Archives: Novice

23 June 2023 – About halfway through KOR-NET project implementation, the team is completing the design of one of the main assets for the youth of the Koroška region. The online platform for the Koroška region youth called the Koroška region Virtual Youth Incubator has been presented to the public. The platform is a source of information for young people. It also serves as a virtual meeting point for all those concerned about the situation of young people in the Koroška region and those who want to make the path to adulthood for young people easier by combining their practical experience and professional skills. The main goal of the incubator and the project is to create conditions for young people for life and work that will motivate them to continue living in their home region and to become active in their rural or urban community.

 The long and complicated path from idea to implementation

It all started with brainstorming sessions on how to turn the idea of an online meeting point for young people, youth organisations, and other actors in the youth-supportive environment in the Koroška region into a content-rich and diverse website, which is now known as the Virtual Youth Incubator of the Koroška region and can be accessed at www.kor-net.si.

Doris Brajnik, KMKC Complex: “It was only through intensive work on the project and 10-hour brainstorming sessions on Zoom that we realised how complex the project (within a project!) really is. The content was piling up, but through careful editing and talks with young people in the frame of various project activities, we managed to organise and reduce the content. We hope that the young users will find the platform, which we will be updated and improved, useful.”

Incubating the Incubator

The creation of the incubator started with a thorough analysis, first by everyone involved in the project and then in a smaller working group, of the content that would be (potentially) useful for young people in the Koroška region aged 15 and 29. The aim was to provide in the most attractive form possible (please read below) information that would support young people in their transition through the different stages of adolescence.

The main ‘permanent’ content on the site is, therefore, a kind of online handbook for growing up where young people can find answers to a variety of questions on practical matters of life, such as bureaucracy, personal finance, housing, etc., and issues specific to the school and student life and the transition to work.

Content: from childhood through adolescence to adulthood and social activity

The page structure, divided into six chapters, follows this logic. The chapters are interlinked and structured to best support young people from School Years (Chapter 1) through Student Years (Chapter 2) to independence (Chapter 3 Starter pack for adulthood). Information for encouraging activation and greater (political) participation (Chapter 4 Active young people) has been added to encourage young people to engage in civic and social life, cope with school commitments, and gradually take responsibility for their lives.

A specific chapter that we would like to build on in the future is the chapter Friends in Distress. It covers the content and the most important contacts of a support environment for young people in the field of mental health and other forms of distress caused by living in a modern society. The What’s Up? section has also been added to help young people integrate into their home environment and expand their social network. The section provides information on current events, open calls, (non-formal) training, international youth exchanges, etc.

Agency Statera: implementation of the website and graphic design to support the content

At least two other important questions were raised in establishing the incubator: 1) how to get young people’s attention in a digital age full of messages, especially online, and 2) how to present information in a way that is graphically appealing enough to young people to return to the site regularly and willingly? The answers to these questions were designed with the agency Statera, which developed the website.

In order to emphasise that growing up takes place in phases, they made up individuals who ‘grow up’ with the user and guide them through the main events in the educational process and integration into the adult world. The growing up in phases is also reflected in the colour scheme, which slowly evolves from vibrant pink (high school) to lighter, more subdued tones. The colour portal ends with a soothing lavender, reserved for the chapter Friends in Distress.

KOR-NET is halfway there!

The Carinthian Network of Supportive Environment for Youth KOR-NET  is a partnership project supported by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism, which aims to ensure that young people in the Koroška region have the right conditions for life and work to stay in their home region after finishing school and feel heard here.

With the launch of the Koroška region Virtual Youth Incubator project in July 2022, ending in April 2024, we have entered the second implementation stage. The team members marked this milestone with a fun event to launch the incubator at the KMKC Complex, moderated by Gašper Bergant and young musicians of the band Overheat.

In addition to Viktorija Barbič, Director of A.L.P. Peca and the lead idea developer of the KOR-NET project, Karmen Sonjak, Director of Regional Development Agency Koroška, and Andreja Katič, State Secretary at the Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development, also addressed the participants.

 

Press release: the KOR-NET project – Virtual Youth Incubator of Koroška (in Slovenian)

21 June 2023 – Renowned experts from Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Slovenia gathered at the Ljubljana Castle at the invitation of the Regional Development Agency Ljubljana Urban Region to look into the role of the public sector in building innovation ecosystems. The showcased best practices of innovation in public administration in Nordic countries prove that an innovative public sector can play a decisive role in fostering development at national, regional and local level. The first steps in this direction have already been taken in Slovenia as well.

