Ljubljana, 16 April 2025 – The British-Slovenian Chamber of Commerce has oficially launched the Tech Council, a platform focused on advancing innovation, supporting progressive tech policy, and unlocking business opportunities across emerging sectors. The Council will target areas like cybersecurity, AI, biotech, fintech, and pharmatech, promoting cross-sector collaboration and policy advocacy. It will work closely with public institutions, academic stakeholders, and other BSCC Councils to align priorities and position Slovenia as a leading destination for global tech investment.

In her opening remarks, Barbara Uranjek, CEO of the British-Slovenian Chamber of Commerce, celebrated the launch of the Tech Council as an important milestone in the Chamber’s ongoing efforts to support innovation and create a future-focused business environment.

The initiative also received strong support from Dr Jure Gašparič, State Secretary at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, who noted that the Ministry is about to set an innovation-friendly environment where business and science cooperate: “The forthcoming Innovation Act will allocate 1.25% of GDP to science and research, and an additional 0.25% to collaborative industry projects,” he noted. “This will enhance research opportunities and enable faster business modelling. We’re also setting up an Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation, which will connect research organisations and the private sector.”

At the inaugural meeting, Gregor Kovačič, Executive Director of the Digital and Customer Experience Division at Zavarovalnica Triglav, and Matic Grobelšek, Business Market Unit Director at A1 Slovenija, were elected as Co-Chairs of the Council, while Samo Drnovšek, Better Platform Commercial Director at Better, was appointed Expert Council Facilitator. The meeting was temporarily chaired by Kevin Rihtar, Partner at Ketler & Partners, member of Karanovic.

"At Zavarovalnica Triglav, we are constantly keeping up with the latest trends and innovations in the fast-developing field of artificial intelligence. Our commitment is not only to keep up with these trends, but also to actively test and integrate new AI technologies that enable improvements to our processes and operations, enhance the user experience, and offer personalised services to our customers. Sharing experiences and perspectives is crucial in development, which is why I am delighted to be part of the Tech Council, where together we will contribute to making Slovenia attractive to global companies and technology industries", said Gregor Kovačič (Zavarovalnica Triglav) and newly appointed co-chair of the Council.

Reflecting on his role, Matic Grobelšek (A1 Slovenija) highlighted cybersecurity as a critical issue for both national infrastructure and the business sector, pointing to A1’s continued investment in advanced systems, innovative solutions, and internal expertise to enhance resilience and safeguard users in an increasingly digital landscape. Building on this, Samo Drnovšek (Better) stressed the rising need for clear legal frameworks around artificial intelligence and stronger safeguards for IT systems. He proposed establishing a Cyber Living Lab in Slovenia, a dedicated space to test and validate advanced technologies in real-world conditions.

A highlight of the Council meeting was the contribution of guest speaker Dr Matjaž Vidmar, Lecturer and Deputy Director at the Institute for the Study of Science, Technology and Innovation, University of Edinburgh. Based in the UK, Dr Vidmar shared insights into Scotland’s successful efforts to establish a space industry ecosystem, driven by collaboration between businesses, government, and academia.

He drew parallels between Slovenia and Scotland, particularly in scale and the accessibility of decision-makers, and stressed the critical role of innovation intermediaries in translating public investment into real market value. “Scotland has developed effective mechanisms to bring people together and turn ideas into commercially viable products and services. For smaller countries, a bottom-up approach and a critical mass of engaged actors are essential to building a vibrant innovation ecosystem,” he said.

Council members used the inaugural meeting to identify some of its priority areas. They called for more comprehensive data on the country’s value-added potential, emphasised the need for stronger AI adoption, and raised the importance of legal protections and regulatory clarity for emerging technologies. The members acknowledged that Slovenia lags behind in using AI technology and stressed the need to shift skills, culture, and mindset within companies. Discussions also positioned Slovenia as an ideal testbed for innovation, especially in areas such as digital media. Members stressed that digital transformation should be business-driven, focused on real-world applications rather than technological novelty.

The Chamber extends its sincere thanks to Triglav Lab for hosting this inaugural meeting.