SLOVENSKO GEOLOSKO DRUSTVO

Their core work

The Slovenian Geological Society (SGD) is a professional association that contributes geological expertise to European research projects focused on mineral exploration, geothermal energy, and raw materials. They participate exclusively as a third-party contributor, providing domain knowledge in geosciences — from hydrogeology and geochemistry to subsurface resource characterization. Their involvement spans projects exploring flooded mines with robots, developing non-invasive mineral exploration methods, and optimizing geothermal fluid properties under extreme conditions.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2015–2018), SGD focused on foundational geoscience topics: international raw materials cooperation, hydrogeology knowledge mapping, geochemistry of deep ore bodies, and robotic exploration of flooded mines. From 2019 onward, their involvement shifted toward socially responsible resource development — non-invasive exploration, community-based geothermal energy, alternative finance models, and extreme-condition fluid characterization. The trajectory shows a move from pure geological exploration toward applied energy extraction and public engagement around subsurface resources.

SGD is moving from traditional geological survey work toward the intersection of geothermal energy development and community engagement — a combination increasingly relevant for Europe's energy transition.

How they like to work

SGD participates exclusively as a third-party contributor — they have never coordinated or directly partnered in any of their 8 H2020 projects. Despite this peripheral formal role, they have connected with 105 unique partners across 33 countries, indicating they are embedded in a broad European geoscience network. Their consistent third-party status suggests they provide specialized geological input on demand rather than driving project design, making them a low-commitment but reliable expert resource.

Through 8 projects as a third party, SGD has touched 105 distinct consortium partners spanning 33 countries — a remarkably wide network for an organization that never formally leads. This reach reflects the interconnected nature of Europe's raw materials and geothermal research communities.

What sets them apart

SGD sits at a rare intersection: they combine geological expertise in both mineral resources and geothermal energy, two domains that share subsurface science but are typically pursued by separate communities. As a professional society rather than a university or company, they offer neutral, cross-institutional geological knowledge without commercial bias. For consortium builders, SGD provides a gateway to Slovenia's geoscience community and a credible third-party voice on geological matters.

Highlights from their portfolio

• REFLECT
  Tackles the fundamental physics of geothermal fluids at extreme temperatures and salinities — essential baseline science for next-generation geothermal energy extraction.
• UNEXMIN
  Developed autonomous underwater robots to explore Europe's thousands of flooded abandoned mines — a unique combination of robotics and geology.
• CROWDTHERMAL
  Explored crowdfunding and community ownership models for geothermal energy, bridging geological expertise with social innovation and alternative finance.