At its 49th session of January 10, 2013 the Management Board of the Association “Slovenian Scientific Institute Vienna” (SZI) adopted the National Institute of Biology among the full members of the Association of the “Slovenian Scientific Institute Vienna / Slowenisches Wissenschaftsinstitut in Wien”.

As a SZI member NIB will initiate, carry out and develop scientific, cultural, technological and economic co-operation with Austria.

The Slovenian Scientific Institute has been active in Vienna since October 2000. The main supporters of the Institute are the University of Ljubljana and the University of Maribor. The newly established scientific institute is focused on promotion of transfrontier scientific co-operation of universities and scientific institutions both in Slovenia and Austria. There is a growing co-operation also with Austrian libraries, archives, museums etc. According to Slovenian researchers of history, there is much Slovenian historical heritage waiting to be discovered and studied.

The place housing the new institute – Knaflova hiša (Knafel’s House) – is also of historical importance. The house “Seilerstätte 2” is owned by the institute Luka Knafelj that has since 1676 given quite many generations of Slovenian students in the times of the Habsburg monarchy an opportunity to study at the University of Vienna. The Knafelj grant was given among others to the following known personalities: the Slovene poets France Prešeren, Oton Župančič, Ivan Tavčar, the historian Franc Kos and the geographer Anton Melik. Director of the Institute is Dr. Vincenc Rajšp.

As an organisational unit of the Association the Slovenian Scientific Institute Vienna performs and stimulates scientific research work, organises presentations, courses, symposiums, scientific and professional workshops, hosts scientists; offers technical and administrative assistance to Slovenian scientists who are active in Austria and to Austrian scientists who look for co-operation with Slovenia; offers assistance in seeking for partners for scientific and research projects both in Austria and Slovenia; prepares and provides informative documents and assists in accessing international databases; promotes exchange in the field of science and culture; organises and carries out joint research projects and gives initiatives for them; initiates contacts in the field of science, culture, technology and economy with other countries and international organisations; provides grants to Austrian students and scientists, etc.

For more information about the Slovenian Scientific Institute please visit their web pages: http://www.szi-dunaj.at