Education, Science, Culture and Sports Minister Žiga Turk said at a presentation of excellence centres.
Ljubljana, 17 December (STA) – Slovenian science is not very internationalised, while the mobility of human resources in the field is the second worst in the EU, Education, Science, Culture and Sports Minister Žiga Turk said at a presentation of excellence centres in Ljubljana on Monday. He believes the sector should open up to foreign investment.
Slovenian science is competitive both on the global and European levels, the minister told the presentation organised by the Foreign Ministry and the Ljubljana Technological Park.
He believes the biggest problem of the sector is that the share of research financed by foreigners is too small. “We must bring as many foreign scientists as possible to Slovenia,” Turk pointed out.
He also encourages Slovenian scientists to study abroad. But Slovenian institutions must offer them a job when they return, he stressed.
The minister would also like to see more experts employed in the real sector. Currently, 80% of them continue their work at science institutes or universities after they finish their education.
Next year, Slovenia will devote a lot of energy to boosting scientific cooperation with non-EU countries, for which it hopes to receive EU funds. Turk highlighted India, Russia, China and Azerbaijan.