On 3 February, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (GZS) hosted the annual Big Science business meeting, an event designed to connect national companies and institutions with leading research organisations worldwide. This year, the CTAO was invited to play a central role in the event, giving the CTAO Director General, Stuart McMuldroch, a platform to present the opportunities for synergy between the Observatory and the Slovenian industrial community. 

The event, focused on exploring cooperation with CERN and the CTAO, brought together representatives from high-tech companies, research infrastructures, and leading Slovenian scientists. It was also attended by high-level government authorities, including state secretaries from the Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sport, Matjaž Frangež, and from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Jure Gašparič. 

The programme featured presentations by Peter Volasko (Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation) on Slovenia’s membership in CERN; by Samo Stanič (University of Nova Gorica and Slovenia’s delegate on the CTAO Council) on synergies between academia and industry; and by Stuart McMuldroch, who detailed the CTAO’s status. A roundtable discussion followed, focusing on knowledge transfer and how local industry can capitalise on the economic potential of “Big Science.” 

The event was also attended by Stefan Schlenstedt and Igor Oya, the CTAO Computing Coordinator and Deputy Coordinator, respectively. Their presence enabled targeted networking discussions focused on opportunities related to the critical software systems, data handling, and high-tech requirements for the Observatory’s operation. 

As a founding member of the CTAO ERIC, Slovenia plays a crucial role in the Observatory’s development. Consequently, this meeting served as a timely opportunity to explore potential stronger participation of Slovenian companies, particularly during the current construction phase of the Observatory.