More than 15,000 companies competed for the award in 10 categories and Hidria was the only Slovenian company to get shortlisted, the Idrija-based company said in a press release on Friday.

It was picked for its innovative solutions concerning products, technologies and business models, which "contribute significantly to a green mobility of the future and to raising air quality of buildings integrated into the natural environment", Iztok Seljak of Hidria wrote.

He highlighted a "radical" exhaust emissions reduction in new-generation diesel engines, highly efficient hybrid and electrical propulsion for cars of the future, solar air-conditioning of buildings and the Feniks construction consortium for SE Europe as Hidria's key achievements.

The European Business Awards are being handed out since 2007. The 15,000 companies which competed this year generate almost 10% of the entire GDP of the EU and employ almost three million people.