Slovakia Supreme Audit Office warns of slow research fund spending

The Supreme Audit Office of the Slovak Republic has reported significant delays in the utilization of European financial aid intended for science, research, and innovation. As of late February, less than one-tenth of the nearly 390 million euros allocated for these purposes had been effectively spent.

Auditors identified systemic deficiencies within the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth. These include issues regarding the work of expert evaluators, inadequate documentation of their activities, and a failure to actively verify potential conflicts of interest. The audit, which covered the period from 2014 to 2025, suggests that these recurring flaws raise doubts about the efficiency and transparency of the fund usage.

To address these risks, the Supreme Audit Office has recommended that the ministry strengthen the independence and transparency of expert evaluations and ensure a verifiable audit trail. Officials warned that despite high levels of commitment, there is a risk that the allocated funds may not be fully utilized or used effectively to meet established goals, particularly in areas such as increasing research and innovation capacities within businesses.