innovative, visionary, sustainable
Economy of Slovenia
Photo: Pipistrel
Organic Development
Slovenia lies in the heart of Europe. Throughout history, the area of modern Slovenia was
a crossroads of routes leading from east to
west and from north to south. All these diverse influences helped shape its character.
Today, this can be seen in Slovenia’s vibrant
economic activity as well as in the valuable
contributions of Slovenian scientists to the
worldwide wealth of knowledge.
Slovenians are a nation of individualists excelling in many diverse
areas, but their excellence always seeks to establish a balance
with nature. Slovenians are particularly assertive in areas such as
sports, designing, tourism and self-sustainability. For Slovenians,
working in harmony with nature is a source of joy and gratification.
Nature is also the source of inspiration for their innovativeness.
Many internationally acclaimed Slovenian inventions speak of a tradition of progress and
assertiveness. In the same way, progress and
assertiveness are the driving forces of Slovenia’s economic activities based on green energies and organic development. Slovenia’s
main distinctive asset in terms of its economy
and development is its well-preserved environment. Slovenia develops its economy in
unison with nature.
The common denominator of Slovenia’s economic development is harnessing niche opportunities. But due to the proverbial ardour
and zeal of Slovenians to excel in areas they
are well-suited for, these niches often evolve
into boutique businesses. Slovenian companies strive to progress in step with nature.
They endeavour to innovate and excel in their
services and products, thereby preserving
consumers’ trust in the quality of Slovenian
trademarks.
At home and abroad, many successful products have
helped win the renown of Slovenian companies; one need
only mention the world-famous Elan skis, used by numerous skiing champions, the top-level and stylish-designed
Gorenje appliances, and the ultralight Pipistrel aircraft.
Photo: WoodStock
Boutique excellence
Lying at a crossroads of natural trading routes, Slovenia is sometimes also referred to as the revolving
door of Europe. Apart from its exceptional geostrategic position, Slovenia established a new political
and economic system in the early 1990s, by becoming an independent country. The transition to market
economy was relatively smooth and the period of the
1990s was characterised by economic progress and
high economic growth, surpassing even the then EUaverage.
Slovenia now looks towards the future and
the priority areas of its economic progression are research and development, small
and medium-sized companies, as well as a
working force with high added value.
In the period of up to 2008, Slovenia achieved impressive economic growth rates. Between 2005–2008,
growth reached annual rates of 5.1%, thus helping to
minimise Slovenia’s gap behind the average of the EU,
which the country joined in 2004. With the outbreak
of the economic crisis, however, Slovenia was faced
with one of the sharpest declines in economic activity
among EU members.
Slovenian companies which have achieved global
success primarily stem from the services sector, including IT, as well as the pharmaceutical and car sectors. Other prominent economic activities include food
production, electrical appliances, and the metallurgical and chemical industries.
Tourism is also increasingly gaining importance, since
a visit to Slovenia leaves a lasting impression on every
traveller. A vacation in Slovenia is a treat for all the
senses and a genuine connection with the country’s
intact nature returns every soul into balance. You will
never get enough of Slovenia’s greenery.
In the past, Slovenian economy manufactured products as varied as hydroelectric turbines and
submarines, whereas nowadays, it focuses primarily on niche areas. The good results achieved
by Slovenian companies are due to competitive advantages, such as the traditional hard-working
character of the Slovenian people, its highly educated human resources, reliability and innovativeness, an internationally oriented economy, high-quality industrial design, and a well-developed
infrastructure. All these assets add a character of boutique excellence to Slovenian economy.
Photo: Lumar IG
Keeping it green
More than two thirds of Slovenia’s territory is
forest-covered, making wood a very important
natural asset. The oldest and most popular
handicrafts in Slovenia are based on wood.
Wood also provides the inspiration for many
exceptional design solutions and innovative approaches.
On the other hand, there are also smaller, boutique-oriented companies in Slovenia, designing top-level fashionable products from wood,
among them the WoodStock wooden sunglasses, or furniture, such as the innovative chairs designed by Rex or the stylish furniture by Stilles.
Slovenia is third most forest-covered country in
the EU (after Sweden and Finland), with its annual wood increment rate at 9 million m3. Apart
from being a building material, wood is also an
important renewable source of energy.
Water is an equally important resource and
Slovenia has plenty of it, too. It ranks third in
the EU (again after Finland and Sweden) in the
amount of fresh water per inhabitant in terms of
a multi-annual average. Apart from being part of
communal supply services, water plays a major
role in tourism, recreational activities, and in the
preservation of nature. Sustainable management of water as a strategic resource of the
future also opens new jobs and development
opportunities.
