Access to finance

In addition to European funding in various forms, several sources of funding are available to business persons in Slovenia. As a general rule, they follow the intent of establishing a systematic business-friendly environment.

The legal basis for providing funding to businesses is given by the Act Regulating Supportive Environment for Entrepreneurship and the Programme of measures to promote entrepreneurship and competitiveness for 2007 - 2013.

Act Regulating Supportive Environment for Entrepreneurship [SL]

The Programme of measures to promote entrepreneurship and competitiveness for 2007 - 2013 [SL]

One of the fundamental objectives of the act is to create a favourable financial environment. The main holder of these activities is the Slovene Enterprise Fund (through banks, financial institutions, etc.), whose tasks are:

• providing services and the initial capital for quicker enforcement of new companies with direct incentives for the initial financing of entrepreneurial projects in the phase of development and start-up companies,
• providing more favourable funding sources for the development investment of companies through subsidies, favourable financial resources and guarantees,
• encouraging private investment and financing of entrepreneurial projects in all phases of development with equity, with the provision of affordable sources of credit and guarantees for investors.

Calls on the Fund are published on their web pages. Available funds are allocated in the form of grants to small and medium-sized companies as:

• subsidies for the purchase of technological equipment,
• co-financing the start-up of an innovative subject,
• co-financing the construction of a tourism infrastructure.

Tenders [SL]

List of participating banks [SL]

The Public Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Entrepreneurship and Foreign Investments is a national intertrade organisation for the implementation of development policies in the area of entrepreneurship development and competitiveness in Slovenia. This is also done with direct financial incentives. Funding is awarded through public tenders.

The Public Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Entrepreneurship and Foreign Investments

Sector-specific regulation

Some sectoral laws also provide the basis for obtaining funds.

In the field of environmental protection, the Environment Protection Act provides the basis to the ECO FUND, which donates resources in the form of loans and grants, both to private citizens, as well as independent business persons and companies.

ECO FUND [SL]

In the area of research and higher education, the Research and Development Act provides the basis to the Slovenian Research Agency, which is responsible for implementing calls for project grants, research allowances, etc.

Slovenian Research Agency [SL]

The Development fund of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia is a financial institution, which finances the specific needs of companies to reach the stage where it is possible to obtain high-quality sources of financing on the market.

Development fund [SL]

The Slovene Export and Development Bank (SID), through the financing of export transactions, preparations for export and a source of investment (primarily for longer-term financing transactions in foreign markets and operations of greater value) complements the funding opportunities for companies from its own resources, and finances their operations through commercial banks and other financial institutions.

Personalised help and advice

The Enterprise Europe Network provides businesses with information and advice through its local partners.

Enterprise Europe Network – contact points – Slovenia

Source: European Commission