Narrative
In collaboration with the Slovenian Chemical Institute the Regional Development Agency of the just transition region Zasavje made a plan for a Center for Development, Demonstrations and Training for Carbon Free Technologies. The center will be established in an existing building, which furtherunderlines its positive environmental impact. It will directly employ research staff and by close collaboration with industry, to whom it offers state-of-the-art research and testing equipment, attract further jobs to the region. The focus will be on battery and hydrogen technologies, two sectors that despite good basic research foundations in Slovenia, are still underdeveloped with respect to their commercialisation.
Financial data
EUR 32.559.360 (85% co-financed by the Just Transition Fund, 15% from national funds )
Recommendations
While the project is not fully implemented, yet, at the time of writing, and while it will not be an easy task to ensure the long-term establishment of a national research center in the Zasavje region, the example already now includes aspects that should be replicated. This includes the decentralisation of application-oriented research centers in order to attract brains, skills and new companies to a region that undergoes structural change. Moreover, it can be recommended to actively seek the continued use of existing buildings and infrastructure instead of spending money on new structures. Like that available funds can be focussed on high-tech equipment and start-up financing for an extended incubation period instead of financing "empty shells" without a core.
Information sources
Government office for development and European cohesion policyOther info
Presentation of the center: https://evropskasredstva.si/app/uploads/2023/11/3.b-Predstavitev-DUBT-9-november-2023-Lipica.pptx (in Slovenian) ENG flyer of the center: https://www.ki.si/fileadmin/user_upload/datoteke-splosno/Dogodki/2022/Letak__Demo_center_V3-brez_porezave.pdf
