Geoghegan-Quinn told the STA before the "Horizion 2020: New Paradigm for European Research" event that the EU's new seven-year research programme, worth almost EUR 80bn, aims to secure new jobs and improve people's lives.

The commissioner feels "Slovenia has an excellent starting position for the future", since "the country has raised its research and innovation activity significantly in recent years, and is an active participant in EU research."

She pointed out that Slovenian participants have received almost EUR 155m since 2007 under the current seven-year programme.

While Slovenia has "strengths in areas that are research-intensive, like machinery, chemical products, or medical instruments", it could do better when it comes to "linking up research and innovation, especially between the public and private sectors".

The commissioner acknowledged that this is a challenge for the EU as a whole and added that Horizon 2020 addresses this strongly.

"While the 7th framework programme and previous programmes have funded truly excellent research, participation by industry has fallen over the years. We need to reverse that trend and strengthen links between research and business."

Geoghegan-Quinn indicated that the programme also addressed Slovenia's concerns about brain drain in research from new to better paying older EU member states, introducing a bonuses scheme. More support and better cooperation is moreover being enabled with "less well performing member states"

The organisers of the presentation of Horizion 2020, which is primarily meant for Slovenian researchers and companies, include the Education, Science and Sport Ministry, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) and the European Commission.

The Commissioner will address the event and hold meetings with Education, Science and Sport Minister Jernej Pikalo as well as other stakeholders in the field.

The conference will moreover be attended by European Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik of Slovenia.