National Projects

This program focuses on advanced technologies for Factories of the Future, with emphasis on robotics, automation, and optimization of industrial processes, as well as laser- and plasma-based sensing and manufacturing. It integrates artificial intelligence and machine learning to address key challenges in modern production.

Developed in close collaboration between leading Slovenian research institutions and industry partners, the program ensures strong scientific excellence alongside real industrial relevance and market potential. The consortium combines expertise in robotics, control systems, AI, photonics, plasma technologies, and advanced materials.

Research is organized into four core areas: AI-enabled process control, AI-enabled robotics, laser-based processing for electronics, and plasma-based processing and sensing. Each area advances from fundamental research to prototype development and real-world validation, supporting the transition of innovations to industrial applications and global markets.

This project explores topological states and polarization dynamics in ferroelectric nanomaterials to advance understanding of complex nanoscale phenomena. By combining state-of-the-art electron microscopy, piezoresponse techniques, and phase-field modeling guided by topological principles, it aims to identify and reconstruct three-dimensional polarization structures such as vortices, skyrmions, and Hopfions. The research further focuses on controlling these states, including tunable chirality, to enable future applications in high-density memory devices, sensing technologies, and beyond-binary computing.

The ADSITE project develops ultra-sensitive electronic noses for real-time detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using adsorption-site engineered metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). By integrating ionic liquids into nanostructured MOF thin films, the project aims to enhance selectivity and sensitivity of capacitive gas sensors, enabling detection at ppb–ppm levels even in complex environments. The research combines materials synthesis, microelectronics, and data science to understand adsorption–electronic coupling and to design sensor arrays with distinct response patterns. The resulting portable and cost-effective devices have strong potential for applications in environmental monitoring, agriculture, and non-invasive disease diagnostics.

Wearable devices like smartwatches and fitness trackers need effective cooling to ensure safety, comfort, and reliable performance. Traditional thermal management solutions are difficult to integrate because of strict size, flexibility, and ergonomic requirements.

Our project develops flexible electrocaloric cooling materials using freestanding ferroelectric thin-film membranes. These membranes, produced by pulsed laser deposition (PLD), offer precise control of material properties and high cooling performance. By using a water-soluble buffer layer, the films can be transferred onto flexible polymers, while the substrate is recycled for sustainable, cost-effective fabrication.

We will enhance performance through strain engineering and wrinkle patterning, and measure the electrocaloric effect with fast infrared imaging. Combined with advanced characterization and modeling, this approach will enable next-generation cooling solutions for safer, more comfortable wearable technologies.

The CHRONOSTORE project tackles one of today’s greatest challenges: delivering reliable energy while protecting the planet. Renewable sources are essential, but their variability requires advanced storage solutions.

CHRONOSTORE develops scalable chemical energy storage across three horizons:
**Short-term:** next-generation batteries (e.g., sodium-ion, solid-state)
**Medium-term:** hydrogen as a clean energy carrier
**Long-term:** sustainable ammonia and methanol for seasonal storage

By combining materials science, catalysis, electrochemistry, AI, and advanced modeling, the project aims to improve efficiency, reduce reliance on critical raw materials, and enable safe, sustainable technologies.

CHRONOSTORE bridges fundamental research with real-world applications, paving the way for cleaner, more resilient energy systems in Europe and beyond.

