State urged to do more to support biotech
The financing of individual disciplines has remained almost unchanged for the past 30-40 years despite warnings by the scientific community, said National Institute of Biology director Tamara Lah Turnšek.
Political decision-makers have failed to follow the trends, in terms of financing and support in general, she said.
The institute is in the midst of launching a biotech incubator. Lah Turnšek said they would need the support of the state for it to get off the ground.
Matjaž Oven, the boss of the biopharmacy arm of pharma company Lek, said that regulations were very rigid.
While he acknowledged this was understandable given the sensitivity of the field, he said better dialogue was nevertheless needed.
Oven praised the educational system as excellent, but noted the authorities should make sure it stays this way.
Tomaž Boh, state secretary at the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, noted that science could not be in direct service of business, it needed to act as partner in the development of long-term projects.
He said the biotech industry needs a flexible educational system, noting that forthcoming changes to the higher education act will speed up the accreditation of new studies.