Slovenia targets green energy skills gap and research-industry disconnect

A growing gap in green energy skills and the disconnect between academic research and industry are driving new initiatives in Slovenia. Research from the NextGen Energy Champions initiative, involving the UNDP and Goodwall, highlights that while 93% of surveyed youth are interested in clean energy careers, many lack awareness of specific employment paths. Only 48% of participants understood that most green sector jobs are not strictly engineering-based.

To address the transition to a green economy, the STEM50 program is launching in the 2026/27 academic year. Developed by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia, the Slovenian Institute of Quality and Metrology, and the Institute for Women and Engineers, the program aims to bridge the gap between master's and doctoral research and the private sector. By connecting students from various technical faculties with businesses, the initiative seeks to transform academic knowledge into practical economic development and provide companies with access to new technological talent.