Anion-exchange membrane water electrolyzers (AEMWEs) have emerged rapidly with the promise to overcome the bottlenecks of the incumbent water electrolyzer technologies, and reach hydrogen (H2) generation up to the desired terawatt scale. It is certain that AEMWEs will play a crucial role in fulfilling the commitments of the EU Green Deal and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. However, even the state-of-the-art AEMWEs have efficiencies <70%, suggesting a big scope for improvement. Within this bilateral project, we will combine JSI’s expertise in electrode materials with the expertise of the UK team in advanced materials characterization and water electrolyzers to develop AEMWEs with efficiencies >80%. This will be achieved by developing novel low-cost electrocatalysts based on transition metal borides (JSI team) and testing them directly in lab-scale electrolyzer systems (UK team) that resemble real cell conditions. Moreover, the cooperation will use the UK team’s expertise in nuclear materials and systems to explore the concept of co-generation of green H2 using the residual process heat from nuclear reactors. We will perform detailed analysis to further scope knowledge gaps in co-generation of H2 using residual nuclear heat. Initially, we will design experiments to utilise a part of the residual heat (~80 ⁰C) to increase the temperature of the water fed to AEMWEs. With an increase in temperature, the contribution of the electrical energy required to split water decreases and higher voltage efficiencies can be achieved. The outcome will guide the JSI team in further optimization of the electrode materials to sustain the experimental test conditions. The cooperation will allow both teams to exchange their complementing expertise in improving the efficiency of the present AEMWEs through development and testing of more efficient electrode materials and concurrently validate the concept of co-generation to valorise the residual heat from nuclear reactors. 

As the global population grows, the demand for energy rises sharply, placing immense pressure on our environment and resources. Reliance on fossil fuels has driven greenhouse gas emissions to critical levels, intensifying the climate crisis. To ensure a sustainable future, the world must transition to cleaner, more efficient energy systems.

This project focuses on advancing electrochemical energy conversion and storage technologies—the backbone of renewable energy solutions. Electrochemistry enables the direct conversion of chemical energy into electrical energy, powering devices such as fuel cells, electrolyzers, and batteries. Despite their widespread use, these technologies have not yet achieved their full potential, largely due to limitations at the electrochemical interface between electrodes and electrolytes.

Our research introduces a new class of electrochemical interfaces by modifying traditional electrode-electrolyte boundaries with innovative 2D architectures (2DA). These advanced interfaces selectively regulate which ions and molecules can interact with the electrode, resulting in higher activity, stability, and selectivity.

Through this approach, we aim to:
- Enhance platinum catalyst activity for oxygen reduction in phosphoric acid fuel cells.
- Improve the stability of anode/electrolyte interfaces in Li-ion batteries.
- Increase the selectivity of CO₂ reduction toward valuable C₂ products.

By reimagining the electrochemical interface, this project seeks to unlock new performance levels in energy storage and conversion systems—paving the way toward a cleaner, more resilient, and sustainable energy future.

The HyBReED project brings together 15 leading Slovenian partners in the field of hydrogen technologies, batteries and industrial transition, among which are recognized research institutions and companies. The project focuses on the development of sustainable solutions for the energy sector, including the production, storage and use of hydrogen and batteries in energy-intensive industries. The Department of Systems and Control leads the project pillar "Production and storage of H2 and dynamic grid balancing" and participates in the development of the SOFC fuel cell and electrolyzer, the process for converting hydrogen into ammonia for energy storage needs, and in the research of methods for balancing the electrical energy system and market by using hydrogen technologies.

Boridenes are two-dimensional (2D) boron analogues of graphene with tunable surface functionalities for different catalytic applications. Their predicted excellent activities, combined with their lower cost and earth abundance makes them one of the most promising classes of electrocatalysts for electrocatalytic water splitting. However, their experimental realization has been a challenge and will be addressed within the scope of this project. To demonstrate the industrial relevance of such promising electrocatalysts, it is essential to probe their activities at larger current densities (> 1 A/cm2) and longer timescales (> 1000 h). The conventional electrochemical measurements involving a 3-electrode setup (including a rotating-disc electrode) introduces mass transport limitations originating due to several factors (such as low solubility of product gases, formation of microbubbles, etc.), severely constraining the catalyst evaluation at higher current densities. Moreover, the conventional 3-electrode systems do not resemble the true environment that a catalyst experiences in the membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) of an AEMWE. Furthermore, the degradation behavior of electrodes at such extreme conditions bears useful information that may guide the development of mitigation measures to prevent degradation, but such investigations are rarely undertaken. Under Project Borocat, we will not only fabricate 2D boridenes but also evaluate them at 1 A/cm2 for ~1000 h and perform detailed degradation assessment, thus overcoming the said challenges.