The international conference We are Already 5,000+ Innovative featured many practical examples, panel discussions and roundtables; coupled with an informal exchange of ideas and opinions among the experts, decision-makers and public sector stakeholders, it offered a valuable insight into innovation in the public sector. Mag. Lilijana Madjar, Director of the Regional Development Agency Ljubljana Urban Region underlined one of the key highlights of the conference by stressing that it is on the shoulders of all public sector stakeholders, especially policy makers, to create an environment that stimulates innovation, while also offering a stimulating legislative framework.

The presence of the Minister of Public Administration Ms. Sanja Ajanović Hovnik, the Minister of Digital Transformation Dr. Emilija Stojmenova Duh, and the Minister of Cohesion and Regional Development Dr. Aleksander Jevšek was a testament to the relevance of the theme that was in focus of the conference. The three ministers were unanimous that networking and collaboration as well as continuous learning and skills improvement of all key stakeholders were the pre-condition for putting in place an effective innovative ecosystem that, apart from the public sector, also includes the economy, research and educational institutions and NGOs. In this context, Minister Ajanović Hovnik placed particular focus on the presentation of the Policy Making Hub, a platform that will bring together abovementioned stakeholders to work together to design and test innovative policies, regulations and public services in order to foster the transition to a circular and low-carbon economy and society. Minister Jevšek said that a considerable portion of funding under the new programming period was earmarked for development and innovation. Minister Stojmenova Duh stressed the importance of digital technologies in facilitating the achievement of the set goals.

The conference participants were addressed by the guests of honour, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway, Her Excellency Trine Skymoen and Deputy Mayor of the City of Ljubljana, Mr. Dejan Crnek. Ms. Skymoen was pleased to note the results of the collaboration with the Donor States of Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein to a green and inclusive Europe and underlined that the conference was a perfect opportunity to build further partnerships and upgrade knowledge. Mr. Crnek said that Ljubljana was an exceptionally innovative city thanks to the leadership of Mayor Janković who put his vast business experience to best use and revamped the work of city administration. As one of his novelties, the Mayor invited the residents of Ljubljana to participate in the creation of the 2025 vision of the city. Now, the city of Ljubljana is eagerly expecting another breakthrough event that will add to the city’s public transport, i.e. the inauguration of the Ljubljanica River routes that will be incorporated in the public transport system.

The keynote speaker, Prof. Dr. Thomas Hoholm, Head of the Department of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at the​ BI Norwegian Business School, an internationally acclaimed expert in innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems, stressed the importance of a strong institutional support. He also recalled that the industry and academia must work more closer together, not only in R&D projects but also through joint initiatives for skills development. Dr. Peter Wostner from the Institute of Macroeconomic Analysis and Development also drew attention to the importance of innovation ecosystems, stressing that reorganisation and rethinking the way they work were of paramount importance for businesses, in order for their action to complement. According to Dr. Wostner, both constitute what is the basic condition for the smart and green transition that all countries are trying to achieve.

According to Dr. Damjan Kavaš, Director of the Institute for Economic Research, the EU public sector accounts for over 25% of jobs. It is not only a major employer, but also the main provider of services and source of public procurement. Instead of policy fragmentation and governance dispersion, we need a modern, innovative public administration that is able to learn fast and that builds on an improved governance system. Only revamped modern administration can truly work to the full benefit of businesses and citizens. The main goal of the Norway’s National Programme for Supplier Development is to help the public sector to use public procurements to develop more innovations and offers support to providers in their search for new business opportunities in the public sector, explained Programme Director Ingebjørg Harto. Public organisations can update their services for the citizens most efficiently through collaboration with the economy, i.e. before the launch of the procurement procedures, so that they stimulate offers for best solutions and ensure stable conditions for growth to suppliers.

Certain important steps towards enhanced creativity and innovation have already been taken at the Ministry of Public Administration. Dr. Staša Mesec and Genovefa Ružić presented the projects Inovativen.si and Policy Lab that have been designed to roll-out new innovative approaches and ways of work to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and quality of the work of public administration. They both underlined that creativity, innovation and having free hands to experiment were the pre-requisite for designing efficient public services.

Further good practices were presented to participants. Daði Rúnar Pétursson from Ríkiskaup which is the central public procurement agency in Iceland. Pétursson described how the agency went from a reactive to a proactive actor that fosters synergies between public procurements and innovations by encouraging innovation-led purchases, helping recognise and understand the opportunities for innovations in the public sector and facilitating ways to launch innovative procurements with the aim of fostering social development.

