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

3. 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. 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. 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 Slovenian Science Foundation

4. The philosophy of the SSF (12 notions) (Dr. Edvard Kobal, March 2002) PEOPLENEEDSINVESTMENTS IDEASMOBILITYCO-OPERATION CHALLENGES KNOWLEDGE-BASED SOCIETY RESPONSES/REACTIONS KNOWLEDGE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT COMPETITIVENES

5. 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.

6. Our values are Independent investments. Investments are directed to all active researchers (e.g. to support their ideas, initiatives, and research proposals). 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. 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. 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. Openness to Europe. The SSF supports the opening of Slovenian science community and economy to Europe.

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

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

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

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

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

12. 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. 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. 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). 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. Fellowships to support the inclusion of foreign researchers into Slovenian research and development cores in research and business organisations.

13. 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). 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. Supports for scientific and popular science publications. Fellowships for students Fellowships for undergraduate and graduate students. Fellowships for undergraduate and graduate students.

14. The influence of the SSF on policy making (1) LevelInstrumentGoal Researchers, Research Groups Grants and/or Fellowships To provide independent support for personal development of researchers or realisation of research projects (includes also so called “second chance”) To provide independent support for personal development of researchers or realisation of research projects (includes also so called “second chance”) To provide the ground for researchers to present themselves to public (particularly to general public) To provide the ground for researchers to present themselves to public (particularly to general public)

15. The influence of the SSF on policy making (2) LevelInstrumentGoal Funding agencies Co-operation agreements Fostering the co-ordination and partner co-operation National research policy Co-operation agreements Managing with the parts of National research programme

16. The influence of the SSF on policy making (3) LevelInstrumentGoal ERA Partner co-operation with European Commission Fostering the co-ordination among national and European Science Policy and activities International research environments Memberships and participation of the institution Fostering the inclusion of Slovenian Researchers in pan- European and global research projects (e.g. European Science Foundation)

17. Contact Information General General - Dr. Edvard KOBAL, Director International Co-operation International Co-operation - Darja ČOT, Head Address: 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

18. THANK YOU