The conference on entrepreneurship and innovation, held at the end of March under the motto Breeding the champions of entrepreneurship in innovation, made it clear what are the reasons for quick economic growth in Slovenia. The event was focused on the notion of CHALLENGE, clearly demonstrating a number of innovative concepts and challenges, submitted by the companies for the competition Best entrepreneurial idea. The companies have presented some exceptional business ideas, products and solutions, currently in the development phase or seeking fresh capital to start series production. We hope we are soon going to be able to present some of these innovative ideas to you.

Slovenia has completed a very successful period, motivating us to set for ourselves even more ambitious goals. A very favourable competitive position in Europe, technological development and the innovation and entrepreneurial spirit of Slovenian individuals give us good opportunity to define the milestones, which will be very important for Slovenian economy in the future.

Knowledge, entrepreneurship and innovation have become the key drivers of economic development. Innovative companies and the individuals leading them are the ones who shape our competitive environment. The common goal is to steer Slovenian economy to the very top of competitive European economies. This will not be possible without accelerated economic growth, which must exceed the average growth in the European union. The economic growth itself is not the final goal, it is the welfare of all citizens. This would make us an open society, interesting for the investors, and a society of successful and innovative people.

The government must provide the framework for development and support the growth and development of economy, it should not interfere with entrepreneurship and innovation. Especially it must assist in the creation, support and development of successful innovative companies. Naturally, the latter should not only be a task for our government, but also for the companies.

We can only build a successful Slovenia together. The key to it should be a fully realised creativeness and business ideas.

Darko Švetak
Editor-in-Chief IRT3000

From the content:

dr. Zoran Stančič

Okamoto Machine Tool Europe GmbH has presented a new ultra-accurate rotational grinding machine UPR 3 NC, which represents a step towards the generation of nano-technology abrasive processes. The grinding machine is one of Okamoto’s products, designed to meet tight tolerances in various manufacturing processes.



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“Reliably to greater accuracy” is the promise, given by AGIE to its customers in relation to the novelties, displayed by the Swiss manufacturer of EDM machines in 2006, firstly in its own house and later to the professional public in various events. The innovations for top performance of wire EDM have been taken from the 4 year old and successful Vertex model and are now implemented into the whole Agiecut palette.

The Yamazaki Mazak machine portfolio is comprehensive and includes different machines, from simple 2-axis lathes and 3-axis Nexus series manufacturing centres to modern multi-axis manufacturing centres and multitasking e-Tower machines.
The company displayed some Integrex multitasking machines on European trade fairs, including its largest machine.

Litostroj E. I. manufactures energy and industrial equipment, continuing the tradition in production of water turbines, hydro-mechanical equipment, pumps, elevators, gears, hydraulic presses and die-casting machinery, based on 60 years of experience and rich international references. The successor to Litostroj concern began operating in 1998 after taking over the promising programmes. Today, the company autonomously covers the development, design, construction, technology, production, assembly, installation and servicing of its products. Intense consolidation and restoration of programmes took place since the founding. During this time, the sales has increased 2,6-fold and the company re-established its position in traditional markets and successfully entered new target markets.

Sonja Sara Lunder, photo: Blaž Košak and Litostroj, E.I. archive

Peter Krajnik, Janez Kopač, Bernd Meyer

Reaching the leading role for European automotive industry in the competitive world market demands improvements to the process of centreless grinding. Centreless grinding enables high efficiency in machining of rotationally symmetrical parts and, thereby, delivers well in terms of quality, availability and costs.

Sonja Sara Lunder, Zoran Jereb, photo: VOLVO archive

Silvia Gyllsdorf has started her career at Volvo as an assembly line worker. Through hard work, abilities and education, she was gradually promoted to work supervisor and later to Volvo S80 business director. She was also responsible for integration and support in implementation of shared Land Rover, Volvo and Ford Europe technologies into production. “I am still reaping the benefits of my years on the assembly line and requirements setting. When you’ve actually been involved in building and developing the cars, it is easier to take the decisions.”

dr. Per Eriksson

Dr. Damir Godec

Professor dr. Karel Jezernik, head of the Institute of robotics and professor at the Faculty of electrical engineering and computer science in Maribor, is one of the pioneers in the field of mechatronics in Slovenia. Dr. Jezernik takes the credit for the fact that the interdisciplinary mechatronics course has grown to be the first autonomous university course in Slovenia of this kind, starting at the University of Maribor in the new academic year.

Dr. Tomaž Perme

Tatjana Fink

dr. David Nordfors

Increasing demand for the production of complex moulded polymer products with high quality and low price has attributed to the development of injection moulding technology, consisting of two fields. One of them is achieving the optimum in design of injection moulded products requiring the use of advanced injection moulding processes, such as multi-component injection moulding. The other field is achieving the optimum in lowering the cost of injection moulded products.

Esad Jakupović, Denis Šenkinc