Owing to our team’s expertise, we will develop a generalized synthesis protocol based on molten salt route to fabricate 2D boridene phases of Mo, Fe, Cr and W. The optimized catalyst phases will be evaluated at ~1 A/cm2 using a gas diffusion electrode (GDE) setup. The GDE setup offers a reasonable resemblance to the MEA environment and it improves the mass transport properties due to its unique design. It also enables the possibility to perform long-term electrochemical measurements (~1000 h) to gauge a catalysts true stability profile. For degradation assessment of the electrocatalysts optimized under the GDE setup, a modified floating electrode (MFE), as developed by our team, will be employed in conjunction with identical location transmission electron microscopy (IL-TEM). This unique combination will allow us to reach GDE-like testing conditions and directly investigate the electrode under a TEM, with a possibility to track the reaction-induced changes at the same sample location. Furthermore, the electrode dissolution studies will be enabled by in-situ and ex-situ inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) measurements. Thus, by the end of project Borocat, we will comprehensively establish substantial scientific proof in support of 2D boridenes as a notable alternative for direct incorporation in commercial AEMWE systems.

This project explores a novel approach to enhancing energy storage performance by developing high-quality thin films of Ag(Nb,Ta)O₃ (ANT) through remote epitaxy using graphene. ANT is a promising lead-free dielectric material with tunable antiferroelectric and relaxor behavior, offering energy densities comparable to state-of-the-art lead-based systems. To overcome the limitations imposed by substrate-induced strain in thin films, the project introduces a 2D graphene interlayer to decouple the film from the substrate, enabling dislocation-free growth and higher dielectric breakdown strength (DBS). The research will combine compositional tuning to prevent Ag loss, doping with rare-earth elements to induce relaxor behavior, and van der Waals epitaxy on amorphous substrates. Multiscale structural, chemical, and electrical analyses will be performed to correlate microstructural features with macroscopic energy storage properties. The ultimate goal is to develop advanced heterostructures for high-efficiency, lead-free energy storage applications, paving the way for on-chip storage solutions and integration with flexible electronics and IoT technologies.

Skin and tissue injuries are global medical and socioeconomic problem. For that reason the investigation of novel approaches in wound healings (associated with speciallized would dressing materials and different would healing methods) has important role in this rapidly growing biomedical field. Current research in the field of wound dressing materials is mostly focused on a specific aspect of healing and often without active components that may promote the whole process. Although a wide variety of different dressings have been reported and used, there are still problems which require a complex approach and design of smart advanced multicomponent wound dressing. Due to all the abovementioned issues, there is a great need to design and develop new wound dressings with adequate antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, proangiogenic and piezoelectric potential. They should be developed to stimulate wound healing and comprehensively follow the dynamics of healing in injured tissue. From that standpoint, the innovative feature of proposed project is a step ahead toward combination of all these requirements (antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activity, moisture- controlleld and wound healing stimulation in terms of the piezoelectric effect ) in a single wound dressing. The project will represent the biomedical hybrid platform of the smart multilayered, multi-component system based on hydrogel scaffolds dressings. They will be created with a combination of polymers, of natural and synthetic origin, that contain bioactive agents incorporated into different layers with controllable degradability and release properties to follow and support the wound healing dynamic (healing phases). Polylactide/poly(β-amino ester)/ polymethacrylate/alginate/gelatin will be used as the main polymeric components for scaffolding layered constructs. Bioactive agents will be amino acids (regeneration potential), zinc (antimicrobial potential) and copper ions (proangiogenic potential), glutathione (anti-inflammatory potential), resveratrol (proangiogenic and antioxidant effect) and allantoin (antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, direct antimicrobial effects, and keratolytic activity facilitating wound healing). Each component of scaffold dressings and bioactive agents has a specific role to support the wound healing process. The collaboration will be a synergy of the expertise from three research institutions (Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy (FTM), University of Belgrade (UB), Belgrade, Serbia, Advanced Materials Department, Jožef Stefan Institute (JSI), Ljubljana, Slovenia, and Laboratory for Microbial Molecular Genetics and Ecology (LMMGE), Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering (IMGGE), University of Belgrade (UB), Serbia). Dressings syntheses and detailed characterization (tasks of FTM (Serbia) and IJS (Slovenia) partners) will be followed by detailed investigations of antimicrobial, in vitro and in vivo assays in wound models (the tasks of IMGGE (Serbia) and IJS (Slovenia) partners). 

