On Friday, 23 April 2021, Slovenian President Borut Pahor and Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou visited the construction site of InnoRenew CoE’s new research institute in Livade, Izola (Slovenia). Danilo Markočič, Municipality of Izola’s mayor, Dr Klavdija Kutnar, University of Primorska’s rector and Dr Andreja Kutnar, InnoRenew CoE director, welcomed the presidents and their delegations.

“Welcome to the place where we are constructing the largest wooden building in Slovenia,” Dr Andreja Kutnar said as she greeted President Pahor and President Sakellaropoulou. Dr Andreja Kutnar continued by presenting the InnoRenew CoE institute and its new building, which is being built according to principles of sustainable construction. The two interconnected buildings will consist of a hybrid combination of timber, concrete and steel. The entire complex will be continuously monitored by scientists; therefore, it will itself be an ongoing research project. As the building is situated near the Mediterranean Sea, findings will bring interesting results about construction in such a surrounding.

“I am very pleased that also the European Commission, within the New European Bauhaus, recognized our building as an example of good practice and that we became the New European Bauhaus’s partners and, thus, an important connection link of the Slovenian wood industry on the European level,” Dr Andreja Kutnar said.

An important topic for both Slovenia and Greece is earthquake safety since both countries are in an area where earthquake risk exists. Dr Andreja Kutnar highlighted that InnoRenew CoE is dedicated to exploring the topics of earthquake safety for buildings, seismic rehabilitation of buildings and design of integrated construction solutions where renewable materials, like wood, play an important role.

“I am sure that together, in collaboration with the policy makers, we will come to great and safe solutions,” Dr Andreja Kutnar said.

Slovenian President Borut Pahor and Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou. Image: Alen Ježovnik UP

Dr Klavdija Kutnar, the University of Primorska’s rector, pointed out excellent collaboration between the university, the institute and Greek institutions.

“Among our partners there are also many institutions from the Hellenic Republic. We cooperate in different projects and initiatives, among which I’d like to emphasize the work of the Associations of Universities of the Adriatic-Ionian area – UniAdrion, where universities and research centres plan and create strategies to strengthen international cooperation and the progress of culture, science, training and research in the broader Adriatic-Ionian area. We are very happy that Slovenian and Greek institutions are active members of this initiative,” Dr Klavdija Kutnar said.

Both presidents received a collection of idioms, “Potrkaj na les/Knock on Wood”, created and designed by the InnoRenew CoE team. With idioms related to forests, trees and wood from 11 languages, the institute wishes to raise awareness of the important role of wood in people’s daily lives, which is revealed in this multilingual treasury.

More detailed information about the cooperation between InnoRenew CoE and the University of Primorska and Institutions from Greece is available here.