5. April, 2024

Business Incubator “Kompreshaus” Hrastnik

Applicant: Municipality of Hrastnik
Company Description: Local government responsible for the management and development of the Municipality of Hrastnik
Website: hrastnik.si

Funding Source: Just Transition Fund
Funding Provider: Ministry for Cohesion and Regional Development
Secured Funds: €600,000

Project Title: Business Incubator “Kompreshaus” Hrastnik

Project Summary:
The project involves renovating a former mining compressor station into a business incubator. The aim is to create a space for the development of new technologies and entrepreneurial ideas that are key to a green transition. The incubator will facilitate knowledge exchange and offer educational programs. The total project cost is €1,405,791.36, with €600,000 co-funded by the Just Transition Fund. The investment is expected to be completed by spring 2026.

Purpose of the Investment Project:

The main goal of the “Kompreshaus” business incubator in Hrastnik is to foster the development and growth of local entrepreneurship and economic progress in Hrastnik Municipality and the broader Zasavje region. The project aims to create a supportive environment for new and startup businesses, aiding the transition of the coal-mining region towards sustainable economic development. This project will contribute significantly to the rehabilitation and revitalization of environmentally degraded areas associated with coal mining and the functional development of economic and business infrastructure, which is essential for the sustainable development of the region.

Business incubators, such as “Kompreshaus” Hrastnik, aim to encourage and accelerate the successful establishment and growth of new companies. They achieve this by providing young entrepreneurs, researchers, and innovators with various resources, services, and guidance to help realize their business ideas and projects.

Key Characteristics of Incubators Include:

  1. Space and Infrastructure: Physical spaces, such as offices, labs, workshops, or workspaces where young businesses can operate and develop their products or services.
  2. Consulting and Mentorship: Advice from experienced mentors and business experts to help manage the challenges of starting and running a business.
  3. Access to Resources: Assistance in securing funding, connecting with investors, finding partnerships, and offering other financial and business resources for growth.
  4. Education and Training: Organizing educational programs, workshops, and seminars to help entrepreneurs gain the necessary skills and knowledge for successful business operations.
  5. Networking and Connections: Opportunities to connect with other entrepreneurs, investors, partners, and experts, potentially leading to important business opportunities.
  6. Sustainable Development: Some incubators focus on sustainable development, encouraging companies that address environmental or social challenges.

Incubators play a key role in promoting innovation and economic growth in the regions or communities where they operate. They help reduce the risks faced by young businesses, promote job creation, and support the development of new technologies and products.

The project aligns with the objectives of the public call for co-funding business incubator development projects in the Zasavje and Savinjsko-Šalek coal-mining regions through the Just Transition Fund for the 2023-2026 period. The project directly contributes to multiple goals, including supporting the growth of SMEs and large companies, promoting entrepreneurship and employment, and strengthening knowledge transfer through collaborative research and innovation projects between businesses and research and educational institutions. The planned 310.60 m² of newly organized business spaces and high occupancy rates of these new areas with entrepreneurial content will enable the efficient and rapid realization of these objectives.

The “Kompreshaus” Hrastnik project aligns with various strategic objectives and programs at local, national, and European levels. It contributes to achieving the goals of the Zasavje Regional Development Program (RDP) 2021-2027, particularly the priority areas “Innovative and Competitive Economy in Zasavje” and “Green and Low-Carbon Zasavje.” The project also supports the objectives of the National Energy and Climate Plan, especially the fifth dimension of the energy union, focusing on research, innovation, and competitiveness. By reconstructing the “Kompreshaus” business incubator in Hrastnik, the project promotes entrepreneurship and innovation in the region’s former coal-mining areas. It also aligns with the EU Cohesion Policy Program in Slovenia for 2021-2027, contributing to specific goal RSO1.3, which focuses on strengthening sustainable growth, competitiveness of SMEs, and job creation through productive investments (ERDF). Additionally, the project achieves specific goal JSO8.1, allowing regions and people to address the social, employment, economic, and environmental impacts of the transition to the EU’s energy and climate objectives by 2030 and a climate-neutral economy by 2050, based on the Paris Agreement.

Expected Project Outcomes:

  • Entrepreneurship: Encouraging entrepreneurship and the development of new business models.
  • Economic Development: Strengthening the local business environment and supporting SMEs.
  • Employment: Creating new jobs and enhancing employment opportunities in the region.
  • Education: Increasing access to educational programs for entrepreneurs and startups.

Project Consistency with the Just Transition Plan for the Zasavje Coal Region:

  • Decarbonization of the Region: Supporting the transition to a low-carbon circular economy with sustainable business infrastructure.
  • Economic Development: Promoting growth and development of local entrepreneurship and revitalizing degraded areas.
  • Education: Promoting sustainable technologies and innovation through educational programs and business incubators.

Total available funds for the restructuring of the Zasavje coal region from the Just Transition Fund: 74.6 million euros for the period 2021-2029.

For more information on the project, please contact the Zasavje Just Transition Center.