Over half of all employed at the National Institute of Biology actively participated at the general strike of the public sector which was held on 23.1.13. We joined public rallies in Ljubljana and Koper (where colleagues from Marine biology station Piran participated). For us the strike was a message to our government stating our disagreement with extra cuts in public sector finances for research and science. This can lead to employee number  reductions . We fear that the situation might worsen and we and our employers - and ultimately all citizens of Slovenia, who expect high quality scientific work, are in a difficult situation.

Due to the lack of funds for research we fear that promising young people that were thus far invested in by the state, would be forced to leave the country and work abroad. Slovenian scientists are well recognized, appreciated and wanted, but many of them would proudly remain in Slovenia and from here build strong collaborations, local as well as internationa ones. We would not only like the investments to be kept on this level but to be increased. We strongly believe that the intelectual power of a country is a prerequisite for its development.

The statement of Scientific panels of NIB, IJS and KI, where the consequences of reduction of state's investment in science was sent to the media in November 2012. (http://www.nib.si/aktualno/novice/590-vabljeni-na-mednarodno-delavnico-information-sources-in-biotechnology, in Slovene).