National Contact Point for STEP: the Slovenia experience

(Photo - Simona Grobelnik, second from the left with the Commission STEP Taskforce and State Secretary Matevž Frangež )

To better coordinate the work on STEP, each Member State nominated a National Contact Point. In Slovenia, this role recently transitioned from the Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport to the Slovene Enterprise Fund. Simona Grobelnik shares the experience of the newly created Slovenian STEP team.

1.      You recently become the appointed National Contact Point (NCP) in Slovenia. Why do you think your NCP role is important?

Slovene Enterprise Fund as newly appointed NCP, with over 30 years of experience supporting entrepreneurship and an active portfolio of nearly EUR 1 billion across 16,000 companies, understand the critical need for accurate, timely information.

As the newly established NCP STEP, we're committed to providing user-friendly, up-to-date, and accessible resources. This includes information on the STEP program and other national and European initiatives that advance breakthrough and strategic development.

Our role therefore is crucial because it helps Slovenian stakeholders navigate complex programs and access funding and opportunities, enabling them to stay competitive and drive innovation.

2.      What are your main challenges as a STEP NCP?

Slovenia's initial challenge within the STEP program will likely be implementing national measures. The NCP will address this by establishing a strong, transparent information centre. Working closely with key stakeholders, we will provide comprehensive support to businesses and researchers, ensuring clarity and understanding of the measures.

We believe that close collaboration, including direct communication with the European Commission STEP Taskforce team, will be crucial for success.

3.      What do you expect for STEP in 2025?

In these economically turbulent times, we hope STEP's flexibility and focus on strategically and technologically advanced industries will positively impact the Slovenian economy.

We also anticipate that this initiative will provide an opportunity to review and simplify the complex bureaucratic rules, for example regarding state aid, that often accompany such programs. We also expect good cooperation between all stakeholders and, more broadly, national institutions, since the challenges in this initiative are all addressing a united Europe.

To learn more about the STEP National Contact Points and their work, read our article here: https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/budget/items/867641/en