8 and 9 June 2026
With visionary discussions, presentations of breakthrough innovations, and the presentation of prestigious awards, the 17th IRT Industrial Forum 2026, the leading professional event of Slovenian industry, successfully concluded in Portorož. This year's forum once again confirmed that Slovenian engineering expertise and economic agility continue to withstand global pressures, but that greater boldness in the adoption of artificial intelligence and immediate tax relief for businesses will be crucial for long-term success.
The event concluded in a spirit of collaboration and optimism. Participants agreed that the challenges related to labor costs, energy prices, and workforce shortages are serious, but that Slovenia’s manufacturing industry—which generates €43 billion in revenue and represents a cornerstone of the national GDP—possesses enough “Slovenian ingenuity” to outperform global competition.
Focus on Industrial Cyber Resilience
Part of the forum was dedicated to one of the most critical issues of modern digitalization—cybersecurity in industrial environments. Experts from Smart Com d.o.o. (Peter Ceferin, Kristina Ober, Igor Mlakar, and Žiga Perko) highlighted through practical examples that secure digital transformation requires regular security assessments and the systemic resilience of the entire supply chain.
In cooperation with TKI Hrastnik d.d. and Alpacem Cement d.d., best practices for implementing the Information Security Act (ZInfV-1) in industrial environments were presented, demonstrating that Slovenian companies are carrying out their digital transformation responsibly and securely.
At the conclusion of the event, the organizers expressed their gratitude to all speakers, sponsors (led by ABB and Fanuc), and the many participants whose presence and fruitful discussions helped create the forum’s exceptional atmosphere. The IRT Industrial Forum remains a key platform for transferring knowledge from theory into production facilities, where our future is truly being forged.
The story of success, innovation, and collaboration within Slovenian industry will continue. The organizers therefore warmly invite you to join us again next year to exchange new experiences, share insights, and help shape future directions at the 18th IRT Industrial Forum.
See you in Portorož in June 2027!
You can view photo highlights from the 17th IRT Industrial Forum at the following link.
Presentation of the state and development achievements in the industry and the scientific and developmental environment
Presentation of the state and development achievements in the industry and the scientific and developmental environment
