International Recognition for TECES at the EnE CapTech Meeting: Mag. Matej Gajzer Re-elected as Industry Rapporteur and E+ZERO Project Approved

TECES achieved important International Recognition at the 10th meeting of the Energy and Environment Capabilities Technology Group (EnE CapTech), operating under the auspices of the European Defence Agency (EDA), TECES strengthened its role as a trusted stakeholder in Europe’s defence innovation landscape.

Mag. Matej Gajzer, Director of TECES, was re-elected as the Industry Rapporteur, a prestigious acknowledgement and sign of trust by civil representatives from the industry and of Ministries of Defence from more than 23 participating countries.

Simultaneously, the first ever Category B (Cat B) project within the EnE CapTech, the international research project E+ZERO, was officially approved, with TECES as the lead partner. This marks a tangible success for the joint efforts of TECES/SiEnE and the Slovenian Ministry of Defence (SiMoD) in strengthening the integration of civil partners and identifying and preparing international project proposals to address environmental and energy challenges in the defence sector.

The 10th EnE CapTech meeting, organised by the Belgian Ministry of Defence and the Royal Higher Institute for Defence (RHID), was held from 24 to 26 June 2025 in Bruges, Belgium. The event brought together key European defence stakeholders, representatives from industry, and research organisations working on strengthening energy resilience in defence. Rear Admiral Baudouin Coppieters, Director General of RHID, opened the meeting. Among the participants and speakers were also representatives of NATO and the European Union Military Staff (EUMS).

Re-Election of Mag. Matej Gajzer as Industry Rapporteur within EnE CapTech

The re-election of Mag. Matej Gajzer, Director of TECES and President of the Slovenian Energy and Environment Partnership in Defence (SiEnE) as Industry Rapporteur of the EnE CapTech group under the EDA is particularly significant for Slovenia and TECES. It represents a notable recognition by the international defence and expert community of his over 25 years of experience and his connecting role in fostering collaboration between industry, research institutions and defence structures. This foundation is key to further strengthening partnerships among companies, research organisations, defence ministries and end-users within the EnE CapTech framework.

TECES Leads the First Cat B Project within EnE CapTech

The second major achievement for Slovenia is the approval of the first Cat B project under EnE CapTech - namely the international research project E+ZERO, developed through the SiEnE partnership in collaboration with TECES and SiEnE experts. The project, valued at €1.4 million, is coordinated by TECES as lead partner and co-funded by the defence ministries of several EU Member States. The consortium consists of ten partners from seven countries: Belgium, Switzerland, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Slovenia.

The key objective of the project is the development of a modular E+ZERO unit that is energy-positive and zero-emission, enabling the establishment of various deployable military bases adapted to specific climatic conditions and operational requirements. This will significantly contribute to greater energy autonomy and a reduced environmental footprint of defence operations.

Presentation of the SiMoD-Financed HibroM Project Receives Broad International Attention

During the expert section of the meeting, Colonel Robert Šipec, Head of the Energy Efficiency and Green Transition Sector at the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia (SiMoD) and Vice President of the SiEnE Steering-Coordinating Committee, delivered a presentation on the HibroM project, where TECES is acting as the lead partner. In his presentation, he highlighted that the development of microgrids is a complex and technologically demanding challenge that is being addressed intensively across Europe and globally.

His presentation sparked considerable interest among the participants, with several other Member States also presenting similar projects. This confirms that European countries are moving in the same direction with aligned goals and interests, where international cooperation plays a crucial role in achieving concrete results.

In this context, the HibroM project, Financed by the (SiMoD), is an important Slovenian contribution to these common efforts.

European Collaboration as a Strategic Foundation for Energy Transition in Defence

Expert presentations, discussions and workshops during the three-day event highlighted the importance of cooperation between EU Member States and industry in developing innovative energy solutions for the defence sector. Participants gained valuable insight into Belgian and wider European approaches aimed at increasing the energy resilience of military operations. The event laid a solid foundation for future strategic initiatives and closer international cooperation in sustainable defence.

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