Many successful companies dealing with timber and building industries or architecture combine modern technology with the beauty of wood. Two such innovative companies are Riko
Hiše, producing and marketing nature-friendly and low-energy houses, and Lumar IG, which
designs the so-called active houses. Active houses by Lumar IG are equipped with a unique
thermal isolation made of natural and recyclable materials. Their built-in windows provide
for around 2000 kilowatt hours of solar energy, coupled with the full utilisation of renewable
resources. The windows open automatically to provide the house with ventilation and their
carbon footprint is up to 20 percent lower compared to classical, solid construction buildings.
Photo: Jurij Pivka/www.slovenia.si
Green. Active. Healthy.
Slovenian tourism is oriented towards developing tourist destinations with varied
and high-quality offer, primarily suited to
short-period vacations. But by developing
an attractive and varied range of integral
tourist services, Slovenia is increasingly
becoming a highly desirable destination
for long-term vacations.
After all, Slovenia is still a relatively undiscovered part of Europe, which makes it a
genuine, authentic and richly traditional,
but also a modern, innovative, and, due
to its size, easily manageable destination.
Slovenia is the perfect spot for discoveries
and exciting experiences. Its special advantages are its atmosphere of cosiness
and homeliness, unspoilt nature, a rich
cultural heritage, and numerous opportunities for an active and relaxing vacation.
Opportunities for active vacationing include mountaineering, cycling, trekking,
rafting, golf, kayak rides, hunting, swimming, sailing, fishing, as well as snow and
water skiing, and numerous other sports.
Slovenia’s greatest advantages are its
smallness and diversity. You can enjoy the
mountains, the Pannonian plain, and the
seaside – all in one day!
The slogan I FEEL SLOVENIA says it all: every
traveller who visits Slovenia falls in love with it.
Photo: Irena Herak
Quality of Life
Slovenia abounds in natural assets and varied landscape types. It is
rich in landscape components and has a large number of mountain
farms. About a third of the country’s territory is made up by farmland.
The majority of agricultural production is represented by integrated,
nature-friendly crop production. Organic agriculture has an important share, as well, and is primarily oriented towards arable farming.
In the food producing sector, many prominent trademarks have won
recognition both in Slovenia and abroad; among them Fructal and
Radenska for their tasty beverages, Kras for its succulent meat products, Droga for producing aromatic teas and spices, and Gorenjka
for manufacturing delicious chocolates. Recently, the Lušt trademark
has gained renown for producing tomatoes. Lušt uses a unique and
innovative process of growing tomatoes on a layer of coconut fibres,
mixed with peat, which is then poured over with geothermal water.
Another traditional farming activity in Slovenia which prominently
contributes to its green future is bee-keeping. More than 230 years
ago, bee-keeping knowledge was bequeathed to the world by Anton Janša (1734-1773), the first teacher of bee-keeping in the then
imperial capital of Vienna. A century later, Slovenian lands achieved
worldwide renown for the Apis mellifera carnica bee. Well into modern period, the population of bees has remained evenly distributed
over the entirety of Slovenia, which helps to preserve a balance in the
country’s natural environment. By pollinating plants, bees are by far
the most important contributors to food production.
The pharmaceutical industry plays a major part in providing for a
healthy and high-quality life. Krka and Lek are the most successful
Slovenian pharmaceutical companies Lek excels by creating the
highest added value per employee, followed immediately by Krka.
The pharmaceutical industry therefore is one of the drivers of Slovenia’s development.
Slovenians enjoy producing food for themselves: as much as 71%
of the population produce their own fruits and vegetables at home.
As consumers, Slovenians are prepared to pay a higher price for a
Slovenian-made product, as they value its quality. Slovenian companies are aware that the basic principle in establishing a trademark
is a high-quality product linked with an interesting and sincere story.
Safe Home
Quality Design
Slovenians wish to become
established in different
fields with the particular
orientation towards niche
development. We see innovation and design as
two important competitive
advantages. This enabled
the establishment of design
awareness in Slovenia. The
fact that, for example, several prestigious international Red Dot design awards
went to Slovenian designers over the last years is
evidence of a stable creative
energy in this field.
Whether it is the low energy
houses produced by Riko,
Lumar IG, Marles or Jelovica, whether it is furniture or
daily appliances or complex
building structures, Slovenian companies offer exceptional solutions.
Kolpa is one of the leading producers of bathroom
equipment in central and
south-eastern Europe. It is
famous for top-quality bathroom equipment Kolpa san,
and the Kerrock set of composite materials, all of which
are products with great
technical excellence.
