White Biotech TP is funded by FP6
Slovenia
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Introduction
Like in many new Member States and a majority of associated countries, industrial biotechnology is very limited in Slovenia. The main developed field of biotechnology is healthcare biotechnology. Also, the number of spin-off and SMEs is very limited as enterprises are suffering from a lack of funding and long term investments. Biotechnology is often supported by decisions makers in speeches and discussions but concrete actions towards its development are still missing. Yet, Slovenia is benefiting from a good level of education, strong academicals and education networks and sufficient R&D funding. The establishment of incubation centres in main universities as well as the clarification of rules about the creation of spin-offs, SMEs and start-ups by academics, universities, institutes, etc shall perhaps help in overcoming the low level of industrial biotechnology activities and products.
I. Research and Innovation
Modern industrial biotechnology is a relatively new discipline, with major areas of knowledge still to be explored. Public support to research as well as the establishment of pilot and demonstration facilities to scale-up individual processes will therefore help in the development of a European bio-based economy.
A. Public research funding
The Ministry of Higher Education Science and Technology is member as an observer of the European Research Area for Industrial Biotechnology (ERA-net IB).
There is no specific R&D budget / programme for industrial biotechnology.
National Research and Development Programme Resolution 2006 – 2010 (NRDP) mentions health and life sciences as priorities. The Research Policy is implemented by the Slovenian Research Agency (SRA) and the Public Agency for Technology (TIA).
B. Pilot and demonstration plants
A descriptive list of pilot and demonstration plants in Slovenia is available
here.
II. Policy
Public authorities can promote the quick take-up of industrial biotechnology innovations by implementing a number of “instruments” or policy initiatives. This can be the improvement of the regulatory framework; the integration of specification for bio-based products in public procurement; the establishment of standardisation, labelling and certification schemes to overcome perceived uncertainty about product properties and weak market transparency; the development of financial instruments and supports to increase investments into research, technology development and innovation as well as the elaboration of communication and information campaign to communicate the benefits of bio-based products to users.
A. Policies and regulations
There is no specific regulation to support biobased products.
B. Public procurement
No information.
C. Standardisation, labelling and certification
No information.
D. Access to finance
There are no adequate instruments supporting bio-based products and industrial biotechnology.
E. Communication
No information.
Main Sources
| Roundtable on industrial biotechnology in Slovenia |