The CEO of Liechtenstein Bankers Association Simon Tribelhorn spoke about the system of private investments in innovative entrepreneurship that is oriented in sustainable economy which complements national public financing. The system has been well received by ”green” investors that seek green investments, while start-ups use this financial injection to grow faster. The cumulative effects of the system are positively felt by the entire society.

Eva Pandora Baldursdottir from the City of Reykjavik, Head of Digitalisation Service at the City of Ljubljana Arian Debeljak, Director of the Regional Development Agency Ljubljana Urban Region mag. Lilijana Madjar and Deputy CEO of the University of Iceland Science Park Thorey Einarsdottir participated in the roundtable and shared interesting views on various aspects of innovation in the public sector ranging from digitalisation and sustainability to policy development and urban planning. Martin J. Matt from the Kreativagentur enterprise in Liechtenstein explained that only innovative communication truly raises awareness of the public about sustainability issues.

This innovation conference put spotlight on the many opportunities that are offered by the introduction of innovations in the public sector. Through the line-up of distinguished speakers and the contacts formed between experts in various fields, the event has already contributed to the setting up of an innovation ecosystem that is a must for a successful development of any country.

The event was supported by the Fund for Bilateral Relations under the EEA and Norway Grants which are the contribution of Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein to a green, competitive and inclusive Europe.

 

Source: RRA LUR

21 June 2023 – In the framework of the TERA project, supported by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism, the project partners aim to improve work-life balance in rural areas. To this end, an innovative and interactive online platform TERA has been launched.

The TERA project addresses the challenges of establishing work-life balance in rural areas, with a focus on raising awareness of the opportunities of work-life balance among women and men in rural areas. The project focuses on overcoming numerous challenges, such as the lower economic independence of rural women, the fragmentation of stakeholders in the region in addressing these challenges, as well as geographical remoteness and limited access to public resources. The project aims to empower men and women in rural areas to effectively address the challenges of work-life balance and to establish greater autonomy and quality of life.

The new online platform plays an important role in presenting the key themes and activities that are being developed within the project. The platform provides information on current challenges related to work-life balance and presents proposals for solutions and actions that can improve gender equality in rural areas. The platform provides practical guidelines for work-life balance in families, farms and work organisations. The platform also offers a wide range of resources for further information and research in this area.

The online platform offers a detailed presentation of the TERA education and awareness-raising programme, which has been developed based on the results of the Survey on Gender Equality in Rural Areas (TERA, 2022) and other projects carried out. The programme consists of six modules, delivered in the form of lectures and accompanying workshops. Each module addresses specific challenges related to the TERA project and can be divided into three main thematic sets:

1. Gender stereotypes and roles of men and women in rural areas
2. Work-life balance and gender equality
3. Challenges and obstacles in finding a balance between professional and private life in rural areas – progress and innovative approaches

The online platform also provides detailed information on the mentoring programme, upcoming workshops and other project activities.

The platform also presents the three levels of work-life balance: the personal level (involvement of men in care work, active fatherhood, fair distribution of household chores), the institutional level (difficulties in accessing public infrastructure) and the legislative level.

The TERA project was developed by the Development Centre Murska Sobota, acting as the project promoter, and project partners Regional Development Agency Posavje, Gender Equality Research Institute Maribor (IPES), the Slovenian Rural Youth Association, the Centre for the Development of Sustainable Society and Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences from Norway.

13 June 2023 – The Financial Mechanism Office organized a two-day communication workshop for the National focal points of beneficiary countries. Fund Operators of the Active citizens funds and the two regional funds, and embassy representatives also participated in the event.

The workshop was highlighted by Philip Weiss, a TEDx speaker and founder of the ZN agency, who delivered a lecture to the participants on the power of artificial intelligence as a communication tool. In his presentation, he shed light on how artificial intelligence can change the way we communicate, opening up new possibilities and enhancing our achievements in communication efforts.

The Financial Mechanisms Office introduced the long-awaited #OurStories campaign, which will kick off in September. The campaign aims to captivate the audience with compelling narratives and demonstrate the significant impact of the EEA and Norway Grants. For the campaign, interviews were conducted with 70 individuals and visits were made to 16 countries. The campaign and the grants will also be presented at an exhibition in the European Parliament in September.