Photo: Gorenje
The Gorenje Group is one of the leading producers of home appliances in
Europe with over 60 years of history. Its kitchen appliances are known
for technological excellence, top-level design, and energy efficiency. They
improve their users’ quality of living in more than ninety countries around
the world. Gorenje (with trade marks: Gorenje, Gorenje+, Atag, Asko,
Pelgrim, Mora, Etna, Körting in Upo) has been expanding its international
sales network on all continents for about half a century. With a 95% export share, it is now the most globally oriented Slovenian company.
Photo: Klemen Razinger/Elan
In Touch with Nature
A passion for motion is in the character of every Slovenian. Elan and Alpina are two of the traditional Slovenian niche companies to successfully combine sports and entrepreneurship. Their tradition and rich experiences enable them to meet the demands of the most exclusive clients.
The Elan group is a leading producer and provider of sports and leisure
products. It has been a prominent player on the market for almost 70
years. The Elan group actively pursues innovative approaches, uses advanced technology and is committed to developing products of technical
and design excellence. People all over the world enjoy sports activities
with Elan products: skis and snowboards, sailing ships and sports facilities equipment. As a socially responsible company, Elan is well aware of
its responsibility towards the environment. Its products are designed to
be enjoyed in a natural environment.
Alpina is a development-oriented footwear company with a tradition
since 1947. It has striven to establish itself as a renowned global
brand, building partnerships with well-trained and highly motivated individuals and companies throughout the world. Alpina’s research and
development team is a creative hub, uniting top-level engineers and experts from many diverse areas. PROMISE footwear brand is a result
of Alpina’s environmental awareness and innovativeness. Intelligent
design, innovative materials, and precise production technology make
PROMISE an almost completely biodegradable shoe, while still being
waterproof and breathable.
Forms of economic association
Slovenian companies are united under the Chamber of Commerce and
Industry of Slovenia, craft and small business operators are joined in
the Chamber of Craft of Slovenia, while the Ljubljana Technological Park
assists in establishing startup companies. Economic diplomacy and the
public agency SPIRIT are further in charge of promoting and assisting
Slovenian companies in international markets.
Innovation
Pipistrel is a leading global producer of ultralight
motor gliders and gliders with auxiliary engines.
Pipistrel enjoys a considerable competitive advantage
compared to other aviation producers and its products
are also used by NASA. It was also NASA which
appraised Pipistrel’s ultralight Virus aircraft as being
the best in the world.
Akrapovič is a world-renowned innovative and hightechnology company in producing exhaust systems.
The Akrapovič brand is synonymous with top-level
design, improved efficiency, as well as the unique
and impeccable sound of its exhaust systems. More
than 80 world champions won their titles by using
Akrapovič exhaust systems.
BISOL Group is the only manufacturer of top-quality
photovoltaic modules and the leading operator of
solar power stations with turnkey systems in Slovenia,
present in more than 40 countries. BISOL group
has rich international experience in the production of
crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules, the building
blocks of photovoltaic solar power stations.
Startup companies are established by people who
have an ambition to change the world around them.
In Slovenia, there are highly successful startup
companies in the fields of biology, chemistry, or the
production of smart manual controls.
Innovations from Slovenian students
Slovenian students are very inquisitive and are
interested in details. Recently, a group of Slovenian
students from Maribor made a discovery which
borders on science fiction. Their ground-breaking
invention enabled surgeons to view patients’ records
from behind the operating tables. By using voice
commands or movements, surgeons will be able to
view from a distance the different operation-related
documents at all times.
Inquisitive scientists
Scientific organisations
The world-renowned Jožef Stefan Institute
pursues the mission of creating, disseminating, and transferring knowledge in the fields of
natural, technical and life sciences. The Institute
specialises in top-level research and technology development, such as nanotechnologies,
new materials, biotechnologies, technologies of
management and production, communication
technologies, computer and knowledge technologies, environmental technologies and reactor
technologies.
Slovenians have always been immensely
inquisitive in the area of science. In their
zeal for understanding, Slovenian scientists have never known any boundaries.
They have continuously striven to advance
their interests and forge a path toward new
findings. Slovenian science, therefore, is
very rich in developments and accomplishments. The results of Slovenian science
are exceptional both in their excellence
and in the transfer of knowledge. Slovenian
scientists publish more than 1,200 articles
per million inhabitants annually.
Founded in 1938, the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SAZU) is the highest national scientific and arts institution. It unites scientists and
artists who were elected as its members owing
to their exceptional achievements in their fields.
SAZU’s activities cover various research areas.
