The Slovenian Chamber of Commerce awarded ten gold awards to the most innovative companies and innovators. Among the recipients are BHS House Appliances Nazarje, Cetis, Hidria, iQwood, Novartis, Sij Acroni, Sij Meal Ravne, Gregor Bohnec and Lek.
Slovenian Chamber of Commerce (GZS) is in the frame Innovation Days in Brdo pri Kranje on the 21st, awarded national awards to the most innovative companies and innovators. They awarded 10 gold, 22 silver and 11 bronze awards, two special awards for the innovation challenge and an award for a breakthrough invention.
Golden awards were given to companies BSH Household appliances Nazarje for the ErgoMaster hand mixer, Cetis for the new Slovenian biometric identity card, Hydra for the electrical connection of the exhaust gas system, iQwood for the thinnest load-bearing wooden solid wall without adhesives in the world and Krk for new drugs for type 2 diabetes.
Company Novartis received the gold award for the new generation production process of biological medicines (iFB), Shine Acroni for high-strength steel Simaxx 1100, Sij Metal Ravne and for the development of special steels and superalloys for the ITER project.
There are also independent entrepreneurs among the recipients of the gold awards Gregor Bohnec for Neurobeans, a tool and method for training effective performance in school, work or sports, and Lek for sugammadex injectable solution.
National recognition for the innovation challenge
The recipients of the special national recognition for the innovation challenge are two companies Exterior and Nieros Metal for the circular forma viva, a set of social projects whose purpose is to integrate people from vulnerable groups into society by involving them in the process of creating forma viv from used industrial tools. The company also received a special national recognition for the innovation challenge Iskra ISD for aluminum alloy QC Alloy.
Silver awards
Silver awards went to companies Mahle Electric Drives Slovenia, Impol R and R, Hydra, TAB, ATP collector, Got it, TPV Automotive, Iskra Pio and a science and technology center Rudolph’s in Novi Mesto, Glass factory Hrastnik, RC eNeM and Culmium, BSH Household appliances, Technobell, Adria House, Gorenje household appliances, Q Tech, ETI Electroelement, Reflex, CPPE, Pivka poultry farming, Pro Labor, Mint sports, Gene energy and Krk.
The recognition for the breakthrough invention was received by the company Enaell for the smart Bball golf ball.
Šimonka: At GZS, we have taken on the role of mediator
In terms of innovation, there is still a lot of room for improvement in Slovenia, the president assessed at the award ceremony GZS– yes Tibor Šimonka. “If we want to encourage innovation, the area of development, research and innovation must be coordinated with the needs of the economy. That is why we at GZS have taken on the role of an intermediary to connect companies with research institutions and vice versa, to educate, raise awareness and empower them,” he said.
He is convinced that with the help of the state, which must provide funds and conditions, they will create the foundations for an easier transition from inventions to the market.
“This is exactly the mission of the alliance between business, science and the government, which we signed in the spring of this year. And this is also the goal of the action plan that the representatives of the business are drawing up together with the relevant ministry, with which we want to position Slovenia as a leading European center for research and development for advanced technologies,” he emphasized.
Han: Innovation is important
The participants of the awarding ceremony were also addressed by the Minister of Economy, Tourism and Sports Matjaž Han. According to him, innovations are very important for the Slovenian economy, as they improve the position of our companies on the global market and respond to social challenges such as climate change. “The task of us as a government is to cooperate, listen and together with you prepare measures that encourage research, development and innovation,” he emphasized.
Last year’s awards
Last year, golden awards were given to companies Medicine, TPV Automotive, HighFly, Got it, Cleangrad, Glass factory Hrastnik and development center eNeM and Pipistrel Vertical Solutions (more on the link on the right).
Over the past 21 years, including this year, more than 12,000 innovators and more than 3,650 innovations have been awarded at the GZS throughout Slovenia, and 179 gold awards have been awarded at the national level.
Source: Rtvslo