During the workshop, participants shared some of the best practices in communication. They presented inspiring examples of storytelling about the impact of the EEA and Norway Grants. The Regional funds presented the idea of an online magazine that combines the Fund for Regional Cooperation and the Fund for Youth Employment, showcasing a range of projects implemented within these funds. The Fund Oprators of the Active Citizens Fund from Slovakia and Greece showcased the process of creating video spots for projects implemented by non-governmental organizations. The Greek National Contact Point presented the Water Matters campaign, while the Polish National Contact Point showcased their approach to storytelling through online articles featuring people involved in the projects.

8 June 2023 – On Monday, 5 June 2023, Faculty of Humanities Koper hosted a press conference for the project HERITAGE SCHOOL FOR NEW GENERATIONS where project partners presented the project and the project activity that took place on the same day at the Archaeological Park in the Simonov zaliv bay.   

Barbara Možina, the coordinator of the project promoter, the Association of Historic Cities of Slovenia, underlined that the main objective of the project is to promote the inclusion of cultural heritage topics in lessons and activity days by developing new practices of teaching, didactic tools, and transferring experiences and good practices from the Norwegian teaching system. The project, supported by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism, focuses on developing and testing new practices of teaching in cooperation with the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia, Faculty of Humanities of the University of Primorska, School Centre Škofja Loka, Secondary School of Woodworking, Primary School Ivan Grohar, Municipality of Škofja Loka and the Norwegian organisation MAGMA Geopark AS.

The Dean of the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Primorska, Prof. Dr. Irena Lazar, underlined that professionally developed content in the field of cultural heritage, such as guidebooks, teaching aids, teaching preparations and guidelines, is significant for the planning of activity days. It is also a good incentive for primary school teachers to include more cultural heritage content into primary school teaching.

Assistant Professor Dr. Zrinka Mileusnić, the coordinator of the project partner Faculty of Humanities of the University of Primorska, presented the activities of the Activity Day for the pupils of the Primary School Ivan Grohar in Škofja Loka, who participated in the Cultural Day programme in the Archaeological Park in the Simonov zaliv bay. The students of the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Primorska, mentored by Assistant Professor Dr. Zrinka Mileusnić and the professional staff of the Archaeological Park, prepared a comprehensive educational programme with a tour of the park, the Roman mosaics and the remains of the residential part of a Roman villa, as well as a guided experience of the interactive interpretation centre and a workshop on the Roman script. The interpretation centre in the park, the conservation and presentation of the villa’s remains and the harbour, and the inclusion of the park into the cultural and tourist offer are a result of project AS, supported by the EEA Financial Mechanism in the previous period 2009-2014.

The aim of the programme was to offer pupils an interactive and dynamic form of learning, in addition to classical forms of learning, namely through innovative teaching methods, which are part of the project’s new teaching practice. The aim of comparing the two teaching methods is to establish a scientifically validated comparison of various teaching methods for the same cultural heritage content, not only based on the impression of the pupils and teachers but also through neurological testing of the pupils during the learning experience.

Psychologist and neuroscientist Andrea Bariselli participated in developing the new teaching practice. He and his team tested the pupils with the so-called portable EEG devices. The devices record the electrical activity produced by the brain. The main purpose of the testing is to measure the cognitive response in the perception and processing of stimuli by using techniques specific to applied neuroscience to investigate the experiences of a group of pupils during different teaching methods. The gathered data is used to observe changes in levels of cognitive load, attention, engagement and perceived well-being during planned activities.

The project coordinator at the Primary School Ivan Grohar in Škofja Loka, art teacher Petra Primc Marko, said “On Monday, 5 June 2023, seventy 5^th grade pupils visited the Archaeological Park in the Simonov zaliv bay, as part of their outdoor learning trip. The interesting programme also offered neuro-testing for the project Heritage School for New Generations. Almost all pupils were involved in the testing; the project is now well-known in the school and parents are also well-acquainted with it. We are all very proud to be part of this. The neuro-testing is in its second stage, and the activity day has been completed; now we have to wait for the results. The project also aims to set up a didactic corner in cooperation with the School Centre, the Department of Woodworking. To this end, part of the school will be given a new look and purpose, full of cultural heritage. We expect its completion at the beginning of the next school year. The corner will be called Pod Homanovo lipo.”

