At GIZ GOIS, we believe that the true strength of the Slovenian economy lies in networking – in the ability to unite companies with different competencies into a unified, competitive presence on European markets. We proved this once again on June 10, 2026, when we hosted a workshop at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia aimed at forming a strong Slovenian consortium for applying for the EDF-2026-LS-RA-CHALLENGE-DIGIT-AISAP-STEP call.

What was the conversation about?

The event brought together representatives of our members, who jointly addressed one of the most challenging and promising technological areas of our time – the development of advanced, AI-supported robotic solutions for soldier protection. We are talking about technologies that connect unmanned systems (UAV, UGV), wearable sensors and edge-AI for real-time threat detection – i.e. solutions that require top-notch multidisciplinary knowledge and the ability to quickly, reliably collaborate between companies.

What we achieved together:

• Lay the foundation for a competitive “pitch pack” – including a one-pager and a list of potential international partners
• Agreed on concrete next steps for participation in European consortium platforms and EDF matchmaking events

Why is this important for our members?

Such calls, such as EDF, do not only offer funding for development up to TRL 6 – they offer an opportunity for Slovenian companies to stand side by side with the best European players in the field of defense and dual-use technologies. By acting together, in a coordinated manner, we increase the likelihood of success, while at the same time opening the door for each individual member to international partnerships that they would find difficult to achieve independently.

Active co-creation of projects that bring real market and development value to Slovenian technological solutions at the European level.

We would like to thank all participating companies for their active participation and concrete contributions to the workshop.