Multidisciplinary project team is focus on the development of rapid and innovative surface modification routes that will allow a reliable and durable bond between dental cement and tooth replacements, without the need to use chemicals that are toxic to the environment and humans. Within the project, ceramic and composite, i.e., metal-ceramic tooth replacements, are treated with atmospheric plasma in order to improve the direct adhesion of dental cements. Due to the beneficial effects of plasma treatment for various dental materials, the second part of the research is also be focused on ii.) improvement of biocompatibility, in terms of ion leakage and antibacterial properties of widely used titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) as a dental implant material by optimized low‑pressure plasma surface treatment, which will alter surface characteristics of Ti-6Al-4V, in particular morphology and wettability that are crucial for effective antibacterial activity. In addition, plasma treatment will cause the formation of a dense oxide layer on the surface of Ti‑6Al‑4V, which will prevent the release of allergenic and toxic metal ions into the human body.

The project focuses on designing novel infection control strategy based on engineering PLLA surface chemistry to enhance physical disintegration of pathogens. Chemically grafted adhesion molecules will promote pathogen adhesion to polymeric pillars and their deformation. Accumulated charge will disintegrate pathogenic microbes leading to their inactivation, leaving the polymer available for further decontamination.
The contact antimicrobial activity is tested in collaboration with the National Laboratory of Health, Food and Environment (NLZOH) and the National Institute for Biology (NIB) on a range of clinically relevant pathogens isolated from skin and soft tissue infections, implant-associated infection isolates, including multidrug resistant isolates and different enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. The compatibility with human cells (including human skin and blood cells) will be evaluated in collaboration with Department of Biotechnology (B3) at JSI.

This project investigates subglacial carbonate sediments recently exposed near the rapidly retreating Triglav Glacier and Glacier under Mt. Skuta in the southeastern Alps, Slovenia. Preliminary U-Th dating suggests these sediments formed during the Last Glacial Maximum and Younger Dryas. As subglacial carbonates are highly prone to weathering, their preservation raises the question of whether these glaciers persisted through the Holocene, including the warm Atlantic climatic optimum. Using high-resolution dating (U-Th, cosmogenic ^36Cl), mineralogical and geochemical analyses, and freeze-thaw resistance testing, the project aims to determine whether the glaciers are disappearing for the first time in the Holocene—and why. Results will provide new insights into glacier dynamics, paleoclimate, and the future of small alpine glaciers in a warming world.

Within the project, surface modification procedures (combination of electrochemical anodization and non-thermal plasma treatment) is performed in order to improve antibacterial activity and biocompatibility of medical grade stainless steel (SS316). It is expected that this novel approach will alter SS316 surface characteristics, specifically nano topography, composition and wettability, which significantly influence biological response, but at the same time, it will retain mechanical properties of SS316. Moreover, stable surface oxide layer induced by plasma treatment could prevent the release of toxic/allergic elements into the human body. It is expected that such surface modification will also allow direct drug loading on the surface of SS316 without the use of toxic polymer matrixes. This treatment could be applicable for the design of not only medical devices but also other hospital settings made from various metal alloys. Project goals are: i.) Synthesis of nano-patterned SS316 surfaces with the combination of electrochemical anodization and non-thermal plasma treatment; characterization of surface properties (wettability, morphology, surface chemistry, etc.) of SS316; ii.) Evaluation of antibacterial performance of SS316; iii.) Evaluation of biocompatibility of novel SS316; corrosion resistance, hemocompatibility and cytocompatibility.