BILATERAL RELATIONS USA - SLOVENIA

In the field of science and technology, United States of America represent one of the most important partners for Slovenia, in spite of increasing importance of links to European programs. Collaboration of Slovenian and American researchers has a long-standing tradition, which has been successfully continued during establishment of Slovenia as an independent state in 1991, and further expanded in following years. First Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and the Government of the United States of America on Cooperation in Science and Technology has been signed in 1993. The updated version of the Agreement is in preparation and will presumably be signed in 1999. The Agreement represents a basis for cooperation, which is coordinated by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic of Slovenia, and the U.S. Department of State in cooperation with different U.S. government agencies such as National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institutes of Standards and Technology, Department of Transportation, etc.).
Important for cooperation is extraordinary dispersion of formal and informal links, involving more than 80 major research institutions in USA and Slovenia. Expectations of considerable brain-drain from Slovenia after 1991 have so far not been confirmed. The trend is in genuine cooperation such as exchange of research and teaching staff, joint research projects, sharing of information and equipment, joint organization of scientific meetings, and exchange of students.
The average number of joint research projects which gain financial support from both countries' government sources lies between 40 and 50 every year, which does not come up to the demand of research institutions.

Regular cooperation has been established between the University of Ljubljana and the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. Yearly exchange program enables students and mentors from both universities not only to visit and work in foreign laboratories, but also to experience different living environments.
Possibility for exchange of Ph.D. students, as well as senior research and teaching staff is also given by the Fullbright Exchange Program, which traditionally gains considerable interest.

In USA, Slovenian science has gained credibility in many fields, most notably in basic sciences (physics, chemistry), biomedical engineering, medical research, agriculture, environmental research, earthquake engineering, information technologies, but also social sciences and humanities.

Source: Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic of Slovenia, May 1999