These are the 100 Slovenian companies with the greatest potential for global growth

A list of 100 Slovenian companies with the highest potential for global growth has been announced during the Blejski Strateški Forum (BSF) in Bled. The initiative, known as Future 500, was launched in partnership with the IEDC, Business School Bled, the Atlantic Council, and the BSF itself. This selection aims to identify European firms with the greatest potential to become global leaders and provide them with the conditions necessary for sustained expansion. The selected 100 companies have demonstrated remarkable performance over the past three years, doubling their revenues from one billion to over two billion euros. They employ approximately 8,100 people and have created around 2,400 new jobs within this period. These businesses form a strong technological and industrial core, with 45 coming from the broader technology sector and 37 from manufacturing. The list of selected companies is available through a link provided by STA. Slovenia serves as the first pilot country for the broader European initiative under Future 500. The next step involves expanding the methodology to other European countries. The goal is to first identify future European economic leaders and then support them in creating favorable conditions for global growth. Stjepan Orešković, the initiator of the Future 500 initiative and chairman of the board of the IEDC, Business School Bled, emphasized that the selection is just the beginning. He stated that these companies must be given access to capital, a truly open single market, and a path to the stock exchange, what global competitors take for granted. Participants at the meeting agreed that Europe does not lack the ability to create innovative enterprises but faces challenges in providing the right conditions for their growth. Minister for Economy, Labour, and Sports Anže Logar opened the discussion by pointing out that Europe has not lost its competitive edge against China or the United States but rather against itself. He noted that the difficulties in competitiveness stem from decisions made within Europe, not outside of it. Logar highlighted that Europe lacks connections between talents, knowledge, and capital. He stressed the need to ensure funding for growth, digital and research infrastructure, competitive energy prices, and reduce administrative barriers. Marko Primorac, Deputy President of the European Investment Bank, warned that while Europe possesses exceptional educational and research institutions, engineers, pure technologies, critical raw materials, and investment capabilities, the capital is fragmented and reaches companies too slowly. He pointed out that Europe accounts for only eight percent of the world's fast-growing companies. Many of these companies move out of the EU due to easier access to risk capital and less regulation, primarily to the US. As a result, Europe loses jobs, knowledge, long-term value, and control over future technologies. Michiel Scheffer, president of the European Council for Innovation, called for more funds to support innovation and fast-growing companies, as well as entire value chains and ecosystems. He suggested that Europe should focus on more than just subsidies and instead consider ways to reduce risks associated with projects. Björn Tremmerie, head of technological investments at the European Investment Fund, emphasized that public funds alone cannot finance growth. He argued that private capital must be activated, noting that there is substantial capital in savings accounts whose potential has not yet been fully realized. Bank representatives cited regulatory fragmentation, the absence of a common European capital market, cautious regulation, and a weaker culture of risk-taking as reasons why money from bank deposits does not flow into larger investments.