This year’s 18. On 8 October 2025 in Koper, at the Faculty of Management of the University of Primorska, the International Conference on Technology Transfer (ITTC) brought together domestic and foreign experts in knowledge transfer, researchers, students, entrepreneurs, stakeholders of the innovation system and other interested public.
At the beginning, the participants were addressed by Prof. Dr. Klavdija Kutnar, Rector of the University of Primorska, Dr. Tomaž Boh, Director General of the Directorate for Science and Innovation (MVZI), Urša Jerše, coordinator of the UNIK@TT consortium from the University of Ljubljana, and Mag. Robert Blatnik , coordinator of the KTO3 consortium from the Jožef Stefan Institute.
In addition to the introductory words, the importance of connecting the academic sphere with the economy was further elaborated in the keynote lecture, where Olav Carlsen from the German state agency SPRIND for the support of breakthrough innovations presented how they support innovators in breaking through to the market. One of the key highlights of the presented examples and ways of support is the existence of a wide range of services and funding opportunities for the development of innovative ideas of researchers, but at the same time the need to take advantage of the given opportunities. Connecting with experts in other fields is also key. If researchers can take care of the innovative and technical aspect of the solution, experts in the business aspect and the like are also important for success in the market. In addition to Olav Carlsen, Dr. Tomaž Boh, Žiga Lampe from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia and Dr. Andreja Kutnar from InnoRenew Coe, who led the discussion, returned to the round table. The topic was addressed in the broader context of finding synergies between science, research and innovation in connection with new European funding.
Image: Round table on science, research and innovation under new European funding (photo: University of Primorska, 2025)
Conference participants were able to learn how to specifically place an innovative idea on the market at a quick pitch of ten innovators and research groups from public research organizations. This time, applications came from the Slovenian Institute of Civil Engineering, the Institute of Chemistry, the Jožef Stefan Institute, the University of Ljubljana, the University of Primorska and the National Institute of Biology. With their plans, they tried to convince an international expert committee about the market potential of their solutions. In addition to a larger number of solutions than in previous years, Maja Cergol Lipnik (Sežana Incubator), Olav Carlsen, Žiga Lampe, Tanja Kožuh (Primorska Technology Park), Nina Dremelj (Vesna VC) and Giulio Bollino (CNR, Italian National Council of Research) had to assess a larger number of solutions than in previous years, but also solutions that respond to many current questions of the modern world.
Despite the difficult judgment, in the end they decided on the solutions that show the greatest market potential. The winners are Dr. Andreja Pondelak from the Slovenian Institute of Civil Engineering for the technology of mineralized wood for its durability and fire resistance (SAFE WOOD) and Dr. Anže Zidar from the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Ljubljana for a smart nanofiber patch for healthy gums. The expert committee also emphasized that the remaining solutions address important challenges and encouraged them to further develop and integrate with a supportive innovation environment.
At the conference in Koper, the winners of the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) national awards for innovators and companies were also announced. He first received Reg. Prof. Dr. Franc Majdič from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Ljubljana as a co-inventor of six patented inventions, one of which enabled the Slovenian company to open a new production line, thereby increasing the independence and resilience of the company, including other tangible economic benefits. This time, two companies received the awards for companies. Gorenje household appliances d.o.o. for an exceptional portfolio of intellectual property and active integration of innovations at strategic and business level, Recatalyst d. o. o. and for pioneering work in the field of advanced catalyst materials and the effective use of the intellectual property system in business.
The final part of the middle programme was the presentation of research papers on intellectual property, knowledge transfer and other related topics. The authors discussed and presented various topics such as innovations in patent evaluation, academic entrepreneurship in Slovenia, cooperation between universities and the economy in Slovakia, the role of knowledge transfer and protection in the circular economy, self-evaluation of research organizations in the field of knowledge transfer, strengthening knowledge transfer ecosystems through international collaborations, evaluation of skills development in cooperation between students and companies, Digital Persona Creation and Patent Analysis of Brain-Computer Interface Technologies Trends.
Pictures: Dr. Andreja Pondelak and Dr. Anže Zidar receiving the plaque for the best innovations with market potential at public research organizations (photo: Marjan Verč, Jožef Stefan Institute, 2025)
The second part of the conference took place on Friday, October 10, 2025, with the award ceremony at the Jožef Stefan Institute as part of the closing ceremony of the Information Society 2025 (IS2025) multiconference.
Image: Recipients of the WIPO Awards for Enterprises and Innovators with the Director of URSIL (the Innovator Award was received by Nejc Novak on behalf of Prof. Dr. Franc Majdič) (photo: Marjan Verč, Jožef Stefan Institute, 2025)
The 18th ITTC was held under the two national consortia of knowledge and technology transfer offices from thirteen public research organizations and the Science Month campaign coordinated by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation.