Name: NEXT. Business and Development Event – Development. Technologies. Opportunities.
Start: 2026-10-22T15:30:00+02:00
End: 2026-10-22T23:45:00+02:00
Location: Posestvu Guerila v Ajdovščin

NEXT. Business and Development Event – Development. Technologies. Opportunities.

Thursday, 22 October 2026 - 15:30

Monday, 19 October 2026
Tuesday, 20 October 2026
Wednesday, 21 October 2026
Thursday, 22 October 2026

15:30 Event preparation: Registration and informal introductions
Registration and informal introductions
15:30 - 17:00

17:00 Welcome remarks
Welcome remarks
17:00 - 17:10

17:10 What’s Coming Next? Current and Upcoming Funding Opportunities for Development
What’s Coming Next? Current and Upcoming Funding Opportunities for Development
17:10 - 17:25
Presentation of current and upcoming calls and funding instruments for companies – RRI, STEP, EUREKA, artificial intelligence, and other development opportunities. **Brigita Habjan Štolfa, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia – Northern Primorska Regional Chamber**

17:25 How to Engage with European Innovation Networks?
How to Engage with European Innovation Networks?
17:25 - 17:35
How can companies and research organisations access European partnerships, development support, and funding opportunities through the EIT communities? **Urška Križnar Ribnikar, EIT Community Hub in Slovenia**

17:35 AI and Funding Calls: From Finding Opportunities to Preparing an Application
AI and Funding Calls: From Finding Opportunities to Preparing an Application
17:35 - 17:50
Presentation of a new AI tool for monitoring funding calls and supporting the preparation of project applications. **Marko Penko, WisePulse d.o.o.**

17:50 From a Development Idea to a STEP Application – First-Hand Company Experience
From a Development Idea to a STEP Application – First-Hand Company Experience
17:50 - 18:10
A one-to-one conversation with a representative of ORKOPLAST d.o.o., a company that applied to the STEP East call. **Anton Zupančič, Orkoplast d.o.o. · Tajda Marinič, Alias Plus d.o.o.**

18:10 Keynote Speaker - Uroš Rosa
Keynote Speaker - Uroš Rosa
18:10 - 18:35
Former CEO of Akrapovič, now an advisor, director, and co-founder of OneQlue, a company developing artificial intelligence solutions for industry.

18:35 Round Table: We Have the Technology. Can We Turn It into Business?
Round Table: We Have the Technology. Can We Turn It into Business?
18:35 - 19:20
A discussion with representatives from industry, companies, the innovation and development ecosystem, and institutions on development challenges, opportunities, and the competitiveness of Slovenian companies. **Moderator: Goran Novković** **Participants: Brigita Habjan Štolfa, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia – Northern Primorska Regional Chamber · Anton Zupančič, Orkoplast d.o.o. · Elvis Janežič, Instrumentation Technologies d.o.o. · Prof. Dr. Boštjan Golob, University of Nova Gorica**

19:20 Collaboration Session: Networking and Collaboration Session
Networking and Collaboration Session
19:20 - 22:50

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