On Thursday, October 25, 2012 Gorenje hosted a presentation of the activities and opportunities for further cooperation between the founders of the RCE – Energy Development Center, which also include Gorenje. RCE was founded in 2011 in order to promote economic growth of the companies dealing with energy engineering in Slovenia and internationally.
Seventeen research and development projects are planned by 2014, which will be co-funded by the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology of the Republic of Slovenia, and the EU – European Regional Development Fund. Apart from Gorenje, partners in the research and development center RCE include the following companies: PV Invest, Premogovnik Velenje (Velenje Coal Mine), HTZ, Termoelektrarna Šoštanj (Šoštanj Coal Power Plant), Esotech, Komunalno podjetje Velenje (Velenje Utilities Company), MIEL Elektronika, Artes, Energetika Nazarje, Bahč, Velenje School of Environment Protection (Visoka šola za varstvo okolja Velenje) and the University of Maribor.
»The purpose of the working meeting in Gorenje was to find synergy in research efforts between partners and the Energy Development Center (RCE), and to generate new research and development projects,« said the director of the RCE Mrs. Marta Svetina Veder. Representing Gorenje, Mrs. Jožica Turk, head of portfolio investment management, greeted the attendants of the presentation: »We are well aware of the importance of research and development centers and research and development in general for the efforts to increase value added and competitiveness of the Slovenian economy. The RCE meeting is a step forward in the establishment of connections between the business partners, and exchange of good practice and ideas in the field of research and development.«
To date, Gorenje has prepared two projects within RCE: Indop subsidiary managed the project Development and Optimization of CHP (combined heat and power generation) Units; and Solar Program managed the project Development, Optimization, and Application of Photovoltaic Modules. Gorenje's widespread activity in ecology and Gorenje's research and development system was presented to the attendants by Mr. Rok Lesjak, head of Gorenje Solar, who stressed: »For us, participation in RCE is important because it allows us to draw grants which in turn allow us more investment into R&D in the field of photovoltaics and combined heat and power generation.«
Apart from Gorenje, partners in the research and development center RCE include the following companies: PV Invest, Premogovnik Velenje (Velenje Coal Mine), HTZ, Termoelektrarna Šoštanj (Šoštanj Coal Power Plant), Esotech, Komunalno podjetje Velenje (Velenje Utilities Company), MIEL Elektronika, Artes, Energetika Nazarje, Bahč, Velenje School of Environment Protection (Visoka šola za varstvo okolja Velenje) and the University of Maribor.