Slovenia Celebrates Successful Contribution to Major International FAIR Project
Tehnodrom-led collaboration demonstrates Slovenia’s strength in science and technology, with long-term impact for innovation and society
The Tehnodrom consortium serves as Slovenia’s national provider of in-kind contributions to FAIR in accelerator technologies, with Instrumentation Technologies leading Beam Diagnostics and Cosylab leading Control System development.
The in-kind development phase was completed in 2025. Slovenia also contributes to FAIR through the Jožef Stefan Institute’s experimental collaborations.
A highlight of the event was the formal signing of the final acceptance documents by FAIR representatives, officially confirming the successful completion of Slovenia’s in-kind contribution to the project.
The event, held at Cosylab’s headquarters in Ljubljana, brought together government officials, FAIR leadership, Tehnodrom partners, researchers from the Jožef Stefan Institute, and industry stakeholders.
The gathering celebrated not only technical excellence but also the broad, long-term value for Slovenia’s innovation ecosystem:
- The Tehnodrom consortium’s activities connected more than a dozen Slovenian high-tech companies and research teams, supporting both growth and export success.
- Through the work of Tehnodrom partners, over €67 million has been returned to society in the form of taxes supporting public services and national development.
- More than 200 new high-tech jobs have been created in Slovenian companies during the project, helping retain skilled talent in Slovenia.
- Participation in FAIR enabled Slovenian companies to access new international markets and secure additional business worth several million euros, as a direct result of the expertise and references gained.
- The ScienceTech cluster, founded by Cosylab and Instrumentation Technologies, has grown from two companies to nearly twenty members, supporting further innovation and collaboration.
Jure Gašparič, State Secretary at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, stated:
"Slovenia’s contribution to FAIR shows what is possible when we foster a culture of innovation and collaboration.
Projects like FAIR not only demonstrate our national capabilities but also strengthen Slovenia’s position in the global innovation ecosystem. Investing in science and supporting an innovative culture is essential for our country’s future competitiveness and success."
Jörg Blaurock, Director of FAIR, commented:
"Today we are not only celebrating a milestone that began more than 20 years ago, but also the ongoing story of a mega-science project and partnership.
From the earliest days, Slovenian partners and their capacities, capabilities, and people have played an essential role in making FAIR a reality.
Completion of the in-kind contribution is a major achievement. However, it is also a new beginning: we look forward to continued collaboration as we take the next steps at FAIR.”
Mark Pleško, CEO of Cosylab, added:
"For Slovenia, FAIR was more than a technical project – it was a national success story, and a journey of partnership and growth.
Twenty years ago, we joined the discussions, not knowing what the outcome would be. FAIR is not just a reference project, but a launchpad for Slovenia’s deep-tech ecosystem.
Above all, it has built friendships and trust – the foundation for future success."
Elvis Janežič, CEO of Instrumentation Technologies, said:
"We often hear how important it is to strengthen cooperation between industry and research. It sounds may sound obvious, but making it happen is indeed challenging.
Research and business operate in very different worlds – yet when both sides make the effort, we achieve something remarkable, as we have with FAIR.
The result is not only a technical success but also new confidence, new business, and a stronger future for all. It has helped keep top experts at home and shown that together, we can deliver on truly complex, international projects."
The event concluded with a roundtable discussion on the future of FAIR, opportunities for continued Slovenian participation, and the broader importance of public-private partnerships in advancing European research and technology.
Signing of the cooperation agreement between FAIR and Cosylab: Dr. Joerg Blaurock, Mark Pleško, Gregor Čuk, Elvis Janežič, and Dejan Tinta.
About FAIR
FAIR (Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research), based in Darmstadt, Germany, is a leading international accelerator facility for research with antiprotons and ions.
The project involves partners from across Europe and around the world and is regarded as one of the most important new research infrastructures globally.
About Cosylab
Cosylab is the leading provider of software solutions for the world’s most complex, precise and advanced control systems.
Our clients include some of the most innovative and cutting-edge accelerator applications, such as FAIR, SLAC, DIAMOND, RIKEN, Nusano, AVO ADAM, and many more. With our efficient support and experience, we help facilities to focus on their scientific objectives.
About Instrumentation Technologies
Instrumentation Technologies is one of the world’s leading providers of instrumentation used for high-speed signal acquisition and processing.
Their devices are used in particle accelerators, proton therapy medical applications, and in industries such as aerospace, transportation, and energy. Their instruments are used by researchers at ANL, CERN, Elettra, ESRF, DESY, HZB, ESRF, NASA.
Media Contacts:
Alma Lieber, Cosylab
Marketing
T: +386 40 574 111
E: alma.lieber@cosylab.com
Vega Abrahamsberg Lipičar, Instrumentation Technologies
Marketing and press relations
T: +386 40 855 873
E: vega.abrahamsberg@i-tech.si