UNIVERZA V NOVI GORICI

Their core work

The University of Nova Gorica is a Slovenian research university with strong capabilities in nanoscience, environmental monitoring, and materials science. They operate advanced analytical and fabrication facilities as part of European nanoscience infrastructure networks (NFFA-Europe), and conduct applied research in areas like water quality sensors and atmospheric pollution. They also contribute to urban sustainability research and high-performance computing education, and actively engage in science communication to attract young researchers.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their earlier H2020 period (2015-2018), the university focused on science outreach, urban planning, and cultural heritage, with keywords centered on public engagement, wellbeing, and sustainable design. From 2019 onward, their portfolio shifted decisively toward hard science and technical infrastructure — nanoscience facilities, HPC training, sensor development, and atmospheric pollution research. The two projects they chose to coordinate (COFsensor and SAAERO) both reflect applied environmental science, signaling this as their strategic growth direction.

Moving from soft participation in societal projects toward technically intensive environmental science and advanced materials research, particularly at the intersection of sensor technology and pollution monitoring.

How they like to work

Predominantly a participant (7 of 11 projects), with two coordinator roles appearing only in 2021+, suggesting growing confidence and institutional capacity. They work in large consortia — 212 unique partners across 35 countries indicates broad but not deep partnerships. Their two third-party roles in HPC projects suggest they also serve as a national relay point for European computing infrastructure.

An impressively wide network for a small university: 212 partners across 35 countries, spanning nearly all of Europe. The diversity of their consortium memberships — from space science to urban planning — means they connect communities that rarely overlap.

What sets them apart

As a compact Slovenian university, they punch well above their weight in European research networks, particularly in nanoscience infrastructure where they have continuous involvement since 2015. Their combination of advanced materials expertise with environmental monitoring applications is distinctive — few partners can bridge nano-fabrication facilities with field-level atmospheric and water quality research. Their location near the Italian border and involvement in Western Balkan research (SAAERO in Sarajevo) makes them a natural bridge between EU-15 and enlargement countries.

Highlights from their portfolio

• COFsensor
  Their first coordinator role, developing covalent organic framework sensors for water contamination — signals their strategic bet on applied environmental sensing technology.
• SAAERO
  Coordinated an atmospheric aerosol study in Sarajevo, demonstrating their ability to lead cross-border environmental research in the Western Balkans.
• NEP
  Continuation of their decade-long involvement in Europe's nanoscience infrastructure network (NFFA), with EUR 223K funding — their largest ongoing commitment.