Inspiration Rooted in Community Spirit
The Municipality of Ivančna Gorica welcomed partners to Slovenia for an interregional exchange meeting on 2-3 April 2025. An intense agenda of visits and presentations provided insight into how the municipality, regional development agency and national Ministries communicate with SMEs and support them.
Partners met speakers from beneficiary SMEs and from initiatives that promote entrepreneurship. Visits to SMEs and infrastructure created by the municipality to support businesses deepened our understanding of the local situation; these speakers and study visits included:
- PONI LUR, a programme that provides economic support and intense mentoring to allow participants to develop and launch their business ideas;
- The Local Action Group LAG STIK (LEADER programme) represents an association of public institutions (public sector), economy (economic sector) and civil society (private sector) from LAG STIK area with the aim of promoting comprehensive and balanced development that takes into account the needs of all.
- Cukarca, an adventure park developed with public support that offers facilities for sporting and educational outdoor activities;
- Berryshka (an artisanal distillery and chocolatier) and TOPP (logistics solutions), SMEs located in an industrial park developed by the municipality to foster business expansion;
- Apilab and the Carnolian bee house, a mix of business centre, educational exhibition and innovative hostel run by the municipality in a former aristocratic building that it refurbished. While the exhibition particularly promotes the local Carnolian bee and its products, the centre’s other services are for local SMEs in any sector.
During a visit to the Ministry of Culture in Ljubljana, partners learned about how it, the Ministry for Cohesion and Regional Development and the Ministry for the Economy, Tourism and Sport communicate funding opportunities to Slovene SMEs. Their concept of info day/help desk sessions held in many locations across the country and organized in cooperation with local SME support ecosystems such as Chambers of Commerce and Europe Direct offices was particularly inspirational.
