Slovenia’s higher education and research system comprises public and private institutions. Slovenia has four public universities: the University of Ljubljana, the University of Maribor, the University of Primorska, and the University of Nova Gorica. Additionally, Slovenia has several public research institutes, the most notable being the Jožef Stefan Institute and the National Institute of Chemistry, which focus on advanced scientific research in fields like natural sciences, engineering, and biochemistry.
Framework for cooperation
The framework for academic and scientific cooperation between Slovenia and China on a country level is formalized through a mixed commission that provides structure and oversight for bilateral research partnerships. Established through a formal agreement, the commission includes representatives from Slovenia’s Ministry of Education, Science, and Sport, the Slovenian Research Agency (ARIS), and China’s Ministry of Science and Technology. The commission meets regularly to review ongoing projects, approve new proposals, and align academic cooperation with the strategic interests of both nations. Research proposals can be submitted by any researcher in Slovenia who is employed at a university, research institute, laboratory, spin-off companies of research institutes, etc. ARIS commonly undertakes the mixed commission model of cooperation in research in its international cooperation agreements. Through this model of cooperation, each country covers its own research expenses, which promotes financial independence and balanced contributions. ARIS funds Slovenian projects, covering salaries, equipment, and local costs, while Chinese institutions support their researchers similarly. If a Slovenian researcher is to visit China (or vice versa), Slovenia covers international transportation fees while China covers their daily expenses: meals, accommodation and local transportation. This dual funding approach not only equalizes participation but also reduces reliance on foreign funding sources, preserving each institution’s autonomy.
In 2019, Slovenia and China signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) about joint funding of research projects and which emphasizes cooperation in research areas of mutual interest, particularly in natural sciences, engineering, and environmental studies. The MoU also lays out strict measures to protect sensitive data and intellectual property, which is safeguarded under domestic and international regulation.
Furthermore, in its Strategy for the internationalization of higher education and science in the Republic of Slovenia until 2030, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of the Republic of Slovenia defines China as a partner with whom cooperation can be pursued strategically through the framework of EU-led bilateral and multilateral engagements. China is presented alongside other countries or regions where previous collaboration has been limited or where coordinated EU efforts can better safeguard both national and collective EU interests.
In addition to the country-level model of cooperation, cooperation between universities occurs independently. Cooperation happens either in the framework of the university or its faculties, depending on the Chinese counterpart and the specific field of cooperation. While universities and their faculties can sign separate MoUs or other agreements with their foreign counterparts, most of the bilateral research happens through the country-level framework of cooperation as it offers more secure funding.
Cooperation between universities and research institutes
At the university level, since 2010, Slovenian academic institutions have collaborated with 104 Chinese institutions. Overall, research topics range widely, from robotics and telecommunications to Slovenia’s unique karst studies, business and economics, agriculture, etc., reflecting the varied priorities of both countries. Altogether, 12 of the 104 partnerships rated as “very high risk.” Among these, three are from China’s “Seven Sons of National Defense,” including the Harbin Institute of Technology, Nanjing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics, and Nanjing University of Science and Technology.
Specific collaborations include a project with the Harbin Institute of Technology (2011-2013), where the University of Ljubljana’s Faculty of Electrical Engineering worked on algorithms for robotic training devices. Another project with Nanjing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics (2018-2020) involved the Institute of Mathematics, Physics, and Mechanics, focusing on graph theory mathematics. A 3D printing research collaboration was also conducted with the Nanjing University of Science and Technology, including a Memorandum of Understanding signed with Ljubljana’s Biotechnical Faculty in 2020 and a scholar exchange at Jožef Stefan Institute in 2018.
Other very high-risk Chinese institutions have collaborated with Slovenia in 5G, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, computer science, engineering, mathematics, social sciences, business, environmental science, and urban studies. Some examples include research in algorithms for robotic stand-up training devices between the Harbin Institute of Technology and the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering; research on real-time video-surveillance between the Dalian Nationalities University and the University of Maribor; research in materials conducted between the Jožef Stefan Institute and Wuhan and Tsinghua University respectively, as well as between the University of Ljubljana and Nanjing University of Science and Technology, the Institute of Mathematics, Physics and Mechanics and Shandong University, and University of Maribor and Xidian University. University of Ljubljana has also cooperated with Huazhong University of Science and Technology and Tsinghua University on research in AI.
None of these collaborations are explicitly defense-related, although dual-use purposes would have to be further investigated according to the details of the research projects. Some partners have historical ties to PLA research, namely Nanjing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Wuhan University, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Tsinghua University, Hunan Normal University, Dalian University of Technology, and Xidian University. Generally, partnerships are formed between specialized schools or departments within these larger institutions, emphasizing research alignment.
