SiENE - The operation of the SiEnE partnership after a year and a half exceeded the expectations!

Despite the short period of operation, the Slovenian Energy and Environment Partnership in Defence (SiEnE) not only achieved original founders' expectations but also significantly exceeded them. It is also incredibly encouraging that in just one and a half years of operation, the results and benefits of the integrated approach of civilian and defence representatives under the auspices of SiEnE in international defence activities and projects are already visible.

In 2021 concluded R&D feasibility study on developing smart energy-efficient deployable camps (dual-use) and SiEnE's involvement in international joint activities set the smart energy-efficient and energy-independent deployable camps as one of the strategic areas of international cooperation.

The emphasis of the SiEnE's activities in 2022 will be on strengthening the visibility of partnerships and its members, strengthening the involvement of Slovenian experts in international working groups and projects together with key international industrial and research partners.

That was a joint conclusion of the representatives of the Slovenian Ministry of Defence (Si MoD) and TECES at the strategic meeting of the two SiEnE's founders at the end of January 2022.

The challenges of the green transition in defence are an opportunity for Slovenian partners

The Ministry of Defence and TECES have perceived great potential in addressing energy and environmental challenges and the green transition in the defence and security sector.

The most potential for Slovenian partners represents various programmes of the European Defence Agency (EDA), NATO and the European Commission (EC) to foster international cooperation. Especially those programmes aiming at strengthening international research & development & technological (RDT) cooperation and promoting the development of dual-use energy-efficient solutions.

A perceived potential and a vast experience in coordination & management of large types of civilian strategic partnerships (clusters) supported by the government encouraged the SiMoD and TECES to establish the SiEnE partnership in June 2020.

In January 2022 the founders met on a strategic meeting to evaluate the SiEnE activities

After a year and a half of operation, representatives of the founders from Si MoD and TECES met at a strategic meeting in January 2022. The meeting aimed to review the partnership’s performance so far and planned activities in 2022, and above all, to identify new areas of strengthening international cooperation in line with strategic goals.

Key representatives from TECES and the Ministry of Defence attended the meeting (Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief, Directorate of Logistics, Department of Military Technology, Research and Development, Service for European Cohesion Policy, International Cooperation, responsible for fixed and deployable infrastructure, procurement etc.).

Representatives of TECES, responsible for the operational management and coordination of the partnership and the involvement of civilian stakeholders in the national and international programs with the support of the SiMoD, presented the activities and results of work so far.

In 2021, Slovenian representatives played a more prominent role in the activities of various working groups within the European Defence Agency (EDA) and the preparation of international projects for the first public tender of the European Defence Fund (EDF).

One of the key findings of the founders was that the results and benefits of the integrated approach of including the civilian and defence representatives in international activities and projects are already visible.
Despite the short period of operation, SiEnE not only achieved the original founders’ expectations but also significantly exceeded them.

Most importance was given to the R&D feasibility study on developing smart energy-efficient deployable camps for defence and civilian use (dual-use).

The feasibility study and its conclusions enabled outstanding SiEnE’s involvement in international activities and set the smart energy-efficient and energy-independent deployable camps as one of the strategic areas of SiEnE partnership.
Due to the extreme importance of international cooperation and joint international projects, Si MoD will identify potential locations for the implementation of national and international smart camps demo pilot projects.

At the meeting, SiEnE’s planned activities for 2022 were also reviewed.

The emphasis of the SiEnE’s activities will be on strengthening the visibility of partnerships and its members and strengthening the involvement of Slovenian experts and partners in international working groups and projects.

The most important steps are identifying the location and the first projects to establish a smart energy-efficient and energy-independent deployable camp, which will serve as a polygon for a demonstration of newly developed solutions in cooperation with international partners.