Ceremony in Ljubljana – Slovenia finalizes in-kind contribution to FAIR project
30.10.2025 |
This news is based on a press release by Cosylab and Instrumentation Technologies
Slovenia has successfully completed its in-kind contribution to FAIR. Jörg Blaurock, Technical Managing Director of FAIR and GSI, signed the final acceptance documents together with representatives of Tehnodrom, the Slovenian FAIR partner organization. Next to the signatories, also government officials, researchers from the Jožef Stefan Institute, and industry stakeholders participated in the ceremonial event held at Cosylab’s headquarters in Ljubljana.
The Tehnodrom consortium, representing Slovenia’s high-technology and digitalization industries, and spearheaded by Cosylab and Instrumentation Technologies,
serves as Slovenia’s national provider of in-kind contributions to FAIR in accelerator technologies, with Instrumentation Technologies leading Beam Diagnostics and Cosylab leading Control System development. The in-kind development phase was completed in 2025. Slovenia also contributes to FAIR through the Jožef Stefan Institute’s experimental collaborations.
The gathering celebrated not only technical excellence but also the broad, long-term value for Slovenia’s innovation ecosystem:
- The Tehnodrom consortium’s activities connected more than a dozen Slovenian high-tech companies and research teams, supporting both growth and export success.
- Through the work of Tehnodrom partners, over €67 million has been returned to society in the form of taxes supporting public services and national development.
- More than 200 new high-tech jobs have been created in Slovenian companies during the project, helping retain skilled talent in Slovenia.
- Participation in FAIR enabled Slovenian companies to access new international markets and secure additional business worth several million euros, as a direct result of the expertise and references gained.
- The ScienceTech cluster, founded by Cosylab and Instrumentation Technologies, has grown from two companies to nearly twenty members, supporting further innovation and collaboration.
Jure Gašparič, State Secretary at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, stated: “Slovenia’s contribution to FAIR shows what is possible when we foster a culture of
innovation and collaboration. Projects like FAIR not only demonstrate our national capabilities but also strengthen Slovenia’s position in the global innovation ecosystem. Investing in science and supporting an innovative culture is essential for our country’s future competitiveness and success.”
Jörg Blaurock, Technical Managing Director of FAIR and GSI, commented: “Today we are not only celebrating a milestone that began more than 20 years ago, but also the ongoing story of a mega-science project and partnership. From the earliest days, Slovenian partners and their capacities, capabilities, and people have played an essential role in making FAIR a reality. Completion of the in-kind contribution is a major achievement. However, it is also a new beginning: we look forward to continued collaboration as we take the next steps at FAIR.”
Mark Pleško, CEO of Cosylab, added: “For Slovenia, FAIR was more than a technical project – it was a national success story, and a journey of partnership and growth. Twenty years ago, we joined the discussions, not knowing what the outcome would be. FAIR is not just a reference project, but a launchpad for Slovenia’s deep-tech ecosystem. Above all, it has built friendships and trust – the foundation for future success.”
Elvis Janežič, CEO of Instrumentation Technologies, said: “We often hear how important it is to strengthen cooperation between industry and research. It sounds may sound obvious, but making it happen is indeed challenging. Research and business operate in very different worlds – yet when both sides make the effort, we achieve something remarkable, as we have with FAIR. The result is not only a technical success but also new confidence, new business, and a stronger future for all. It has helped keep top experts at home and shown that together, we can deliver on truly complex, international projects.”
The event concluded with a roundtable discussion on the future of FAIR, opportunities for continued Slovenian participation, and the broader importance of public-private partnerships in advancing European research and technology. (CP)
