AGP Executive Report

Slovenian Robotics at MWC Shanghai: Vandri Robotics unveiled “Jože,” a humanoid hotel receptionist, using its cognitive voice platform for natural conversation in 60+ languages, aiming for full reception autonomy with Hotel Bled Rose. Energy Market Update (Slovenia): Slovenia’s electricity sharing rules let solar owners allocate surplus to other customers across the country in 15-minute billing intervals, with network charges still based on actual grid use. EU Media Freedom Watch: The 2026 Media Pluralism Monitor flags worsening journalist working conditions across Europe, with one-third of countries facing high risk and only a handful offering decent protection levels. EU Research & Innovation: OptFORESTS, an EU-funded project, is testing more diverse and resilient forest genetics across 28 European sites to guide forestry adaptation under future climates. Energy Infrastructure Deal: WALDEVAR Energy signed a full EPC agreement with GEN-I Sonce for a new 110 kV substation and grid connection works, supporting grid integration for the energy transition. Health Study: A Swedish study links anti-inflammatory, whole-food diets to lower dementia risk, even among people with early Alzheimer’s markers.

Humanoid Robotics in Hospitality: Slovenia’s Vandri Robotics debuted “Jože,” a UNIDO-backed humanoid hotel receptionist, at MWC Shanghai 2026, aiming for full reception autonomy with Hotel Bled Rose and a voice “brain” supporting 60+ languages. Energy Grid Flexibility: Slovenia’s electricity sharing rules are now clear: surplus solar owners can allocate unused power to other customers across Slovenia in 15-minute billing intervals, with network charges still based on actual usage. EU Media Freedom Watch: The EU-wide #MPM2026 monitor flags worsening journalist working conditions and uneven protection across member states, even as the European Media Freedom Act enters into force. EU Energy Infrastructure Deal: WALDEVAR Energy signed a full EPC agreement with GEN-I Sonce for a new 110 kV, 63 MVA substation and grid connection works, reinforcing Central Europe’s grid buildout for the energy transition. EU Research Funding: A Slovenian physicist won a prestigious ERC Advanced Grant, adding to Slovenia’s research momentum. Archaeology (Slovenian-led): A Slovenian-Mexican team used LiDAR to uncover “Minanbé,” a Maya city in Mexico’s Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, reportedly untouched for over a millennium. Digital Safety Policy: Australia’s under-16 social media ban is being tightened with higher penalties and stronger regulator powers, as big tech faces new enforcement pressure.

Media Freedom Watch: The EU’s Media Pluralism Monitor 2026 warns that journalists’ working conditions are worsening across Europe, with one-third of countries facing high risk and only a handful offering decent protection for free, independent reporting. Energy & Grids: EU energy ministers agreed a “grids package” to speed up cross-border electricity infrastructure and permitting, while Slovenia backs the push but stresses rules must cut red tape, not add it. Electricity Sharing in Slovenia: A new system lets households with solar surplus allocate unused electricity to others anywhere in Slovenia in 15-minute intervals, changing billing while keeping network charges based on actual grid use. Hydrogen Pipeline Deal: A Croatian firm is partnering on the Northern Adriatic Hydrogen Valley, planning 200+ km of hydrogen pipeline links across Croatia, Slovenia, and Italy with EU-backed funding. Health Tech in Surgery: A Slovenian-led team reports a minimally invasive laparoscopic removal of a rare pelvic schwannoma using intraoperative neuromonitoring, fully relieving severe sciatic pain. Research & Discovery: A Slovenian-Mexican expedition using LiDAR uncovered Minanbé, a remarkably intact Maya city hidden for over 1,000 years in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve. EU Digital Policy Tension: A renewed digital services tax tariff fight is brewing as the US threatens 100% tariffs on countries moving ahead with such taxes.

