SiEnE Projects Supporting Slovenia’s Future Defence Capabilities Presented to Representatives of the Slovenian Armed Forces

The event of the Slovenian Energy and Environment Partnership in Defence (SiEnE), titled “From Development to Enhanced National Defence Capabilities”, held on 19 May 2026 at the Petra Petrič Barracks in Kranj, once again confirmed the importance and mission of the partnership in connecting industry, research organisations, government representatives, and end users in the development of advanced defence and dual-use solutions.

The event, organised by the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia, the Slovenian Armed Forces, and TECES under the umbrella of the SiEnE partnership, was dedicated to presenting concrete dual-use projects and solutions to develop Slovenia’s future national defence capabilities.

The event provided representatives of the Slovenian Armed Forces with direct insight into national and international research, development, and innovation projects, while also significantly contributing to dialogue among solution developers, industry, and end users to shape future solutions that support Slovenia’s defence system.

Special emphasis was also placed on presentations of concrete demonstration solutions by project partners, who showcased the usability, operational relevance, and future development potential of the presented technologies and solutions through practical demonstrations.

Domestic Expertise and Industry as an Important Part of Defence Resilience

The event was opened by Colonel Igor Veršnik, Commander of the Logistics Brigade, who emphasised the strategic importance of developing domestic capabilities and involving Slovenian expertise and industry in the development of defence solutions. He highlighted that logistics capabilities represent one of the key foundations of the effectiveness of armed forces, while the ability to develop and manufacture solutions using domestic knowledge and companies plays an important role in ensuring long-term national resilience and sovereignty.

The programme subsequently focused on the role of energy and energy resilience in the modern international defence environment, as well as on Slovenia’s involvement in international defence and dual-use development initiatives.

Energy Resilience is Becoming a Key Defence Capability

Colonel Robert Šipec, Head of the Energy Efficiency and Green Transition Sector at the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia, highlighted in his presentation that energy today represents one of the key strategic capabilities of modern defence systems. He also pointed out that the defence sector remains heavily dependent on liquid fossil fuels, exposing armed forces to geopolitical risks, supply disruptions, and increased vulnerability of critical energy infrastructure and transport routes.

“Modern defence systems today consume more energy than ever before, which means that energy is no longer merely a supporting resource, but has become an operational necessity and an important element of the strategic autonomy of states. Energy resilience is therefore becoming one of the key factors in the development of future defence capabilities and in ensuring the secure and stable functioning of defence systems even in crisis situations,” emphasised Colonel Robert Šipec.

Cooperation as a Foundation for Energy-Resilient Solutions

Director of TECES and President of the SiEnE partnership,  Matej Gajzer, presented the importance of linking international and national dual-use research and development projects and their role in developing energy-resilient solutions for future defence and civil capabilities. He stressed that individual projects are not isolated activities but interconnected building blocks of a common development environment grounded in shared goals, knowledge, and technological foundations. “Systems are becoming increasingly complex and interconnected, which means that no organisation can address these challenges alone. Cooperation and the integration of all key stakeholders, therefore, represent a necessary prerequisite for the development of effective, resilient, and sustainable solutions, which is precisely why the SiEnE partnership was established,” emphasised Matej Gajzer.

He also highlighted the importance of European cooperation and the involvement of Slovenian partners in international development communities and projects of the European Defence Fund (EDF), the European Defence Agency (EDA), and other European initiatives, as this enables the expansion of solutions, access to new knowledge, and the integration of Slovenian expertise and industry into European value chains.

Practical Demonstrations of Solutions and Direct Dialogue with End Users

Concrete development projects and solutions in the fields of energy, infrastructure, digitalisation, and water supply, which can significantly strengthen Slovenia’s future defence capabilities, were presented by the project partners. Projects in the field of energy, digitalisation, and interoperability were presented by Mr Devid Palčič, Director of Robotina d.o.o., who highlighted the development of advanced energy and digital solutions to support defence systems.

The importance of modern modular, energy-efficient solutions supporting defence operations across various operational environments was presented in the MODEL+ and MODEL2 projects by Dr David Močnik from REM d.o.o.

Solutions in the field of drinking water supply and wastewater treatment within the REWATER project were presented by Mr Marko Mandelj from Kolektor Sisteh d.o.o., with a focus on ensuring reliable water supply and increasing the self-sufficiency and resilience of systems, even in demanding crisis and operational environments.

A special part of the event was also dedicated to guided tours of the exhibited solutions and practical demonstrations of technologies being developed within international and, in particular, national projects. Through demonstrations, video presentations, and short solution showcases, Slovenian industry partners demonstrated the solutions' usability, operational relevance, development experience, and future development potential.

This part of the event was exceptionally well received by participants, as it enabled direct interaction between solution developers and end users and encouraged numerous professional discussions, exchange of experience, and valuable feedback from representatives of the Slovenian Armed Forces regarding the further development and practical application of the presented solutions.

Additional Information:

👥 Katja ERTL .:. ☎️: +386 2 333 13 58 .:. 📧: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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