Slovenians are well-educated people and
the majority has university degrees, while
every sixth Slovenian over 15 years of age
has a degree in higher vocational education. Education starts with primary school,
which is compulsory, and continues with
secondary or vocational school. Public education, including at the university level, is
subsidised and free. Only post-graduation
programmes have to be paid.
To forge a stronger link between science and the
economy, the Slovenian Science Foundation was
established in 1994. Its mission is to further promote science and its founding members include
the most prominent Slovenian institutions of science, higher education, industry, trade, banking,
and media.
The House of Experiments is a science centre
intended to popularise science for the broadest
public, including children. It includes experiments
of the “Do It Yourself” type. The mission of the
House of Experiments is to promote science, lifelong learning, and positive thinking, to link formal
and non-formal education, and to provide individuals, families, and other groups with opportunities for active leisure time.
By attaching equal importance to spiritual,
intellectual, economic, social, and environmental dimensions, Slovenia is a country
building on the qualities of the individual
and consequently on the qualities of the
entire society.
Photo: KSEVT
The history of scientific progress and development
in Slovenia
Science has a home in Slovenia. In 2002, the
oldest axle-equipped wooden wheel in the world
was discovered in the Ljubljana Marshes. Soon
the finding turned out to be one of the most important technological inventions. Notwithstanding the progress achieved during the Industrial
Revolution and industrialisation, the invention of
the wheel was a feat which profoundly changed
the economic, scientific, political, and broader
social development of western civilisation. That
very invention traces its beginnings to the heart of
Slovenia’s geographic territory.
Today’s Slovenian scientists largely work under
the auspices of scientific institutes, thus continuing the strong tradition of science in Slovenia.
Activities in research and development are multifaceted and world-renowned due to their high
quality standards. In some research areas, such
as computer science and nanotechnology, Slovenia ranks among the best countries in the world.
Since 1991, Slovenia has been actively participating in the EU’s and other European programmes of research and development. To date,
it has participated in more than a thousand European framework research programmes.
Publisher: Government Communication Office of the Republic of Slovenia, Ljubljana
Editors: Nataša Bušljeta, M.Sc. and Polona Prešeren, M.Sc.
Cover photo: Jože Maček and Domen Pal
Design: Irena Kogoj
Print: DZS, d.d.
More info: www.slovenia.si
The most prominent Slovenian scientists definitely include the following individuals
JANEZ AVGUŠTIN PUHAR (1814-1864)
was the first Slovenian photographer and
photography inventor. He invented a new
process, based on sulphur evaporation, for
making photographs on glass.
JURIJ VEGA (1754-1802)
published medium-scale log tables in Vienna
in 1783, with calculations comprising
seven decimal places. Their quality and
comprehensiveness surpassed all previous
log tables. His later log tables were translated
into nearly all world languages and were used
worldwide until the invention of electronic
log calculation. Vega further displayed his
ingenuity in the Austro-Hungarian army, where
he rose to prominence as the founder of
modern ballistic science. For those efforts, he
was awarded the then highest decoration, the
Order of Maria Theresa.
JOŽEF STEFAN (1835-1893)
is best known for originating the
physical law of thermal radiation
(the only physical law to be named
after an ethnic Slovenian). The
Jožef Stefan Institute is also
named after him.
Brothers EDVARD (1886–1911)
and JOSIP RUSJAN (1884–1953)
were the pioneers of aviation in
Slovenia (much like the Wright
brothers). They made their first real
flight in 1909, when their airplane flew
60 metres at an altitude of 2 metres.
VINKO KRISTAN (1917–1942)
was the inventor of a helicopter (called
samofrč). He assembled his first
helicopter in 1926, at least ten years
before the first helicopters were produced
in Germany. His helicopter had the shape
of a pyramid, with one propeller on the
top and another one on the side for
aerial navigation. It was a pedal-driven
helicopter, made of wood and linen.
FRIDERIK PREGL (1869–1930)
was awarded the Nobel Prize for his
discoveries in chemistry in 1923.
The oldest wheel with an axle in the
world was found in the Ljubljana
Marshes. The estimated age of the
wooden wheel is 5200 years.
HERMAN POTOČNIK (1892–1929)
was a military officer, an engineer, and a
specialist in rocket technology. In 1928
he published his book titled The Problem
of Space Travel - The Rocket Motor in
Berlin, where he set out detailed plans
for a human breakthrough into space and
envisioned the establishment of a space
station in geostationary orbit. The book
and its ground-breaking ideas placed
Herman Potočnik among the founders of
space travelling.
Photo: Matevž Paternoster/MGML
I feel exclusive.