Social Media Regulation: Australia is escalating its under-16 social media crackdown, doubling penalties to $99m and giving the eSafety Commissioner stronger powers to demand internal documents from platforms and age-assurance providers after early enforcement struggled. EU Digital Policy: A separate EU-focused piece flags upcoming pressure points: EU rules on protecting minors in social media and new enforcement powers under the AI Act for major general-purpose AI models. Energy Infrastructure: EU energy ministers agreed a negotiating position for a “grids” package aimed at faster cross-border permitting and stronger interconnections to speed electrification and decarbonisation. Hydrogen in the Adriatic: A Croatian-led consortium is partnering to build a Northern Adriatic Hydrogen Valley pipeline network linking Croatia, Slovenia and Italy, backed by Horizon Europe funding. Geothermal Transition: A regional analysis argues Central Europe’s geothermal potential could be a key heating solution, leveraging existing district heating networks. Slovenian Science Spotlight: Slovenian physicist wins a prestigious ERC Advanced Grant, reinforcing local research strength. Archaeology (Slovenia-linked): A Slovenian-Mexican team reports an exceptionally intact Maya city in Mexico’s Calakmul reserve, found using LiDAR and ground verification. Health Research: A University of Ljubljana-led study links lower-inflammatory diets to reduced dementia risk, including among people with early Alzheimer’s markers.

Hydrogen Build-Out: A Croatian engineering firm, Monter Strojarske Montaže, is partnering with CRC Evans to develop the Northern Adriatic Hydrogen Valley, including 200+ km of hydrogen pipeline links across Croatia, Slovenia and Italy’s Friuli Venezia Giulia, backed by ~€25m in EU grants. Archaeology & Tech: A Slovenian-led team using LiDAR has helped uncover Minanbé, a Maya city in Mexico’s Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, reportedly untouched for over a millennium and featuring a 13m pyramid and major water-management structures. EU Energy Policy: EU energy ministers agreed a negotiating position for the “grids package,” aiming to modernize cross-border infrastructure and speed up permitting to support electrification and decarbonisation. Health Research: A study led by Karolinska Institutet and the University of Ljubljana links lower-inflammatory diets to a reduced dementia risk, including among people with early Alzheimer’s signs. Local Science Spotlight: Slovenia’s physicist has won a prestigious ERC Advanced Grant, adding to the country’s research momentum. STEM Education: The European Geography Olympiad opens in Varna with a Slovenian team competing in junior and senior categories.

Slovenian Science & Tech Spotlight: A Slovenian-led team has helped uncover Minanbé, a Maya city hidden in Mexico’s Calakmul Biosphere Reserve for over a millennium, using LiDAR to reveal a remarkably intact 15-hectare settlement with a 13-metre pyramid and carved monuments. EU Digital & Trade: Ireland’s EU presidency is set to steer a heavy legislative push amid war, energy shocks, and a tougher stance on competitiveness, while EU digital rules and digital services taxes remain a flashpoint in transatlantic trade. Youth Online Safety: Australia is tightening enforcement for its under-16 social media ban, doubling penalties to $99m and expanding the eSafety commissioner’s powers—while critics warn companies can still help kids bypass limits. Energy Infrastructure: EU energy ministers agreed a negotiating position for the “grids” package, aiming to speed cross-border permitting and modernise networks for electrification and decarbonisation. Hydrogen Pipeline (Region): A Croatian-led partnership plans a Northern Adriatic Hydrogen Valley pipeline network linking Croatia, Slovenia, and Italy, backed by ~€25m in EU grants. Health Research: A University of Ljubljana-linked study reports that anti-inflammatory diet patterns may lower dementia risk, even among people with early Alzheimer’s signs.

