📋 Tender Overview
Today, Minister Mateja Calusic, together with the Minister of Environment, Climate and Energy, mag. Bojan Kumro, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr. Igor Papic and the Minister of Defense mag. Borut Sajovic attended the opening of the Center for Seed Production, Nursery and Forest Protection.Ceremonial ribbon cutting. From left to right: mag. Bojan Kumer, Mateja Calusic, dr. Nike Kranjc, M.Sc. Borut Sajovic, Ph.D. Jerneja Jug Jersa. | Author: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food.
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The new center represents a strategic step towards the long-term resilience of Slovenian forests, as with the most modern research and technological infrastructure, it will enable the development of nursery and seed activities and enhanced protection of forests in times of increasingly pronounced climate changes and biotic risks.
Minister Mateja Calusic emphasized: In the past ten years, we have been faced with accelerated climate change, which is reflected in the forest as a large number of exceptional weather phenomena, as natural catches of a record scale, excessive proliferation of harmful organisms and the appearance of new, previously unknown harmful organisms. Therefore, the areas of forest genetics, obtaining appropriate forest reproduction material and forest protection are key to the future development of forests.
The director of the Forestry Institute of Slovenia, dr. Nike Kranjc: We are proud to have successfully brought the construction project of the new Center to the ceremonial opening. The new infrastructure, comprising 2,527 square meters of modern research and laboratory space, represents a strategic investment in the future of Slovenian forests and an important contribution to scientific excellence, climate resilience and sustainable development of Slovenia. The facility is designed in accordance with the highest standards of sustainable construction, as it includes more than 1,400 cubic meters of solid wood.
The opening was also attended by the head of the Representation of the European Commission in Slovenia, dr. Jerneja Jug Jerse, who said: The European Commission is very happy with the opening of this project, which was mostly financed from the Recovery and Resilience Plan in the amount of 5.1 million euros. The project connects the sustainable management of forests as a strategic resource for Europe and Slovenia, the preservation of biodiversity and adaptation to climate change, including through rapid reforestation after natural disasters. Special congratulations to the Forestry Institute for building an almost zero-energy wooden building using renewable energy sources.
At the opening of the center, the Minister of Environment, Climate and Energy, mag. Bojan Kumer emphasized that its establishment was supported by the Climate Fund: Climate change in Slovenia is no longer a distant forecast, but a reality - from fires in the Karst to floods in 2023 and increasingly frequent droughts. The consequences are also visible in our forests, which are increasingly affected by the capture and attacks of bark beetles. The new center will therefore significantly contribute to their resilience, as it will provide high-quality seed material, professional support for forest restoration and monitoring of their health status. The building itself also conveys an important message: a wooden, energy-efficient building that uses renewable energy sources shows that construction can simultaneously reduce emissions and strengthen the domestic wood supply chain. We allocated 2.47 million euros from the Climate Fund for the establishment of the center.
Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Dr. Igor Papic added that the center represents an important investment in science: Investments in science, research and innovation are always repaid many times over and contribute to the well-being of the entire society, which is why, in addition to increased funding for science, research and innovation, this government also launched the largest investment cycle in scientific research and higher education infrastructure. With this, it enabled good financial and infrastructural conditions for Slovenian science and higher education.
Construction of the Center began in September 2024 and was completed in December 2025. The building is designed in accordance with the principles of sustainable construction. Sustainable and natural materials (mainly wood) with a low carbon footprint and the possibility of recycling were used in the construction. The building includes elements of a green roof, and the principles of sustainable use of space and the principle of do no significant harm were taken into account during the construction of the supporting infrastructure.
