Slovenia has been striving for years to develop its aerospace industry. Some companies have become important players in niche segments but are striving to enter the big stage. Cooperation with France, an aerospace industry leader, is seen as an important step in this direction.

Slovenia and France already cooperate in Earth observation, artificial intelligence, nano and small satellites, human and robotic research, and new materials, Tanja Permozer, head of the Slovenian Space Office, told a Slovenian-French business forum on 8 March.

More than 40 companies and organisations are active in this field in Slovenia, she said, stressing that the Slovenian space strategy is based on the development and use of space technologies, participation in space research, and the development and use of space applications.

Slovenia and France have been cooperating excellently for years, but the development of advanced technologies is opening new opportunities for cooperation, including in space technologies, said Economy Ministry State Secretary Matevž Frangež.

"Cooperation between Slovenian and French companies in space technologies is all the more important as Slovenia hopes to be accepted as a full member of the European Space Agency this year," he said.

Bernard Luciani, assistant director for internationalisation at the French space agency CNES, said Slovenia's ambitions in this sector, supported by high-quality industry and research centres, are "a guarantee of cooperation that will lead to a faster development of space activities in Europe."

CNES and the Slovenian Space Office signed at the forum a letter of intent to deepen bilateral cooperation in space technologies. Luciani said that the signing marked a new stage in bilateral cooperation in the space sector.

The event was organised by the Economy Ministry, the investment promotion agency Spirit Slovenia, the French Embassy in Slovenia, the Slovenian-French Business Club and the French-Slovenian Business Club.

Trade between Slovenia and France topped three billion euros last year, with Slovenian exports reaching EUR 1.82 billion. Slovenia's main exports to France are vehicles, electrical machinery and equipment, and pharmaceuticals, while the situation is similar on the import side.