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Proposals are part of welcomed broader package to align Slovenian R&D with EU
Two of Slovenia’s largest research institutes have jointly criticised provisions in a proposed law they say would “have devastating effects” on science in the country.
The provisions, which the institutes say were introduced after public consultation and are not supported by researchers, would force researchers to retire at ages 65-70 and would transfer the ownership and management of institutes’ property to the state.
Forced retirement would mainly affect “top scientists who lead research groups and programmes at public research institutes”, the two institutes said.
The transfer of property would limit institutes’ autonomy and mean that civil servants rather than researchers would make decisions on issues such as when and where laboratories could be built or expanded.
“These changes seriously threaten the adoption of the law and could cause long-term and irreparable damage in the Slovenian research environment,” said a joint statement issued in January by the country’s largest research institute, Jožef Stefan Institute, and the National Institute of Chemistry, both in Ljubljana.
Gregor Anderluh, director of the National Institute of Chemistry, also criticised a proposal that research organisations should self-evaluate as part of their funding negotiation.
“Our opinion is that it would be more appropriate if the ministry would make evaluations of institutions with independent advisory committees composed primarily of foreigners,” said Anderluh. “We believe that all these changes are not optimal and may be even detrimental for public research institutions in Slovenia.”
Despite their strong criticism, the representatives of both institutions agreed that the new law is badly needed, as it will align the country’s system with the rest of the EU.
The law would legislate a minimum level of public investment in R&D—of at least 1 per cent of GDP—for the first time. This is important because Slovenia is among the European countries with the lowest state investment in research, said Anderluh.
“As a result, we lack new discoveries, innovations and relevant personnel, we are falling on the innovation ladder of countries…and talent is disappearing abroad,” he said. “The new law, which we really want, will enable appropriate government investment in science and research…and will also introduce some other solutions that will largely eliminate these problems.”
Polona Strnad, a spokesperson for the Jožef Stefan Institute, agreed, saying: “The existing law in the field of research activity in Slovenia is relatively old and does not follow the organisation of research activity in Europe, so it undoubtedly needs to be renewed.”
The proposed law covers a range of issues, from more competitive researcher salaries and provisions on training abroad to institutional funding and the establishment of a technology agency and national ethics council.
Anderluh said that some of the best parts of the law are provisions that would make it easier to set up companies and a bonus system to incentivise the best institutions.
The science ministry did not respond to a request for comment.
The draft law is now set for interdepartmental discussion, in which individual ministries will express their views on it before it goes to parliament.
“We urge the government to withdraw the disputed parts and adopt the law as soon as possible,” said Anderluh. “We hope that the ministry will keep its promise and will hold additional consultations with all those involved and with all who are concerned by the disputed provisions of the law.”