THE SLOVENIAN SCIENCE FOUNDATION AND THE LEVELS OF RTD POLICYMAKING Dr. Edvard KOBAL, Director

1. THE SLOVENIAN SCIENCE FOUNDATIONAND THE LEVELS OF RTD POLICYMAKING Dr. Edvard KOBAL, Director International Conference “National Science Foundation’s Views and Futures”, Sofia (Bulgaria), 29-30 September 2005

2. Slovenian Science Foundation • CO-FOUNDERS OF THE SSF • The Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Ljubljana • University of Ljubljana • University of Maribor • Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana • National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana • Krka, d.d., Novo mesto • Lek, d.d., Ljubljana • Gorenje, d.d., Velenje • Mercator, d.d., Ljubljana • Petrol Trgovina, d.d., Ljubljana • SKB, d.d., Ljubljana • Nova Ljubljanska banka, d.d., Ljubljana • RTV Slovenija, Ljubljana • ČZP Delo, d.d., Ljubljana • Gospodarski vestnik, d.d., Ljubljana • Open Society Institute - Slovenia, Ljubljana • Government of the Republic of Slovenia • The Slovenian Science Foundation (hereinafter SSF) was established in May 1994 by the government of the Republic of Slovenia and 16 of the most prominent organisations from the fields of science, higher education, economics, banking, media, and civil society. It was established during the first five years of the independent and autonomous state of the Republic of Slovenia as a permanent investment in the country's future.

3. The philosophy of the SSF (12 notions)(Dr. Edvard Kobal, March 2002)

4. The SSF, with its independent investments, advances mutuality in Slovenian science. In compliance with the volume and level of agreements made with its co-founders and partners, it plans, directs, co-ordinates, and leads the chosen processes of implementing the National Research Programme, the Programme of Economic Development of Slovenia, and programmes of the European Science Foundation and European Union. Investments are directed to all currently active researchers  their ideas, initiatives, and research project proposals. Special attention is given to providing information on, and increasing public awareness of, the developmental role of science in society.

5. Our values are • Independent investments. Investments are directed to all active researchers (e.g. to support their ideas, initiatives, and research proposals). • Attaining the highest possible results. The financial support is awarded to competitive and experiences researchers who are excelling in basic and applied research. • Flexibility and transparency. The SSF reacts to the needs of researchers and clients with flexibility. • Openness to Europe. The SSF supports the opening of Slovenian science community and economy to Europe.

6. Co-operation with the Government of the Republic of Slovenia • GOALS • To establish the network of organisations that support the development of science in Slovenia. • To establish a knowledge-based society in Slovenia. • To reach the partnership co-operation with the Government of the Republic of Slovenia. • ACTIVITIES • To develop and reach the program and action plan “Science and Slovenian Society”. • To manage a part of the Slovenian National Research Programme.

7. Co-operation with universities • GOALS • To attain high visibility of universities as the centres of scientific creativity and development of new generations of researchers. • To encourage the establishment of excellent education programmes. • To attain the share of funds for tertiary education with an aim to foster the development of a knowledge-based society in Slovenia. • ACTIVITIES • Independent investments in Slovenian researchers. • Activities to foster the establishment of a knowledge-based society in Slovenia (public events, media campaigns).

8. Co-operation with the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts and research institutes GOALS • Formation of the Slovenian researchers as pan-European researchers. • Internationalisation of Slovenian science and its integration in the European Research and Education Area. ACTIVITIES • Encouraging the participation of Slovenian researchers in pan-European science policy and research (European Science Foundation). • Fostering the mobility of Slovenian researchers in Slovenian, European and global area. • Co-formation of new generations of Slovenian researchers. • Encouraging the attainment of critical mass of researchers in the selected research fields.

9. Co-operation with business enterprises GOALS • To develop business enterprises’ donorship in science. • To develop and strengthen partnership between business and governmental sector. ACTIVITIES • To strive towards building the connections between curiosity-driven and product-oriented research. • To educate research cadres for economic enterprises. • To enhance public-private partnerships to finance research and development of new generation of researchers.

10. Co-operation with the media GOALS • To make science more “visible and heard”. • To encourage people to increase their interest in science and chose the life stile that is in sync with science. • To increase people’s awareness about the developmental role of science. ACTIVITIES • To present science in the media. • To develop new forms of science communication. • To encourage youth to think about the developmental role of science (e.g. competitions). • To encourage youth to present their ideas about science and scientists. • Science communication workshops.

11. Funding Programs (1) Personal development of researchers • Financial support for scientific training (especially) in Europe. The personal development of young, perspective, researchers is promoted with an aim to attain a critical mass of researchers in selected fields. Supporting the recognition of researchers • Financial supports to cover active participation in scientific events, primarily in Europe. Improving social situation of young researchers • Fellowships to improve social and economic situation of young researchers (doctoral students, young doctors of science). Inclusion of foreign researchers in Slovenian research and development cores • Fellowships to support the inclusion of foreign researchers into Slovenian research and development cores in research and business organisations.

12. Funding Programs (2) Fostering research in specific research areas • With the help of financial support from foreign resources, the SSF guides/directs researchers to conduct research on specific topics that enable further research or other activities (e.g. in the area of information technology). Contribution to organisational costs • Co-funding of organisational costs of scientific events (e.g. symposiums, conferences, congresses, panels, workshops). Contribution to publishing costs • Supports for scientific and popular science publications. Fellowships for students • Fellowships for undergraduate and graduate students.

13. The influence of the SSF on policy making(1)

14. The influence of the SSF on policy making(2)

15. The influence of the SSF on policy making(3)

16. Contact Information • General • Dr. Edvard KOBAL, Director • International Co-operation • Darja ČOT, Head • Address: The Slovenian Science Foundation Štefanova 15, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia Phone: +386 (01) 426-35-90 Fax: +386 (01) 426-35-91 E-mail: info@ustanova-szf.si Http://www.ustanova-szf.si

17. THANK YOU