The Slovenian Research Agency (ARRS) as an independent public funding organisation performs tasks relating to the National Research and Development Programme and European Research Area.

The SRA:

• provides framework for scientific research within the national budget and other sources,
• promotes high quality scientific research in Slovenia and its application,
• fosters internationally comparable evaluation standards in Slovenia,
• provides the transparency of organising research community in Slovenia,
• promotes international research cooperation,
• analyses R&D activities and provides science policy expertise.

According to the SRA statement its primary role is in (SRA webpage declaration):

• selecting and financing research and infrastructure programmes that provide a public service in the research field;
• managing young researcher projects and other projects assigned to the Agency as part of the National Research and Development Programme and the annual plan of the ministry responsible for science;
• monitoring the usefulness, innovation level, efficiency, quality, competitiveness and professionalism of the work research organisations allocated funding or other incentives;
• monitoring and supervising programmes and projects from the first and second points of this list;
• promoting international cooperation and co-financing and implements commitments undertaken within international agreements, memorandum and protocols signed by the Republic of Slovenia;
• managing the databases set out in the Research and Development Act and other regulations;
• ensuring the acquisition of additional funding for the National Research and Development Programme;
• evaluating and analysing the implementation of research and development work;
• participating in national research and development policy making;
• collaborating with the Technological development agency and other agencies and organisations;
• in accordance with regulations providing the ministry responsible for science with an annual work plan, financial plans, annual reports and periodic self-assessment reports on the quality of the Agency’s work;
• promoting links between public research institutes and users;
• performing other professional tasks consistent with its founding statute.

The key novelty of the Law on Research and Development 2002 (OG 96/2002) was the establishment of the two Agencies: Agency for Scientific Research and Agency for Technology Development. The idea behind such institutional setting was that the agencies (each in its sphere) would be responsible for permanent, professional and independent selection process of projects and programmes, which are to be financed from public resources. Each agency has its board of directors, a manager and a scientific (expert) council. The Law on R&D specifies also the main tasks for each agency. Formally the Slovenian Research Agency was established and begun functioning in 2004.

There are no component organisations.

There is no parent organisation, except that the Agency is closely related to the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport (MESCS) in terms of financial support for its programmes as well as for basic policy orientation.

Regular procedures consist of 3 to 6-year cycle for Research Programme Groups, annual calls for Basic and Applied Research Projects, annual calls for Infrastructure Programmes, as well as other programmes agreed with the Government and respective annual programme/project evaluations. Annual meetings of the Council and Advisory Board are convened. The Slovenian Research Agency has to prepare its annual programme of work and budget proposal to the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport (MESCS) to be approved by the Government.

The number given is the total number of employees of the Agency, including the technical and support staff. Among them 6 have a PhD, 5 a M. A., 30 are graduated, 3 with higher education and 9 with education at the level of ISCED 4.

The Slovenian Research Agency follows the priorities set forth in the National Research and Development Programme (now RISS), since it is responsible for its implementation and should design the project and programme funding accordingly. Other calls that the Slovenian Research Agency administers (like Target Research Programmes) follow the priorities specified by MESCS.

Overall, there are no specific sectoral priorities. However, each call has its own sectoral prioritisation, but this is set-out by the MESCS.

National.

The funding priorities are set forth in National Research and Development Programme (now RISS). Also, annually the MESCS prepares programme priorities, when allocating the funds to the SRA. Since the task of the Slovenian Research Agency is the distribution of public research funding according to the policies decided by the MESCS and the Government, the basic funding mechanism is the distribution of grants to selected projects/programmes and other activities. Each of the regular programmes has a pre-specified selection and evaluation system.

The Agency has not changed its financing priorities so far.

After slight increase in budget in recent years, the budget of SRA was in 2012 cut-off because of the introduction of "saving-measures" on the state-level. The drop-off presented a sixth of the whole budget.

Regarding the fact that the budget dropped-off, SRA cancelled some calls, which were planned for the end of the year. That is why after October 2012 no new calls are planned to be launched. The result is that in 2012 a call for Research Projects is cancelled (issued each year at the end of the year for last three years), the selected projects under the 2011 call will be financed only from Ocotber 2013 onwards.

100 % Government funding

The Agency finances its regular research programmes as prepared, submitted and approved by the MESCS.

The Agency (SRA) works on an annual budget cycle, even though certain programmes run over longer time period.

Each of the programmes operated by the Slovenian Research Agency has its set of evaluation procedures to select the recipients of funding. Also,  each programme when announced, specifies who are the eligible applicants and an indication of approximate funding is provided. 

Assessments differ depending on the type and lenght of the programmes. Short-term programmes usually require final reports upon complition, longer programmes need to submit periodical reports to the Agency. The approval of such reports is condition for continuation of funding. Also, set of eligible costs is prescribed and top amounts allocated to each cost category (labour, material costs, overall costs etc.). If the objectives of the programmes are not met according to the reviewers, the subsequent funds may be withheld or decreased.

The evaluation procedures are linked to calls and projects selected within public calls. Each type of projects has its own evaluation process, and the results are taken into consideration in founding process and every time the applicant signs up for a tender.