Marine Biotechnology in Slovenia

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Overarching science strategies, plans and policies

The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport (MESCS) and particularly the Science division as part of the Directorate for Higher education and Science, defines the expert bases for the adoption of political documents in the field of research policy and plans the required financial resources for research. There are no specific Marine Biotechnology strategies, plans or policies being implemented in Slovenia. The Research and Innovation Strategy of Slovenia (RISS) is the key strategic and political document of the Slovenian policy on research and innovation. It is currently being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology and other relevant stakeholders, who have contributed to the development of the program. Currently the new National Industrial Policy is being prepared together with the National Development Strategy for the 2014-2020 period. The two documents already take into account Smart specialization. They are however not yet public. Biotechnology has been a priority in the previous National Research and Development programme and will continue to hold a strategic place in both documents currently being prepared.

Research funding schemes and programmes

The financing of research activities is mainly implemented through the Slovenian Research Agency (ARRS) and the Slovenian Technology Agency (TIA). The main instruments are research programs (long term, 5-year projects), basic and applied research projects, targeted research programs, the young researcher program, research infrastructures and international cooperation.

Research priorities for marine biotechnology research

The RISS defines the R&D priorities for the next decade (2011 - 2020). They were established on the basis of the National Research and Development programme 2006 - 2010 and other stakeholder consultations. They are also being followed by the Slovenian Research Agency (ARRS) and the Slovenian Technology Agency when they issue calls for basic or/and applied research projects. These priorities are:

• Information and communication technologies,
• Modern (new) synthetic metal and non-metal materials and nanotechnologies,
• Complex systems and innovative technologies,
• Technologies for sustainable economy, and
• Health and life science.

The National Industrial Policy and the National Development Strategy take into account Smart specialization, but are not yet public. Priorities set in those documents can be communicated once the documents are publicised.

Strategic documents

No documents devoted to Marine Biotechnology. A strategic document titled International Challenges 2013 - Partnership to promote international cooperation is currently in the process of being approved by the government. The document sets the priority economic sectors for international cooperation, among them also biotechnology (others of interest include biomedicine, energy and environmental technologies, advanced material and technology, nanotechnology).

Infrastructures and coordination and support capacities / initiatives

• In 2012, Slovenia operates 1 local/coastal vessels of 11,98m (Sagita), with a dry and wet lab and associated field equipment, registered at the European Research Vessels Infobase ,
• a 7m long working boat
• A salt water laboratory aquarium with lab to sea interflow capability
• Marine Biology Station Piran of the National Institute of biology (MBP, NIB) - The Marine Biology Station is currently the only research group in Slovenia devoted to maritime scientific research and professional work. Collaborating with high calibre foreign marine research centres, it represents a national focal point for development in the area of marine research. There are 35 people routinely employed at the MBS, comprising of 19 researchers, 8 young researchers and 8 technical and administrative collaborators. The research work is periodically augmented by students and trainee postgraduate and postdoctoral fellows with various disciplines. The infrastructure of the Marine Biology Station Piran includes:

• Research laboratories (biological, chemical, microbiological etc)
• A salt water laboratory aquarium with lab to sea interflow capability
• Congress hall (95 seats), classrooms (40 seats), biology practice laboratory, meeting rooms (25 persons), dormitory (24 beds)
• Library with 1500 scientific monographs and 60 specialized journals
• A diving base with workshop
• A 12m long research vessel, with a dry and wet lab and associated field equipment and a 7m long working boat

• Laboratory of Catalysis and Chemical Reaction Engineering of the National Institute of Chemistry, focuses on process and product modelling of reaction kinetics, transport phenomena and fluid mechanics, sensitivity analysis, optimisation, intensification, economical valorisation relating to cultivation and growth of microalgae under different conditions, that is light intensity, nutrient concentration, and process conditions such as temperature, pH, aeration, CO2 content, flow conditions, etc. Infrastructures and coordination and support capacities / initiatives include:

• Bioreactors: batch, semi-batch, continuous, etc.
• Downstream processing: extraction, distillation, absorption, etc.
• Analytics: temperature, pH, redox potential, nutrient concentration, cell number, chlorophyll, oxygen, lipid content, lipid fatty acid profile
• Biodiesel, biogas, pyrolysis, gasification and combustion equipment

Major initiatives

Relevant Research projects by Marine Biology Station Piran (MBP, NIB):

• Research program P1-0237 Coastal Sea Research (1.1.2009 - 31.12.2013)
• ECO/10/277396/SI2.601543 (Eco-Innovation 2010) Marine debris removal and preventing further litter entry – Marine Clean
• EU FP7-KBBE-2010-4 _RADAR Rationally Designed Aquatic Receptors integrated in label-free biosensor platforms for remote surveillance of toxins and pollutants (2011-2013)
• EU FP7 IP PERSEUS
• Marine Strategy Framework directive (Directive2008/56/EC)
• Slovenian - Croatian bilateral (2012-2013): Enclosed marine systems as laboratory for biological phenomena
• Slovenian - Argentinean research cooperation project (2012-2014): Jellyfish blooms and the possibilities for commercial use
• Slovenian - Japanese joint project (2012-2014): Slovenian - Japan cooperative studies on problematic jellyfish blooms: mechanisms and mitigation
• EU FP6_ECASA, 006540_Ecosystem Approach for Sustainable Aquaculture
• CREICO, NSF, ZDA - Cooperative Research on Ecological Interactions in the Coastal Oceans program in the North Adriatic sea: Collaborative international research on gelatinous zooplankton in the Adriatic Sea, Role of bacteria in production and decomposition of colloidal organic matter in the Northern Adriatic

Disclaimer

This country profile is based on available online information sources and contributions from various country experts and stakeholders. It does not claim to be complete or final, but should be considered as a dynamic and living information resource that will be elaborated, updated and improved as more information becomes available, including further inputs from experts and stakeholders. The information on this page is based on information initially compiled by the CSA MarineBiotech Project (2011-2013) and updated by the Marine Biotechnology ERA-NET (2013-2017).