Celje – The inaugural international defense industry fair, Sidec, took place in Celje on Tuesday, presenting a comprehensive overview of strategic guidelines established by major European entities such as the European Commission, the European Defense Agency (EDA), and NATO. Nathalie Guichard from the EDA emphasized the importance of integrating research, technology, and industry to bolster European defense capabilities, noting Slovenia’s active participation in various initiatives, including Sabuvis II, aimed at developing an underwater vehicle for safeguarding critical underwater infrastructure.
The fair, which aspires to be the primary regional hub for defense, security, and advanced technology, features 170 exhibitors from 20 nations and will run until Friday. It also seeks to promote local defense firms and those diversifying their offerings with dual-use products. The Slovenian Development Bank, SID Bank, has proposed an €80 million loan fund to support comprehensive growth in the defense sector.
During a roundtable discussion, it was noted that a major obstacle to the industrialization of defense is the reluctance of banks to support this sector. Consequently, despite possessing substantial knowledge, the industry struggles to remain competitive. Nonetheless, the director general of the logistics directorate at the Ministry of Defense, Željko Kralj, indicated that Slovenia has recently achieved notable synergy between academia and industry in defense development, serving as a strong foundation for future advancements.
Kristine Rudzite from the European Commission’s Directorate General for Defense Industry and Space conveyed that the European Union has allocated €1.5 billion toward implementing defense industry strategies, with approximately one-third dedicated to research and two-thirds to the development of innovations. Plans are in place to increase funding by about 25% by 2026. (October 22)
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