ELES boss Aleksander Mervar said the project had opened numerous possibilities for upgrades in the Slovenian electro-energy system to be better prepared for future challenges.

What is more, he hopes that the second phase of the project would enhance cooperation with Japan even further.

Masaaki Nomoto of Hitachi noted the first phase of the project involved the establishment of an integrated cloud grid system with the goal to create a more reliable energy supply and include more dispersed sources of energy.

It has been implemented in the areas covered by the electricity distributors Elektro Celje and Elektro Maribor.

Meanwhile, the second phase will turn to smart communities to develop advanced solutions for efficient energy use in urban communities and the use of batteries for emergency situations. It will first be implemented in Ljubljana and Idrija.

Like Mervar, Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek believes that projects like NEDO contribute to the Slovenian economy "being more competitive through stabler networks and more efficient use of energy".

Moreover, this is a great display of how to "merge the advantages of two economies and help them make their way into third markets with operational references", according to Infrastructure Minister Alenka Bratušek, who was also on hand for the ceremony.