At the end of the press conference, Nataša Ülen, the coordinator of the project partner Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia, who is developing content to support teachers in teaching about cultural heritage, said “The project aims to bring cultural heritage closer to teachers and, indirectly, also to pupils. Cultural heritage is rapidly disappearing in the area, having to adapt to new and foreign trends and its immediate surroundings are being transformed beyond recognition. Traditional skills and old knowledge, and with it, a variety of traditional professions, are forgotten. The very identity of our area is gradually being lost. In April, as part of the project, we carried out testing with Mr. Bariseli in the classrooms of the Primary School Ivan Grohar. To summarise, the project’s first results revealed an extremely positive effect on the learning process compared to traditional teaching in the classroom.

The project aims to provide teachers with as much professional support as possible, which is why the project’s first task was to carry out detailed analyses of the curricula for individual subjects. By analysing the existing compulsory content, we looked for cultural heritage terms that c be introduced or interpreted to pupils while at the same time establishing as many links between various curricula as possible. By linking the subjects, teachers can give a more concise, multi-level explanation while also gaining some time for other subjects. Pupils were given a chance to experience new concepts more vividly, resulting in a more in-depth knowledge consolidation. The Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia also prepares teacher’s guidebooks for individual 3-year periods, with open learning and training sessions to follow in the coming months.”

You are welcome to follow the project’s achievements on the dedicated project website: Heritage School for New Generations.

8 June 2023 – The Financial Mechanisms Office published the 2022 Status Report. This report highlights Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway’s contributions to a green, competitive and inclusive Europe by the end of 2022.

Europe is facing formidable challenges. Russia’s unjustified aggression against Ukraine is not only an attack on Ukraine, but an attack on our common values of freedom, democracy, respect for human rights, and rules-based international order. Ukraine’s neighbouring countries, many of which are EEA and Norway Grants Beneficiary States, are contending with challenges related to a massive influx of refugees and the consequences this entails. To alleviate the situation, some of the EEA and Norway Grants funds were used to provide help to Ukrainian refugees in the Beneficiary States. By the end of 2022, more than EUR 13 million had been committed to projects and initiatives to this end.

The overall aim of the EEA and Norway Grants is to reduce social and economic disparities in Europe. Support under the Grants scheme is intended to safeguard the fundamental values of democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law. Today, the EEA and Norway Grants are the largest single source of funding for civil society organisations working to promote these values in the Beneficiary States. This funding is more essential than ever in light of the shrinking civic space and increasing pressure on democracy and the rule of law seen in various countries in Europe over the past years.

By maintaining a strong focus on bilateral partnerships, the Grants also help to build competence and capacity, create networks, develop business ideas, and expand market shares. Some of these results are presented in this Status Report. The report provides an overview of activities carried out under the EEA and Norway Grants up to the end of 2022. It highlights the benefits of our collaborative efforts and provides insight into how Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are working together to promote a greener, more competitive, and more inclusive Europe.

At the end of 2022, all 97 programmes were under implementation, and contracts for more than 6,000 projects had been signed within the framework of the Grants’ total allocation of EUR 2.8 billion. In total 1,056 companies had received support and 3,976 jobs had been created. More than EUR 210 million had been distributed to civil society organisations, and 40% of all projects had a donor partner. With programme implementation running until 2024, we are confident that we will be seeing many more results in the time ahead.

Green Europe

Europe faces significant challenges from climate change, environmental degradation, and insufficient sustainable energy. The European Green Deal aims to make the EU the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, requiring systemic transformations and substantial investments. The EEA and Norway Grants fund projects that promote a greener Europe, ensuring compliance with EU environmental standards, fast-tracking clean energy technology, and promoting energy-efficient solutions. €421.1 million is allocated for the Green Europe for 15 programmes and 672 projects being impelmented in 12 beneficiary states. 43% of the projects involve donor project partner.

Competitive Europe

Europe is accelerating its green transition amidst the COVID-19 pandemic recovery, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and new challenges like price increases and supply chain disruptions. The EEA and Norway Grants support private enterprises, research institutions, and higher education to foster sustainable growth and competitiveness. The Grants contribute to EU’s sustainable growth goals by bridging funding gaps and building research and innovation capacity in the Beneficiary States. €830.9 million is allocated for the Comptetitive Europe for 38 programmes and 1,807 projects being impelmented in 14 beneficiary states. 63% of the projects involve donor project partner.

Inclusive Europe

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has significantly impacted lives and exacerbated existing inequalities in Europe, highlighting the need for a more inclusive society. The EEA and Norway Grants are committed to fostering inclusivity, with over €1 billion provided to projects in priority sectors such as social inclusion, culture, civil society, and justice. These initiatives build capacity and accountability of institutions and help empower vulnerable groups. Despite not being an emergency support mechanism, the Grants have quickly channelled €13 million to address the refugee crisis caused by the war, supporting civil society organisations in Beneficiary States. €1,061.3 million is allocated for the Inclusive  Europe for 58 programmes and 3,526 projects being impelmented in 14 beneficiary states. 27% of the projects involve donor project partner.