Social Media Rules: Australia is tightening its under-16 social media ban, doubling penalties for systematic breaches to $99m and expanding the eSafety commissioner’s powers to demand more from platforms. Digital Trade Clash: The EU’s digital services tax ratification is triggering fresh tariff threats from the US, with Trump warning of a potential 100% tariff and the EU promising retaliation. Archaeology + Tech: A Slovenian-led team using LiDAR has uncovered Minanbé, a remarkably intact Maya city in Mexico’s Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, including a 13-metre pyramid and carved monuments. Energy Infrastructure: Croatia, Slovenia and Italy are teaming up on the Northern Adriatic Hydrogen Valley, backing a 200km-plus hydrogen pipeline network with EU funding. EU Policy Watch: Ireland’s EU presidency kicks off with a heavy legislative workload, including major energy and post-2030 decarbonisation discussions. Health Research: A JAMA Network Open study links lower-inflammatory diets to reduced dementia risk, including among people with Alzheimer’s pathology. Patent Boost: OXT Technologies secures a European Unitary Patent for mixed-alcohol sustainable aviation fuel production. Local Industry Move: Kansai Helios plans to relocate production from Croatia to Slovenia and Serbia, gradually winding down its Zagreb site.

Archaeology Breakthrough: A Slovenian-led team in Mexico’s Calakmul Biosphere Reserve has uncovered Minanbé, a previously unknown Late Classic Maya city with a 13-metre pyramid, plazas, palaces, terraces and a water system—reportedly intact and unlooted thanks to difficult access revealed via LiDAR. EU Tech & Policy: Ireland takes over the EU Council Presidency, with a heavy legislative workload and higher stakes for steering major files through a more powerful EU than in 2013. Energy Infrastructure: Croatia’s Monter Strojarske Montaže and CRC Evans are partnering on the Northern Adriatic Hydrogen Valley, planning 200+ km of hydrogen pipeline links across Croatia, Slovenia and Italy, backed by Horizon Europe grants. Health Research: A JAMA Network Open study with University of Ljubljana researchers links lower-inflammatory diet patterns to reduced dementia risk, including among people with Alzheimer’s pathology signals. Medical Innovation: An international team performed a minimally invasive laparoscopic removal of a rare pelvic schwannoma in a young woman, using intraoperative neuromonitoring to protect nerve function and restore mobility. Industry & IP: OXT Technologies secured a European Unitary Patent covering its mixed alcohol sustainable aviation fuel process, with protection across Slovenia and other EU markets.

Slovenia in EU policy: EU energy ministers agreed the Council’s negotiating position for a “grids” package, aiming to modernise cross-border infrastructure and speed up permitting to support electrification and decarbonisation. Hydrogen build-out: A Croatian firm, Monter Strojarske Montaže, is partnering with CRC Evans to develop the Northern Adriatic Hydrogen Valley—over 200 km of hydrogen pipelines linking Croatia, Slovenia and Italy, backed by about €25m in EU grants. Health research from Ljubljana: A study led by Karolinska Institutet and the University of Ljubljana reports that older adults sticking to lower-inflammatory diets had a lower dementia risk, even among people with Alzheimer-related biological warning signs. Weather and AI: ECMWF’s Machine Learning Project added new partners, with Slovenia’s ARSO joining from 1 Jan 2027, expanding collaborative ML for operational forecasting. Local science & institutions: Slovenia re-established its Museum of Slovenian Independence as an independent institution, positioning it as a hub for preserving archives and supporting research tied to independence and democratisation. Tech and talent: A new EU-funded project will test phage therapy plus gut microbiome restoration to prevent recurrent urinary tract infections, targeting antibiotic resistance.

Heat & Health: Europe’s early-summer heatwave is breaking records, straining power grids and forcing school closures and travel disruptions, with France reporting its hottest day on record and warnings spreading across multiple countries. Slovenia in Weather Tech: ECMWF’s Machine Learning Project adds Slovenia’s ARSO (from 2027) alongside Latvia and Morocco, aiming to speed up machine learning for operational forecasting. Hydrogen Infrastructure: Croatia’s Monter and CRC Evans partner to build the Northern Adriatic Hydrogen Valley—over 200 km of hydrogen pipelines linking Croatia, Slovenia and Italy, backed by EU funding. Phage Therapy Trial: A €15m Horizon Europe project (REPhRAME) will test phage therapy plus gut microbiome restoration to prevent recurrent urinary tract infections amid rising antibiotic resistance. Local Tech & Society: Slovenia’s Museum of Slovenian Independence is re-established as an independent institution, with offices at Metelkova 6, tying cultural work to research on independence and democratisation. Talent & Mobility: A BCG survey finds global highly skilled mobility fell in 2025, with Romania worst in CEE for attracting and retaining talent—competition is intensifying for AI and STEM specialists.

