Carlow County Council recently participated in the 6th Interregional Exchange Meeting of the InnoCom project in Ivančna Gorica, Slovenia, from April 2-3, 2025. This international collaboration brought together key partners from Latvia, Romania, and Slovenia to enhance communication strategies and improve support structures for SMEs across Europe.
InnoCom is a €1.5m EU-funded project under Interreg Europe aimed at making SME support from regional and municipal governments more accessible and less bureaucratic. By streamlining communication channels and encouraging stronger institutional relationships, InnoCom works to remove obstacles that hinder SME growth and innovation.
Speaking about the project, Kieran Comerford, Head of Economic Development & Enterprise, stated, “Engaging in EU projects like InnoCom is an invaluable opportunity to enhance how we support our local businesses. By collaborating with international partners, we can learn from best practices across Europe and implement innovative solutions that benefit our SME community in Carlow.”
The program commenced on April 1st with a peer review session between Latvia, Romania, and Slovenia, hosted at the Municipality of Ivančna Gorica. Discussions centred on municipal structures, regional analysis, and improving SME communication channels.
On April 2nd, participants were welcomed by Mayor Dušan Strnad and Vice Mayor Tomaž Smole, who provided insights into the municipality’s economic and governance framework. The delegation then visited the Carnolian Bee House and innovation hubs such as Apilab and Ljubljana Urban Region, where they explored sustainable business models and regional development initiatives.
The day continued with site visits to Višnja Gora, LAS STIK, Cukarca, and the industrial sone Škrjanče, where participants engaged with key stakeholders in regional development and enterprise.
April 3rd featured a Hybrid Steering Group Meeting at City Hotel, Ljubljana, followed by strategic discussions with Slovenia’s Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development and Ministry of the Economy, Tourism, and Sport. The exchange concluded with a cultural and networking experience at Ljubljana Castle.
Reflecting on the visit, Brian Ogilvie, Head of Research and Commercialisation Support at South East Technological University, remarked, “This exchange has reinforced the importance of innovation hubs in encouraging collaboration and economic growth. By learning from Slovenia’s approach, we can further enhance Carlow’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.”
Linda Culleton , Economic Development Officer , added, “International connections are key to economic development. The insights gained from this exchange will help us strengthen Carlow’s position as a hub for business innovation and global collaboration.”
The exchange in Slovenia is part of an ongoing series of international engagements within the InnoCom project.