EARTO Secretary General Muriel Attané Visits the National Institute of Chemistry
The National Institute of Chemistry (NIC) hosted a working visit by Muriel Attané, Secretary General of the European Association of Research and Technology Organisations (EARTO). EARTO brings together more than 350 Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs) from over 32 countries, representing around 228,000 highly skilled researchers and engineers and managing a broad portfolio of technological and research infrastructures. At the European level, EARTO advocates for the role of technology infrastructures that enable research to advance towards industrial application, reaching Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6.
The visit took place on 3 March 2026 at the National Institute of Chemistry in Ljubljana. During the meeting, the institute’s leadership presented the activities and strategic research directions of the institute, as well as two key initiatives: the Centre for Technologies of Gene and Cell Therapies (CTGCT) and the Centre for Development, Demonstration and Training for Carbon-Free Technologies (DUBT).
The delegation also visited the newly established DUBT centre in Kisovec (Zagorje ob Savi). The centre aims to bridge the gap between the development of advanced zero-carbon technologies and their industrial application. By providing state-of-the-art facilities, laboratories, and training programmes, the centre supports the transfer of knowledge from research units to industry and accelerates the development and demonstration of technologies up to TRL 6. The centre hosts two laboratories: the Laboratory for Battery Development and Testing and the Laboratory for Demonstration of Hydrogen and CO₂ Technologies. These facilities will enable rapid testing and implementation of innovative battery materials and hydrogen technologies for both domestic and international industry.
The visit concluded with a dinner at Ljubljana Castle.
The NIC delegation included Prof. Gregor Anderluh, Director, Prof. Roman Jerala, President of the Scientific Council and Head of the Department of Synthetic Biology and Immunology, Prof. Robert Dominko, Head of the DUBT Centre and Head of the Laboratory for Modern Battery Systems and Dr Barbara Tišler, Assistant Director for Development and Quality.
