Brief description of the organisation
The Institute for Economic Research (IER) is an autonomous non-governmental research organisation with a long tradition in the field of macroeconomic and microeconomic analysis. In the beginning of the 1990s, the European integration process and the growing awareness of the importance of entrepreneurship gave rise to research and consulting activities in the fields of international competitiveness, strategic planning, organizational and financial restructuring of enterprises, feasibility studies etc.

The Institute has developed a wide range of international research and consulting activities as well as contacts. Since 1994 the Institute has been an institutional member of EADI with headquarters in Bonn. Contract research and consulting was established with the World Bank, EU, UNIDO and OECD. The cooperation in research and consulting projects like PHARE-ACE, PHARE-CONSENSUS, PHARE-CBC, PHARE-PARTNERSHIP, COST and INCO-COPERNICUS enabled the Institute to become part of the West and East European networks of research organizations, such as: IMD International, WEF, ICEG, NISPAcee, and WAITRO. In addition, the Institute cooperates in the 6th and 7th EU Framework Programme. The results of the IERs research work are published as books, reports, working papers and journal articles, moreover, they are disseminated through the media and teaching activities. As part of its operations Institute organizes international workshops, seminars and conferences on current economic issues, and offers facilities to visiting researchers.

Brief description of Ljubjana
Ljubljana is the political, science and cultural centre of Slovenia. With its 276.000 inhabitants (2008) it is also the biggest city and the most important Slovene economic centre. It is also the university town with more than 50.000 students. The Slovene capital has an important geostrategic position. The unique Karst region, the Adriatic coast, mountains, hilly wine-growing regions, spas, and many historic towns are all within a two-hour drive. Ljubljana is a modern city with a rich heritage influenced by Roman, German and Slavic nations.

The history has managed to retain traces from all periods of its rich five millennia history: from the Roman Emona through to the Renaissance, Baroque and Art Nouveau periods characterised in the house fronts, the romantic bridges adorning the Ljubljanica river, a park reaching deep into the city centre and with the work of Jože Plečnik, pioneer of modern architecture.

More information: http://www.ljubljana.si/en/about-ljubljana/

Brief description of the city’s peculiarities as far as creativity and culture are concerned
Ljubljana is a city of culture. It is home to numerous theatres, museums and galleries, and boasts one of the oldest philharmonic orchestras in the world. The first music society in Slovenia, the Academia philharmonicorum, was founded in 1701. Its honorary members included such renowned composers as Joseph Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven and Johannes Brahms, and distinguished musicians such as the violinist Nicolo Paganini. Between 1881 and 1882 Gustav Mahler was its resident conductor.
For the people of Ljubljana culture is a way of living and very much a part of everyday life with over 10.000 cultural events per year, among which there are 10 international festivals. The inhabitants and visitors can admire artists from different fields - from music, theatre and fine arts to the alternative and avant-garde. From 23 April 2010 to 23 April 2011 Ljubljana will be the World Book Capital.

IER - Inštitut za ekonomska raziskovanja,
Kardeljeva pl. 17, 1109
Ljubljana, Slovenia [email protected], fax: +386 1 5303 874,
tel. +386 1 5303 800, www.ier.si

Name of the contact person and contact details

Damjan Kavaš,
[email protected], +386 1 5303 856

Nika Murovec,
[email protected], +386 1 5303 832