Slovenian Science & Weather: ECMWF signed an updated Machine Learning Project grant agreement that brings new partners in Latvia and Morocco, and adds Slovenia’s ARSO from Jan 1, 2027—aimed at faster, smarter machine learning for operational forecasting. Clean Energy Infrastructure: Croatia’s Monter Strojarske Montaže teamed with CRC Evans to develop the Northern Adriatic Hydrogen Valley, a cross-border hydrogen pipeline network linking Croatia, Slovenia and Italy, backed by ~€25M in EU funding. Public History & Research: Slovenia’s government re-established the Museum of Slovenian Independence as an independent institution, with a mandate to preserve archives and support scientific research tied to independence and democratisation. Aviation Biofuels IP: OXT Technologies secured a European Unitary Patent covering its mixed-alcohol pathway for sustainable aviation fuel from syngas, with protection including Slovenia. Health Tech (EU): Horizon Europe awarded €15M for REPhRAME, a randomized trial combining phage therapy with gut microbiome restoration to prevent recurrent urinary tract infections. Climate Pressure: Europe’s early heatwave hit hard, with France recording its hottest day on record and power-grid strain and health warnings across multiple countries. Archaeology: A Slovenian-Mexican team used LiDAR to uncover Minanbé, a Maya city hidden for over 1,000 years in Mexico’s Campeche jungle.

Hydrogen Infrastructure: Croatia’s Monter Strojarske Montaže is partnering with CRC Evans to build the Northern Adriatic Hydrogen Valley, a cross-border hydrogen pipeline network linking Croatia, Slovenia and Italy’s Friuli Venezia Giulia—over 200 km planned, with EU Horizon Europe support and a target of 5,000+ tonnes of renewable hydrogen annually. Research Funding: Slovenia’s University of Ljubljana physicist Marko Žnidarič has won an ERC Advanced Grant for NUMBS, highlighting strong local research capacity as the ERC awarded 319 grants worth €838m across Europe. Public Culture & History: Slovenia’s Museum of Slovenian Independence is being re-established as an independent institution, with offices on Metelkova 6 and a stated role in supporting scientific and research work tied to independence and democratisation. AI in Pharma Manufacturing: Verista is promoting COUNTQ, an AI tray inspection and reconciliation system aimed at faster, more accurate pharmaceutical counts with compliance-oriented recordkeeping. Extreme Heat Watch: Europe’s heatwave continues to disrupt daily life and raises concerns for health and energy demand, with Slovenia in the wider regional picture. Tech & Mobility: Skoda unveiled the Peaq electric flagship SUV with up to 640 km range and seven-seat practicality.

Slovenian Research Spotlight: The European Research Council named University of Ljubljana physicist Marko Žnidarič an ERC Advanced Grant winner for NUMBS, backing work on effective non-unitarity in many-body systems. Extreme Heat Across Europe: A severe early-summer heatwave has pushed France to its hottest day on record, triggering school closures, transport disruptions, and health warnings across Spain and beyond. EU Industry Decarbonization: The European Commission launched an auction for industrial heat decarbonization, backing 65 projects across EU countries, including proposals using geothermal, plasma, solar concentration, electromagnetic heating, and heat pumps. Pharma Tech in Focus: Verista is promoting COUNTQ, an AI tray inspection and reconciliation system aimed at faster, more accurate pharmaceutical counting with compliance-oriented recordkeeping. Energy & Markets Watch: Erste Group says relief from an Iran ceasefire may stabilize growth in 3Q26, but inflation damage from the conflict could linger. Regional Tech/Innovation Link: HKSTP used VivaTech 2026 to sign new Asia–Europe innovation partnerships, including a collaboration with Slovenian startup ARCHTYP.