In these uncertain times, it is important to continue to strengthen European values. The EEA and Norway Grants are one of the means that Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway are using to address this. Donor states look forward to continuing close cooperation with all the Beneficiary States in the year to come.

7 June 2023 – The Prometheus project, supported by the Norway Grants has established an online platform where employees can find strategies for achieving a harmonious work-life balance. Training programmes and digital resources enable individuals to balance effectively their work and private life. Project partners promote an inclusive organisational culture and raise awareness about the importance of work-life balance and gender equality in companies.

In the frame of the Prometheus project, the project partners address work-life balance after the Covid-19 epidemic by encouraging companies and organisations to base their organisational structures on gender equality. During the Covid-19 epidemic, the inequalities between women and men in the labour market became more pronounced, particularly affecting women and their opportunities to pursue and develop their careers.

The project’s main objective is to empower working women and men through tested measures that improve work-life balance in remote work and work at the workplace, tailored to the different levels of jobs in each organisation involved in the consortium. Thus, the project also indirectly aims to implement an individualistic, tailor-made educational approach based on positive psychology, which contributes to building a respectful, gender-equal and diversity-based organisational culture.

The online platform PROMETHEUS provides information on work-life balance to employees on the one hand and to management in organisations on the other, namely by identifying the starting point of each individual, with a set of actions to encourage progress, and with training modules.

The PROMETHEUS project is co-developed by the American Chamber of Commerce, which acts as the project promoter, and the project partners IPES – Institute for the Study of Gender Equality Maribor, Merkur Trade, Riko, Industrial, Construction Engineering and Leasing, University of Maribor, Knauf Insulation, Public Scholarship, Development, Disability and Maintenance Fund of the Republic of Slovenia, A1 Slovenia, AMZS and the Norwegian Automotive Foundation.

5 June 2023 – On World Environment Day, StudioKroG project partners presented good practices in environmental conservation and sustainable development at a press conference that took place in used shipping containers. It has become clear that taking care of our planet is crucial, as we face many challenges that demand immediate action. That is why, on World Environment Day, the Circular Economy Studio project (StudioKroG) was presented to help create a more sustainable and responsible future.

World Environment Day is the day we focus on renewable energy for a sustainable future. The shift to renewable energy sources is essential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve natural resources and move towards a more sustainable future. World Environment Day promotes and highlights the importance of using renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydro, geothermal and other inexhaustible sources that have a lower environmental impact than fossil fuels. The project Circular Economy Studio stands for all the abovementioned (Slovenske Konjice, Reuse Centre). On this day, the partners of the studioKroG project, supported by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism, presented the latest approaches that set new standards in sustainable architecture, design, and construction in line with circular economy principles.

Circular Economy Studio is an innovative concept based on circular economy principles. Circular economy is an approach that aims to limit the consumption of natural resources, reduce waste, and promote recycling and reuse. This approach is based on the idea that products, materials and resources can be used in endless cycles, reducing the negative environmental impact. The Circular Economy Studio project is designed to become a model of sustainable development and circular economy for other local communities. The project aims to create a comprehensive environmental and economic system to promote waste reduction, reuse, and recycling and stimulate local employment and economic growth. The project has developed an innovative infrastructure that provides a better understanding of circular economy and promotes local production and reuse of materials. The aim is to achieve full reuse of resources and minimise waste.

Dr Klavdija Rižnar from the Scientific Research Centre Bistra Ptuj, the project promoter, presented the project, its objectives and the changing paradigm where circular economy represents a shift from the traditional linear model (production, use, disposal) to a model that emphasises resource renewability and the conservation of materials in a circle. For circular economy to work, we need to change how we think and act and rethink the entire life cycle of products.

Mag Bojan Pirš, Director of OKP Rogaška Slatina, which is a partner in the project and is actively involved in the project offering four shipping containers of the OKP collection centre, where the Reuse Centre also operates, stressed that the company, as a public service provider, plays an important role in the overall system of circular resource management, especially in terms of reducing waste and in ensuring efficient use of resources. Indeed, a key principle of circular economy is waste reduction and resource efficiency, which reduces the need for energy use. Rather than ending up as waste, materials need to be kept in the cycle of use. Therefore, their proper source separation and diversion into the use of material streams, as illustrated by the StudioKroG concept, needs to be established.