In people-to-people exchanges, visits from Chinese institutions to Slovenian counterparts, and vice-versa, are mostly related to joint projects or research, international conferences and other similar events, especially regarding visits to Slovenian research institutes. At University levels, incoming delegations from China and local and national authorities are more likely to visit Universities to facilitate cooperation. Regarding exchange students from China, the numbers are also relatively limited. Between 2018 and 2023, according to data received from the University of Ljubljana, 78 students from China visited the University. For the University of Maribor, 13 students visited between 2010 and 2023, while the University of Primorska had 16 students from China, and the University of Nova Gorica had 56 in the mentioned period. This is all data from public universities, as private universities are not obliged to disclose data in all cases.
In terms of industry partnerships, Slovenia-China cooperation is somewhat limited in the academic sphere. The most notable example is the 2023 partnership between the University of Ljubljana and Huawei, which provided hardware for a 5G research environment. Slovenian companies S&T Iskratel and Telekom Slovenije also participated in this collaboration, which was co-funded by ARIS.
The University of Ljubljana’s Faculty of Economics hosts Slovenia’s only Confucius Institute (CI), a cultural and language institute. Funded by Hanban, the CI offers language and cultural programs, hosting events like Chinese New Year celebrations and language competitions. It is not directly embedded in the academic curriculum in China-related fields in Slovenia, and its emphasis, outside of language and culture, actually lies in business and economics studies, as evident by its host institution. Thus, the CI in Slovenia is unique in that it often supports business and trade cooperation events. For example, the CI hosted a “CI business talk” event in 2023 and 2022, in which a lecturer from a Chinese university company presented an aspect of doing business in China. Lastly, the CI runs five Confucius classrooms in Slovenia, across three kindergartens, 13 elementary schools, eight high schools and one university. Except for the Confucius classroom in Celje, which covers only the Celje-Center high school, each of the Confucius classrooms covers several kindergartens, elementary and high schools, and in the case of Koper, the university, as the University of Primorska is the institution hosting the classroom. This is due to the size of kindergartens, elementary schools, and high schools in Slovenia, which are spread out throughout bigger cities and the surrounding towns and villages. To assemble a group of students interested in learning Mandarin, one Confucius classroom has to cover a wide range of primary, secondary and tertiary education institutions.
Conclusions
Slovenia is strategically positioning itself as a leader in innovation, research, and development, aiming to establish a prominent role within the EU and on the global stage. China is one of Slovenia’s many research partners. Slovenia views this cooperation as one that can grow within EU guidelines, without compromising national interests (Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, 2023). To realize its ambitions, Slovenia understands the need to engage in academic and research partnerships with top institutions worldwide, accessing the latest knowledge and methodologies that empower Slovenian researchers and drive the country’s scientific and technological advancements. However, Slovenia should prioritize doing so thoughtfully, within a framework that protects its academic independence, security, and intellectual assets.
Research into details of cooperation in Slovenia is not limited to regulation, per se, since there exists a Freedom of Information Act in Slovenia. However, the FOIA limits access to sensitive data within collaborative academic projects. Public access to contracts involving sensitive research topics requires a formal request, subject to review, which can result in long wait times. Furthermore, documents containing sensitive information or governed by non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) are often restricted. This restricted access underscores the need for enhanced transparency, which could build trust and improve Slovenia’s international cooperation framework.
The country’s national interest lies in cultivating a robust domestic talent pool, reinforcing Slovenia’s role as a research and innovation center, and fostering an environment where local researchers can thrive. To this end, Slovenia should carefully consider what it seeks from each partnership and engage in mutually beneficial exchanges. This approach allows Slovenia to advance globally while ensuring that its own scientific and technological priorities remain paramount.
It is evident that Slovenia intends to remain open for international academic collaboration. Limited international collaboration would prevent Slovenian researchers from learning from advanced methodologies and diverse perspectives. Knowledge exchange and exposure to new systems enrich Slovenia’s talent pool and support its long-term research and development goals.
To balance these objectives effectively, Slovenia requires a clear strategy and vision for the internationalization of its research and innovation sectors. This approach ensures Slovenia benefits from global cooperation while controlling its intellectual assets. Ultimately, Slovenia’s goal is to build a thriving, independent, and world-class research ecosystem that advances national interests and propels the country’s innovation landscape forward.
Explore more data on Slovenia-China academic engagements here.
