Bharatia and Slovenian Science Foundation Forge Strategic Collaboration to Accelerate Science, Innovation and Climate Solutions

Mr. Sanmit Ahuja, MD and CEO, Bharatia signing the collaboration agreement with Dr. Edvard Kobal, President of Slovenian Science Foundation, in presence of H.E. Mr. Amit Narang, Indian Ambassador to Slovenia and Ms. Tea Pirih, Counsellor, Embassy of Slovenia New Delhi | Maribor, Slovenia 13 June 2025

Bharatia is proud to announce the signing of a multi-sectoral collaboration agreement (MCA) with the Slovenian Science Foundation, one of Slovenia’s most respected national institutions dedicated to the promotion and advancement of science. This strategic partnership marks a significant milestone in deepening India–Slovenia cooperation across a broad array of fields, with a principal focus on the climate and environment sectors.

Founded in 1994 by a consortium of sixteen leading Slovenian organisations—including those from science, higher education, business, banking, and media—the Slovenian Science Foundation is an independent, non-profit institution co-established by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia. Its mission is to empower and support all generations of Slovenian researchers, especially the youngest, and to strengthen public science communication, research integration, and education across Slovenia and the European Research Area.

A Shared Vision for Global Impact

The MCA between Bharatia and the Slovenian Science Foundation has been designed with a dual vision:

1. To build robust scientific and technical cooperation between Slovenia and India, with special emphasis on the commercialisation of Slovenian technologies in the Indian market, and eventually vice versa.

2. To establish a structured and efficient ecosystem for supporting bilateral innovation pipelines—spanning government agencies, research institutions, startups, industry, and financiers.

The agreement acknowledges a key bottleneck in global innovation—the challenge of introducing international, first-of-a-kind technologies into complex and diverse markets like India. By establishing a dedicated Science and Technology Commercialisation Hub, the two parties aim to de-risk entry pathways, streamline localisation strategies, and create a powerful platform for science-backed entrepreneurship.

Scope of Cooperation

The collaboration will initially focus on the following areas:

• Identifying and securing commercial opportunities for Slovenian technologies in India (and eventually for Indian technologies in Slovenia).

• Educating Slovenian scientists and industry players on collaboration pathways, market access, and localisation strategies in India.

• Building joint networks of stakeholders, from research and policy to finance and industry.

Over time, the partnership may expand its scope by mutual consent to encompass broader areas of cooperation and reciprocal exchange.

Priority Sectors

The initial focus will include:

• Climate and Clean Energy: solar, wind, hydro, biomass, biogas, low-carbon hydrogen, nuclear, and energy storage

• Water and Waste Management

• Agriculture and Food Systems

• Sustainable Mobility and Transport

• Urban Development and Built Environment

• Shipping and Marine Technologies

• Digital Systems and Smart Infrastructure

• Healthcare and Health Tech

• Financial Services: venture capital, insurance, fintech, and impact finance

• Creative Industries: design, media, arts, and cultural technologies

New sectors may be added as the collaboration evolves.

Building a Global Corridor for Impact

This landmark partnership lays the foundation for a Slovenia–India Impact Corridor for scientific innovation, youth-led research, and sustainable technology deployment. By working together, Bharatia and the Slovenian Science Foundation aspire to demonstrate a replicable model for bilateral innovation exchange between the Global South and Europe—anchored in trust, transparency, and shared impact.

This agreement is under the aegis of India-Slovenia SITE Network.