Polona Kukovec Lakota from the Ormož Development and Research Centre outlined the importance of education and awareness-raising in circular resource use. Education and awareness-raising for individuals and organisations plays a key role in circular economy. We must focus on understanding the concept of circular economy, promoting sustainable lifestyles, and raising awareness about the relevance of waste reduction and resource efficiency.

Dr Marinka Vovk from the Reuse Centre, an investment partner in the StudioKroG project, presented practical examples of circular resource use in two completely refurbished (used) shipping containers, which demonstrate reuse waste design and industrial symbiosis, which in practice can be observed in the design of products made from waste. This is a good demonstration of the reuse potential, where we use only what already exists. The solar panels installed on the container, which no longer looks like a container, are the first example of reusing such waste under the industrial symbiosis system with Zeos Ltd. The project, thus, also contributes to renewable energies, which are key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Dr Vovk presented the multiplicative use of refurbished shipping containers, allowing the creation of sustainable and attractive spaces without the use of virgin materials and the development of green jobs in Slovenia.

StudioKroG is a leader in transforming containers into unique living units, offices, cafes, tourist info points, and other functional spaces for different target groups. The commitment to sustainability and the visionary approach include using renewable materials, energy-efficient solutions, and preserving the natural environment, which is also the hope of World Environment Day for the whole planet.

Summary of the statements given by Dr Klavdija Rižnar (Scientific Research Centre Bistra Ptuj) and Dr Marinka Vovk (Reuse Centre Ltd.)

26 May 2023 – As part of a three-month dynamic group commuting pilot project, more than 100 inhabitants of the municipalities located between Kranj and Ljubljana got into a van every day and travelled to and from their workplaces located in the area of the University Medical Centre Ljubljana and BTC area in a sustainable way. As many as three quarters of users would continue to choose this mode of commuting, mainly because, unlike using their own car, such mode of transportation does not cause any worry or stress. They would be willing to pay around EUR 70 per month, which is less than half of the estimated actual cost per person. The remaining amount would need to be co-financed. The Jožef Stefan Institute estimates that this mode of transportation would bring 37% to 70% emission reduction, which is a strong motivation for participation.

Organised van transportation, where employees chose the time of departure and return, ran for three months, i.e. in February, March and April 2023, and was completely free of charge. The project was designed and fully supported by the SmartMOVE – Smart Solutions for Sustainable Mobility project which received EEA Financial Mechanism support. “Eight organisations are cooperating to find concrete solutions to improve mobility management in locations with high traffic, especially in order to mitigate the consequences of traffic load,” said Klemen Gostič, representative of the Regional Development Agency of the Ljubljana Urban Region, RRA LUR, which acts as the project lead partner. He underlined that “more than 220,000 jobs are located in Ljubljana, which is more than a quarter of all jobs in Slovenia. This is why more than 120,000 people commute daily to Ljubljana. Ljubljana and its surroundings is the most heavily trafficked area in Slovenia, with motorised private traffic generating the largest carbon footprint. According to 2021 data, this accounts for 80% of all daily journeys at national level”.

“The group commuting pilot project is one of the main project elements, alongside the development of mobility plans for selected companies, and we are pleased that it was carried out by an experienced partner GoOpti, who coordinated the transport perfectly. The thorough data processing carried out by the Knowledge Technologies Department and the Environmental Sciences Department at the Jožef Stefan Institute also gives us a very good understanding of the effects of this type of transport on reducing emissions”, Gostič added.

The largest employer in the country, the University Medical Centre Ljubljana, also joined the SmartMOVE project with 8,500 employees. BTC d.d. for the BTC City shopping centre area and IKEA Slovenija d.o.o. also joined the project. Based on an analysis of the travel habits of employees in these areas, the municipalities of Kranj, Kamnik, Domžale, Radomlje, Komenda, Mengeš and Trzin were selected to participate in the pilot transport project. GoOpti received 573 applications for the shuttle service via the “Gremo skupaj” website, set up specifically for the project. 131 users were selected to use the shuttle service between one and five times a week.

