The government adopted on Thursday a bill on the Slovenian Engineering Academy (IAS) in a bid to promote technological development and a deficit in trained workers in Slovenia.
The academy will facilitate the development of top technical knowledge and active cooperation in shaping research, technology and innovation policies, State Secretary at the Ministry of Higher Education and Science Dusan Lesjak told the press. In line with the bill, the academy will also be tasked with advancing the transfer of research achievements to business, especially in industry; improving innovation in Slovenian companies; and boosting the quality of research and development in the research institutes financed from the budget. The IAS will receive SIT 20m (EUR 83,458) in 2006 and 2007 for covering minimal administrative and operating costs, Lesjak explained.