIJE

Their core work

Slovenia's Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation is the national government body responsible for research and innovation policy, funding allocation, and international science cooperation. Within H2020, it acts as a national funding agency participating in ERA-NET Cofund schemes — pooling national research budgets with other European funders to launch joint transnational research calls. Its role is not to conduct research itself, but to co-finance and coordinate national participation in cross-border research programs spanning health, quantum technologies, materials, and forestry. It serves as Slovenia's gateway for aligning national R&I priorities with European strategic agendas.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

The ministry's early H2020 participation (2017-2019) centered on life sciences and bioeconomy — funding transnational research in personalised medicine, neurodegenerative diseases, and forestry. From 2021 onward, the focus shifted decisively toward deep-tech and strategic European priorities: quantum technologies, advanced materials and batteries, and digital transformation in society. This mirrors Slovenia's alignment with broader EU policy shifts toward the Green Deal, digital sovereignty, and quantum flagship initiatives.

The ministry is pivoting toward deep-tech strategic domains (quantum, batteries, advanced materials), making it a relevant national co-funding partner for proposals in these areas targeting Slovenian research teams.

How they like to work

The ministry never coordinates projects — it participates exclusively as a national funding partner in large ERA-NET Cofund consortia. With 117 unique partners across 43 countries, it operates within very broad, multi-country networks typical of funding agency coalitions. Working with this ministry means accessing Slovenian national co-funding for transnational research calls, not a direct research collaboration.

Extensive pan-European network of 117 partners across 43 countries, built through ERA-NET Cofund participation. The network is inherently broad rather than deep, reflecting the ministry's role as one of many national funders pooling resources for joint calls.

What sets them apart

As Slovenia's science ministry, it is the single national entry point for Slovenian co-funding in ERA-NET transnational calls. Unlike research institutes or universities, it does not perform research — it unlocks national budget for Slovenian teams to join European projects. For consortium builders, partnering with this ministry means securing Slovenian national funding commitments for joint calls in quantum, health, materials, or other priority domains.

Highlights from their portfolio

• JPCOFUND2
  Largest single EC contribution (EUR 318,395) supporting the Joint Programming in Neurodegenerative Diseases — a flagship European health initiative.
• QuantERA II
  Positions Slovenia in the European quantum technologies ecosystem, covering all four quantum pillars (communication, computing, simulation, sensing).
• M-ERA.NET3
  Second-largest funding (EUR 276,590) and directly aligned with Green Deal priorities — advanced materials, batteries, and circular economy.