International and EU projects

The University of Maribor fosters a supportive environment for outstanding research and artistic achievements, the advancement of new knowledge and its integration into education and wider society. It places particular emphasis on participation in international and European projects, collaboration with leading research and arts organisations and engagement in international partnerships, networks and centres of excellence. In doing so, it promotes knowledge exchange, the sharing of good practices and the development of interdisciplinary solutions, while strengthening its international visibility and contribution to the European Research and Innovation Area.

Horizon Europe is the EU's research and innovation framework programme in the period from 2021 to 2027. It is the flagship EU initiative for supporting research and innovation from conception to market introduction and complements national and regional funding.

Priority tasks:

• Excellence in science (European Research Council, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, research infrastructure).
• Global challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness (Joint Research Centre, six clusters:  Health, 2. Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society, 3. Civil Security for Society, 4. Digital, Industry and Space, 5. Climate, Energy and Mobility, 6. Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment).
• Innovative Europe (European Innovation Council, European innovation ecosystems, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology).

The additional horizontal part introduces measures for widening participation and strengthening the European research area.

Erasmus+ is the uniform EU’s programme to support education, training, youth and sport. High-quality, inclusive education and training as well as non-formal and informal learning enable young people and participants of all ages to obtain qualifications and skills necessary for their participation in democratic society, intercultural understanding and successful transition into the labour market.

The main objectives of the programme:

• Training, professional and personal development of individuals in the field of education, training, youth and sport (in the EU and around the world).
• Contributing to sustainable growth, recruitment, social cohesion and strengthening European identity.

The European Territorial Cooperation is an instrument of cohesion policy intended for solving cross-border problems and the joint development of potential in diverse territories. The European Regional Development Fund supports cooperation measures through three key elements: cross-border cooperation, transnational cooperation and interregional cooperation.

Cross-border cooperation programmes: Slovenia-Croatia, Slovenia-Austria, Slovenia-Hungary, Slovenia-Italy.

Programmes of transnational cooperation – Interreg: Alpine Space programme, Central Europe programme, ADRION programme, Danube programme, Euro-Med programme. Budget: 9,9 billion EUR.

Interregional cooperation programmes: INTERREG EUROPE, INTERACT II, ESPON, URBACT.

According to the updated framework of the Cohesion policy in the period from 2021 to 2027, EUR 2.9 billion is intended for Slovenia in the field of cohesion policy, EUR 1.5 billion as part of the common agricultural policy and EUR 100 million from the Just Transition Fund.

The division into two cohesion regions, Western Slovenia and Eastern Slovenia, remains in force. Support is planned for the following five priority areas, which will be the driving force of investments:

• smarter Europe (innovative and smart economic transformation),
• a greener, carbon free Europe (including the energy transition, circular economy, climate change adaptation and risk management),
• a more connected Europe (mobility and ICT connectivity),
• a more social Europe (European Pillar of Social Rights and healthcare support),
• a Europe closer to citizens (sustainable development of urban, rural and coastal areas as well as local initiatives).

The recovery and resilience plan provides the basis for taking up funds of the European Recovery and Resilience Mechanism. It will help Slovene economy to recover and contribute to the mitigation of social consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. By implementing the planned reforms and investments for the green and digital transition, Slovene society will be more sustainable, resilient and better prepared for future challenges. Slovenia will channel European funds for recovery and resilience to the green transition, digital transformation, support for the economy, research and development, education, health care, social security and housing policy.

The Slovene RRP envisages carrying out 34 reforms and 52 investments on four pillars:

• green transition (support for the implementation of reforms in the field of energy efficiency, use of renewable energy sources and sustainable mobility, implementation of actions for better adaptation to the effects of climate change);
• digital transformation (the aim is to strengthen and upgrade the digital infrastructure, support the development of advanced technological solutions and next generation services and thus achieve greater business efficiency and resilience);
• smart, sustainable and inclusive growth (contributing to the revival of productivity by encouraging innovation and investments in new technologies and business models pertaining to green and digital transition);
• health care and social security (the aim is to increase the resilience of the social security system, improve the quality and access to long-term care and health care as well as adequacy of pensions).

Ongoing projects

The University of Maribor participates in 109 international research and development projects, including projects co-financed by the European Structural Funds.

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