Extreme Heat & Public Health: Europe’s early-summer heatwave has paralyzed daily life, with France recording its hottest day on record and schools, tourist sites, and rail services disrupted as red alerts spread; health warnings are rising as heat drives higher risks for workers and vulnerable people. Slovenian Research Spotlight: The European Research Council backed a Slovenian physicist—University of Ljubljana’s Marko Žnidarič won an ERC Advanced Grant for NUMBS, underlining the strength of local research groups. AI in Pharma Quality: Verista is pushing its COUNTQ Tray Inspection System, using AI vision to speed and verify pharmaceutical tray counts for faster, more compliant production. Energy Transition (EU): The European Commission launched an industrial heat decarbonization auction, backing 65 projects across EU countries—including Slovenia—aimed at replacing fossil-fuel heat with options like geothermal, solar concentration, plasma, and heat pumps. Hydrogen Infrastructure in the Region: CRC Evans and Monter are partnering on Europe’s first hydrogen valley pipeline project (NAHV), building hydrogen-ready transport infrastructure across Slovenia, Croatia, and Italy’s Friuli Venezia Giulia. Local Tech & Business Links: HKSTP wrapped VivaTech 2026 with new Asia–Europe partnerships, including a deal linking Slovenian cognitive software startup ARCHTYP with robotics firm Robocore. Nature & Conservation: Slovenia established the Snežnik Regional Park to protect forests, karst landscapes, and biodiversity while supporting sustainable tourism.

Climate & Health: A record early-summer heatwave is hitting Europe hard, with France issuing red alerts, schools and rail disruptions, and warnings that heatwaves will keep intensifying as global warming accelerates. Energy Grid: The same heat is stressing Europe’s power system as cooling demand rises, raising the risk of blackouts. Research Funding: Slovenian physicist Marko Žnidarič (University of Ljubljana) wins an ERC Advanced Grant for NUMBS, highlighting strong local research capacity. Industrial Tech & Decarbonization: The EU backs an industrial heat decarbonization push with €400m in grants, accepting 65 projects across multiple technologies, including proposals from Slovenia. AI in Pharma Manufacturing: Verista promotes its AI tray inspection system COUNTQ, aiming to speed and improve pharmaceutical tray counting with audit-ready records. Local Tech/Business: Slovenian start-up Ininum launches AI-driven perfume personalization in Europe. STEM & Society: A WMO-backed extreme-heat initiative is expanding early warnings and public action as El Niño threatens wider impacts. Media Policy: The Czech plan to replace TV licence fees with state funding draws criticism over potential threats to public-service media independence. Slovenia in the Region: Slovenia’s role shows up in EU hydrogen pipeline planning for the North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley.

Digital Culture: Borgo Art launched an EU-funded immersive virtual exhibition platform (borgoart.eu) turning Gorizia landmarks into permanent 360° online museum spaces, featuring local artists Franco Dugo and Roberto Kusterle plus the KB Spa Art Collection. AI & Consumer Tech: Slovenian start-up Ininum is rolling out an AI perfume personalization system that recommends bespoke fragrance blends via a mobile app and capsule device. Energy Resilience: Europe’s heatwave risk is rising, with soaring cooling demand threatening grid stability and prompting school closures and service disruptions. Health Research: Ljubljana researchers report tirzepatide (GLP-1) can activate brown fat in the TABFAT trial, potentially changing how the body burns energy. Hydrogen Infrastructure: CRC Evans and Monter partnered on Europe’s North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley pipeline project, aiming for hydrogen-ready transport infrastructure across 200+ km by end-2026. STEM & Industry: Sandoz opened a biosimilars development centre in Ljubljana, strengthening local biotech manufacturing capability. Work & Society Tech: A Eurofound report warns remote work can blur into out-of-hours contact, affecting millions across the EU.