Slovenian companies face challenges in digital transformation, primarily due to a lack of competencies, knowledge, and skills of employees, as well as limited resources for investments in equipment and advanced digital technologies.
Within the framework of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), we in Slovenia have implemented a reform and an investment to increase the efficiency and competitiveness of Slovenian companies through digital transformation and wider use of modern technologies.
The Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport (MGTŠ) is responsible for the implementation of the reform and investment, as well as the related milestones and targets that are a prerequisite for the disbursement of available European funds from the Recovery and Resilience Facility (Facility).
Digital transformation of the economy – reform
Within the framework of the reform for the digital transformation of the economy, the MGTŠ prepared the Strategy for the Digital Transformation of Companies by 2030 in 2022, in which they defined key digital technologies for business modernization. These include artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, big data processing, digital platforms and digital twins, blockchain technology, and new-generation internet technologies. The strategy also addresses supporting environments such as research and development, entrepreneurship, financing, and the legislative framework. On this basis, the ministry also carried out an investment for the digital transformation of companies.
At the proposal of the MGTŠ, the government also issued Guidelines for Innovative Public Procurement in December 2022, which simplified the public procurement procedure for innovative companies. In September 2023, the government issued updated guidelines.
Slovenia asserted the RRP milestone related to the strategy within the framework of the first payment request, which the European Commission (EC) fully paid out in April 2023. The milestone related to the issuance of the guidelines was part of the second payment request, which was paid out in December 2023.
Digital Transformation Program for Businesses – Investment
With the goal of improving productivity and company growth through the digital transformation of operations and business functions, MGTŠ conducted a public call under which it supported 23 projects*. Thus, 23 consortia, in which more than 100 companies participated, developed digital strategies to renew their business operations, technologies, and organizational culture, and implemented related activities. By implementing these strategies, companies increase their productivity, reduce production and service costs, and improve their competitiveness and opportunities for the market deployment of innovative solutions.
To implement the investment, the European Union contributed approximately 44 million euros from the Recovery and Resilience Facility.
Regarding the investment linked to the milestone “Submission of orders for corporate digital transformation projects” and the first target “Consortia of companies with a developed digital strategy,” Slovenia implemented these as part of the second payment request. The second target, “Consortia supported by a completed comprehensive digital transformation,” was implemented as part of the fourth payment request, which the EC paid out in December 2025.
Cross-border and multi-country projects in the field of economic digitalization – investments
As part of its efforts to digitalize the economy, the Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sport (MGTŠ) also supports the inclusion of Slovenian companies in two important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI):
- The project for microelectronics and communication technologies (IPCEI Microelectronics and Communication Technologies – IPCEI ME/CT), aimed at development in the fields of microelectronics, semiconductors, and microchips, which is important primarily for ensuring the operation of key systems such as the automotive industry, electrical industry, and similar. Slovenia participates in this IPCEI with two projects.
- The project for Next Generation Cloud Infrastructure and Services (IPCEI Next Generation Cloud Infrastructure and Services – IPCEI CIS), aimed at developing advanced cloud computing, which contributes to better company access to data. Slovenia participates in this IPCEI with four projects involving 11 companies.
6.5 million euros from the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) are earmarked to support the projects of Slovenian companies within the IPCEI.
Slovenia implemented the Recovery and Resilience Plan (NOO) milestone linked to IPCEI ME/CT, “Completion of the list of potential participants in the joint project,” as part of the first payment request, which the EC paid in full in April 2023. The target for the investment, “Number of started projects,” was part of the fourth payment request, which Slovenia received in December 2025.
The IPCEI CIS investment milestone ‘Publication of a public call for expressions of interest for a new next-generation cloud project’ was asserted by Slovenia in the context of the first payment request, while the objective ‘Data processing solutions report’, which has not yet been fully realized, will be included in the final payment request.
*Projects of the Digital Transformation of Enterprises Program investment:
- Aluminum 4.0 (ALU 4.0) – Talum d. d. Kidričevo, Kidričevo;
- BIGBANG=Orchestrate.Digitalize.Transform Orchestration of processes, integration of digital solutions, and convergence of digital technologies for a superior customer experience without boundaries between the physical and digital worlds (BIGBANG=Orchestrate.Digitalize.Transform) – Big Bang, d. o. o., Ljubljana;
- Comprehensive digital transformation of the Plastike Skaza value chain for employee satisfaction and strengthening organizational culture (Skaza 5.0) – Plastike Skaza, d. o. o., Velenje;
- Comprehensive digital transformation in the glass industry (CEDIT.SI) – Steklarna Hrastnik, d.o.o., Hrastnik;
- Delo Print2Digital: From a smart editorial office and excellent digital reader experience to new business models (Delo Print2Digital) – Delo, d.o.o., Ljubljana;
- Digitization of the Oil&Gas E2E supply chain (O&G E2E) – Petrol d. d. Ljubljana;
- Digital transformation of the Elektro Ljubljana ecosystem to support the energy transition and improve user experience (Project Bela) – Elektro Ljubljana, Ljubljana;
- Digital transformation of key functions of the company Polycom Škofja Loka, d. o. o. (Poly Digit) – Polycom, Škofja Loka, d. o. o., Škofja Loka;
- Digital transformation of the company HERZ, d.o.o. (DigitHerz) – Herz, d. o. o., Šmartno pri Litiji;
- Digital transformation of the ELES value chain through the introduction of advanced digital technologies and open innovation (DigiELES) – ELES, d.o.o., Ljubljana;
- Digital strategy of the TAB company (DIGITAB) – TAB, d. d., Mežica;
- Digital transformation of the Henkel Maribor company: Implementation of new technologies, processes, and competencies for the comprehensive digital transformation of the Henkel Maribor company (Digital Henkel) – Henkel Maribor, d. o. o., Maribor;
- Digital transformation of the RIKO value chain through the introduction of open innovation (RIKO-chain) – Riko d.o.o., Ljubljana;
- Digital twin for Digital LEAN (DTDL) – Iskraemeco d.d., Kranj;
- Digital Leap (JUMP) – Kolektor, d. d., Idrija;
- Digital Hub of Electricity Distribution (DSElektroDIS) – Elektro Primorska, d. d., Koper;
- Construction 4.0 (GRAD 4.0) – Gic Gradnje, d. o. o., Rogaška Slatina;
- Innovative digitalization of commercial facilities (INDIGO) – IMPOL 2000, d. d., Slovenska Bistrica;
- LPKF smart factory based on comprehensive digital process excellence, self-learning predictive maintenance, and open innovation with customers (Open.Smart.LPKF) – LPKF, d. o. o., Naklo;
- LukaDT: Digital transformation of processes at Luka Koper (Luka.DT) – Luka Koper, d. d., Koper;
- Designing a smart factory based on Industry 4.0 (OPTI 4.0) – EIT, d. o. o., Izlake;
- Smart factory Iskra Mehanizmi (SmartIM) – Iskra Mehanizmi d.o.o., Kranj;
- Development of the next generation of the T-2 smart city platform for the digital transformation of city services, smart interaction with citizens, and a carbon-neutral society (T-2 Smart Cities 4.0), T-2, d. o. o., Ljubljana.
