The Jožef Stefan Institute: Interdisciplinary Excellence
The Jožef Stefan Institute (JSI) was founded in 1949 and named after the distinguished 19th-century physicist Jožef Stefan, most famous for his work on the Stefan-Boltzmann law of black-body radiation. It is the leading Slovenian research organization distinguished by its extensive engagement across fundamental and applied research domains. Comprising a dedicated staff of over 1000 specialists, the Institute’s expertise includes the natural sciences, life sciences, and various engineering disciplines.
The Institute’s overarching mission is dedicated to the accumulation and dissemination of knowledge at the frontiers of natural science and technology. This is fundamentally aligned with societal benefit, achieved through a persistent commitment to education, learning, research, and the development of high technology, consistently upholding the highest international standards of excellence.
The Department of Environmental Sciences from JSI, which is coordinating the InPlasTwin project, has long-lasting and broad experience in the field of environmental analytical chemistry and extensive knowledge of the cycling of pollutants in environmental compartments and tracing of sources of pollutants by various analytical techniques.
Research Focus at JSI
JSI research encompasses a wide spectrum of scientific and technological fields, including:
- Production and technology control
- Communication and computer technologies
- Knowledge technologies
- Biotechnologies
- Development of new materials
- Environmental technologies
- Nanotechnologies
- Nuclear engineering
To perform research, the Institute is divided into departments, laboratories, and centers. The departments perform the research activity that is defined as a long-term programme of the Institute. To conduct research, educational, and other expert activities the work of the departments is coordinated within the context of the broader activity of the Institute.
Being well aware of the international nature of science, the Institute has devoted considerable efforts to international co-operation. Today, it cooperates with many leading scientific research institutions worldwide. Moreover, the Institute actively engages in various national and international research projects, research and development programmes and projects for the establishment and maintenance of the research infrastructure
The Institute dedicates significant effort to transferring its research findings and knowledge into practical applications and marketable products. To support this, the Jožef Stefan Institute established a Technology Park years ago. This Park currently houses seven private companies, founded by both the Institute’s former research staff and external talent. Their offerings—products, technologies, and services—are the result of recent research and application projects. The Park actively fosters the creation and growth of new businesses based on research from Slovenian universities and international institutes. The Institute leverages this support for high-tech enterprises to cultivate an environment where innovation, financing, and production seamlessly interact, accelerating the development of groundbreaking products.
JSI at InPlasTwin
The InPlasTwin project brings together 6 partners from 6 countries: Jožef Stefan Institute (JSI) – Slovenia, Agricultural University of Athens (AUA) – Greece, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO) – Belgium, The Technical University of Denmark (DTU) – Denmark, Institute of Marine Research (IMR) – Norway, and Foodscale Hub – Serbia.
The project is coordinated by Dr. Janja Vidmar, a research associate at the Department of Environmental Sciences at JSI and an assistant professor at Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School.
The Jožef Stefan Institute (JSI) holds a central role in the InPlasTwin project, actively contributing across numerous work packages (WPs). As the lead for Coordination and Management (WP11 & WP12), JSI ensures partner collaboration, compliance with the Grant Agreement, and efficient resource allocation, alongside managing communication with the European Research Executive Agency (REA) and monitoring risks.
Beyond project coordination, JSI is active in Developing Strategic Thinking (WP1 & WP2), where it leads efforts to enhance management and administrative skills through VITO’s training, while also promoting diversity, inclusion, and ethical practices across partner institutions (JSI, AUA, FSH).
JSI’s scientific involvement is substantial through various Knowledge Exchange and Research WPs. This includes collaborating with DTU to understand MNP generation (WP3), participating in training at VITO and IMR for MNP extraction protocols (WP4), receiving training from IMR and VITO on advanced analytical techniques (WP5), and gaining expertise from DTU on plastic additive analysis (WP6).
Crucially, JSI takes a leading role, together with AUA, in Research and Validation (WP7 & WP8), as being involved in lab-scale experiments on MNP and plastic additive uptake in hydroponically grown strawberries (WP7), and analyzing their effects on yield and fruit quality using its mass spectrometry expertise. JSI also collaborates with AUA to validate overall research capacity and assess the impact of mulching films on strawberry cultivation and food safety (WP8).
Finally, JSI significantly contributes to Dissemination, Exploitation, and Communication (WP9 & WP10) by sharing project results with key stakeholders and the public through scientific publications, conferences, and outreach activities, aiming to raise awareness about MNP pollution.
Already mentioned for her coordinating role in InPlasTwin, Dr. Janja Vidmar, along with the researchers Dr. Majda Nikezić and Pia Leban, and Vanja Usenik, project manager, are at the forefront of JSI’s research and innovation in the InPlasTwin, as outlined in the infographic below.
