Tuesday, 20 January 2026 A solemn event marked the launch of KCUI
On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, the Slovenian Competence Center for Artificial Intelligence (KCUI) marked the launch of its operations with a solemn event at the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS).
The KCUI is the central national initiative for supporting the development, introduction, and responsible use of artificial intelligence in the economy, public sector, and society. It acts as a gateway for knowledge, training, expert support, and stakeholder networking, and contributes to strengthening Slovenia's competitiveness, productivity, and innovation potential in the field of artificial intelligence.
The event began with a ceremonial address by mag. Ksenija Klampfer, Minister for Digital Transformation, who emphasized "Today, the key question is not whether we will use artificial intelligence, but how we will use it safely, effectively, responsibly, and for the benefit of people—the answer to this is the Competence Center for Artificial Intelligence, which is launching today." The minister also emphasized that the center's key objectives include supporting both businesses and the public sector in achieving better results and increasing efficiency through the introduction of artificial intelligence tools.
This was followed by speeches on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (GZS), the leading partner of the KCUI consortium. Vesna Nahtigal, Director General of GZS, Marko Štefančič, MBA, Director of the KCUI consortium, and Dr. Vida Groznik, Scientific Director of KCUI, addressed the audience.
The project to establish and operate the center at the UP is led by Dr. Marko Tkalčič (UP FAMNIT), who stated at its establishment: “Artificial intelligence is a very powerful tool which, when used responsibly, can significantly contribute to the functioning of the economy, public administration, and people’s everyday lives. It is important to understand that Slovenia cannot afford to fall behind the rest of the world. We must be proactive and participate in research. Precisely the fact that knowledge gained through research can be transferred to Slovenia in a responsible manner seems to me to be the greatest advantage of this competence center. This project represents a structured framework in which the knowledge held by top Slovenian experts is transferred for the benefit of the Slovenian economy, public administration, and citizens in general. At the University of Primorska (UP), we are proud to be part of a consortium of exceptionally strong Slovenian institutions in the field of artificial intelligence, as we will also be able to contribute our expertise to the achievement of these goals.
The event was also attended by the Rector of the University of Primorska, Dr. Klavdija Kutnar, and the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Dr. Ademir Hujdurović, along with the project leader, Dr. Marko Tkalčič, and other participants in the project – Dr. Jernej Vičič, Dr. Ernest Ženko, and Nataša Miletić.
The consortium, led by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia, also includes: the University of Primorska, the University of Maribor, the University of Ljubljana, the University of Nova Gorica, the Jožef Stefan Institute, the Chamber of Craft and Small Businesses of Slovenia, and the ASEF Institute for Education and Research. The consortium was formed and successful in the context of the public call for (co-)financing the establishment and operation of a Competence Center for Artificial Intelligence (ARIS).