The analysis of the user satisfaction surveys showed that the dynamic shuttle, which adapts to demand, was the most popular with passengers who mostly make the same journeys with their own vehicle (73%). Passengers value the hassle-free nature of this mode of transport, its reliability, proximity to stations, convenience and the fact that they do not have to deal with finding a parking space. “We also included shift-workers as the pilot project needs to test as many scenarios as possible. This is one of the reasons why the average occupancy rate is relatively low (34%), however, the figures are positive as we have managed to reduce CO₂ emissions by 37%, which could be improved by a further 20% if we used electric vehicles, and NOx and PM emissions by up to 70%”, summarises Marko Guček, CEO of GoOpti.

Prof. Dr. Marko Bohanec from the Knowledge Technologies Department at the Jožef Stefan Institute explained that the calculations are based on various scenarios and journeys and take into account factors such as the age of the vehicles that the analysed passengers would otherwise use, the type of fuel, the length of their journey, etc. The route Komenda – University Medical Centre gave the best results. “A higher average occupancy rate, such as on the Kamnik – Radomlje – Domžale – Ljubljana route, would certainly mean a significant reduction in commuting emissions,” explained Marko Guček, CEO of GoOpti, adding that the Domžale route could easily be expected to reach the desired 75% occupancy rate at peak times.

“We believe that a dynamic shuttle is possible in the long term, but it requires close cooperation of the public transport companies, co-travel, businesses and users. The government should consider whether this transport modality and possible alternatives could be functionally integrated into a mobility management strategy and, on this basis, to redesign the co-financing model. On the other hand, employers could also contribute by redirect their investment in parking towards various forms of sustainable mobility for their employees. Municipalities as well as everyone involved in the model, could also play a role,” Guček concluded. He added that they would like to work more closely with public transport companies in the future: “We would like to test dynamic group transport from home to the public transport station and back.” They also see a future in opening up the app for co-travel, which would allow them to make use of the free seats of vehicles already on the road daily.

Klemen Gostič from RRA LUR invited companies to start addressing sustainable mobility of their employees more intensively. To this end, the SmartMOVE: Smart Solutions for Sustainable Mobility project is planning free training sessions for companies that will take place in autumn 2023, both to raise awareness among management about possible measures and to motivate employees to change their travel habits. Applications are already open at www.smart-move.si.

23 May – On Friday, 19 May 2023, in the framework of the JeloviZA project, the Jelovica area was reforested with the objective of restoring the damaged forest. The forests of Jelovica have been severely damaged in the past by windstorms, snowstorms and ice storms, and later by bark beetles. To successfully restore the burnt areas and ensure that the forest is diverse and resilient, 24,000 native and species-diverse seedlings of larch, mountain maple, red pine, beech and fir will be planted on a 10-hectare area by the end of the month.

The objective of the activities, implemented in the frame of the JeloviZA project, is to increase the resilience of forests to weather events and other impacts of climate change. Gašper Kleč, Director of the Sora Development Agency, presented the objective and the main activities of the JeloviZA project. He stressed that we should prevent Jelovica from becoming the next Pokljuka; we should enhance sustainable development and establish a species-diverse forest more resilient to climate change. Mr Kleč thanked all project partners and stakeholders working together in the area.

The partners of the two-year project, CIPRA Slovenia, Institute for Nature Conservation, Slovenian Forest Service, Municipality of Železniki, CIPRA International and the Sora Development Agency are, together with the stakeholders, committed to preserving the area for future generations and to developing it in a sustainable and nature-friendly manner. The project financed the installation of counters to count traffic and the number of visitors, inventory of species such as the wild grouse, hazel grouse and the three-toed woodpecker, evaluation of ecosystem services, restoration of nesting boxes for Ural owls, and the co-design of a Management Model that will form the basis for the sustainable development of the area.

Gregor Danev, Director of the Slovenian Forest Service, who was also actively involved in the tree planting at Jelovica, stressed the importance of artificial planting and the care that the owners will take over the next four years to raise and care for the seedlings, which are key to the success of the restoration. He also welcomed new approaches, such as protecting seedlings from browsing with wooden fencing, allowing smooth passage for forest hens such as the wild grouse and hazel grouse. For many species, the wire fences used in the past are not suitable.

Dr Irena Mrak from the Slovenian Forest Service, Bled Branch Office, added that the project will also monitor the comparison of natural and artificial restoration, which will significantly contribute to guiding the future restoration of Jelovica.

 

Matija Benedičič, Forest Economy Bled, said that the forest is naturally regenerating well, and by planting trees, we help make this regeneration even more successful. “We are mostly planting larch and mountain maple, some red pine, and a smaller percentage of beech and fir.”

Prepared by APO, Sora Development Agency

 

Wath a video about tee planting at Jelovica: