Skylabs signs co-financing deal with Slovenia for Maribor development center

State Secretary at Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport of Slovenia, Matevž Frangež and SkyLabs CEO, Tomaž Rotovnik signed a co-financing agreement today for an investment valued at 5,688,622 €.

The Ministry will contribute 2,040,601 € to the project, which received the maximum possible evaluation score (100/100) under Slovenia’s investment promotion framework, CE Report informs via the SkyLabs' official website.

At the signing, Matevž Frangež emphasized the strategic importance of such investments.

“Through investment incentives, we aim to create conditions for companies that build on knowledge, innovation, and advanced technologies. Space technologies are among the fastest-growing sectors of the global economy, and Slovenia has exceptional expertise in this field. SkyLabs’ investment in a new development center in Maribor is an excellent example of how collaboration between universities, innovative companies, and state support can create high added value, new high-tech jobs, and drive regional development.”

The new building will significantly accelerate our growth, both in R&D and production, said Tomaž Rotovnik, CEO of SkyLabs.

“With advanced laboratory infrastructure, it will provide world-class conditions for innovation and enable SkyLabs to develop critical expertise needed to participate in the most demanding future space missions,” he added.

The investment will create new high-tech jobs, with approximately half of the total investment allocated to advanced equipment and machinery.

Rector of the University of Maribor, Zdravko Kačič, highlighted the broader impact.

“Today’s event symbolically demonstrates the importance of long-term collaboration between academia and industry, as well as the exceptional potential such partnerships bring in creating higher added value and supporting balanced regional development,” he said.

This agreement marks an important milestone in the continued development of Slovenia’s space sector and reaffirms the country’s commitment to fostering innovation, advanced technologies and forward-looking companies.

Foto: Živa Ogrin, Boštjan Selinšek (SkyLabs)