Govt approves higher science funding
Ljubljana, 5 March - The government has adopted changes to the Scientific Research and Innovation Activity Act, increasing funding for science and innovation from 1% of GDP to 1.25% in what Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister Igor Papič described as a shift in strategy.
Ljubljana
Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister Igor Papič talks to the press after a government session.
Photo: Aleš Osvald/STA
The increase will focus on innovations, Papič elaborated after the government session on Thursday. Under the changes, 1% of GDP will be used for scientific research and 0.25% for innovation activities.
The increase will be gradual, at a rate of 0.08 percentage point a year until the final value of 1.25% is reached.
The law will allow exceptions in specific economic circumstances or other extraordinary circumstances, but minimum funding will be ensured.
"Another important thing is that the funding is expanded to other ministries, also taking into account other sources, above all EU funds. With this, we are creating conditions for an effective transfer of knowledge into society."
Papič said that before the incumbent government took over in 2022, science and research activity funds totalled EUR 354 million.
Last year, the government earmarked EUR 528 million for the field, and this year the figure will reach EUR 674 million, while in 2026 it will have grown to EUR 700 million.
The changes also pertain the Slovenia's Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS) and introduce a new project valuation system.
Moreover, the funding distribution key will change so that previous successes of individual institutions will play a more significant role.
Speaking at an event hosted by the Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (ZRS SAZU), Prime Minister Robert Golob said that his government would continue to provide stable funding for science.
He said the way the government would continue to fund science was by winning another term next year. "In the past three years we have proven that science funds can be increased because we believe this to be the best investment for the future."
Researchers participating in the event dedicated to science funding welcomed the planned increase in funds but warned that basic research must not be neglected for the sake of innovation.