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Slovene language obtains its own generative large language model GaMS
Researchers at the University of Ljubljana have developed a generative large language model for Slovene GaMS, which places Slovene alongside languages for which advanced open-source artificial intelligence models already exist. This achievement marks an important step towards Slovenia’s technological sovereignty, as it enables the development and use of artificial intelligence tailored to the Slovene language, culture, and the needs of its users.
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Green hydrogen as the foundation of energy independence of military bases
Military bases worldwide remain heavily dependent on fossil fuels for their energy supply, increasing their carbon footprint and vulnerability due to logistical challenges. Researchers from the UL Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia, have developed an innovative methodology for designing autonomous energy hubs based on renewable energy sources and green hydrogen, and demonstrated its capabilities on the case of the energy system of the military barracks in Kranj.
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First Slovenian quantum key distribution network based on entangled photons
Members of the SiQUID project have established Slovenia's first quantum communication network and developed the country's first industrial quantum encryptor. These achievements represent an important step towards the future quantum internet, as quantum technologies are expected to transform secure communications, computing, and sensing in the coming decades.
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Higher diet quality is associated with a lower risk of developing dementia
Higher diet quality is associated with a lower risk of developing dementia, even among older adults with biological markers indicating an increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases. This is the key finding of a new study co-authored by asst. Anja Mrhar, MSc in Nutrition Engineering, a researcher and doctoral candidate at the Biotechnical Faculty UL.
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Rector of the University of Ljubljana Visits CERN on the First Anniversary of Slovenia’s Membership
On the first anniversary of the Republic of Slovenia’s full membership of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), the Rector of the University of Ljubljana (UL), Prof. Dr Gregor Majdič, visited the world's largest particle physics laboratory. He was welcomed at the organisation’s headquarters in Geneva by the Director for Research and Computing, Dr Gautier Hamel de Monchenault, and the representative for cooperation with Slovenia, Dr Jeff Wiener. During a working meeting, they presented CERN’s key activities and discussed the importance of involving Slovenian researchers and students in cutting-edge international research projects.
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Global map of ancient DNA research places the University of Ljubljana among the world's leading institutions
The University of Ljubljana ranks among the world's leading research institutions in terms of scientific publications on DNA recovered from ancient human skeletal remains. Particularly noteworthy are the publications of Dr. Irena Zupanič Pajnič, Senior Research Fellow and Associate Professor at the Institute of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine UL and Dr. Tamara Leskovar, Assistant Professor at the Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Arts UL.
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Professor Nina Gunde-Cimerman Becomes the Second Slovenian Woman Elected to EMBO
Professor Nina Gunde-Cimerman of the Department of Biology at the Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, has been elected to the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO), one of the world\'s most prestigious organizations in the life sciences. As the second woman from Slovenia and only the sixth Slovenian researcher overall, she has received this recognition, which is awarded by the international scientific community for outstanding research achievements and an exceptional contribution to the advancement of science.
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The University of Ljubljana signs agreement for shared access and landscaping in the new construction for the UL Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and UL Faculty of Pharmacy
Following a public procurement procedure and in accordance with the final decision to award the contract of 22 June 2026, the University of Ljubljana (UL) concluded a construction contract with the selected contractor CBE, d.o.o.
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The University of Ljubljana hosts a celebratory reception and exhibition to mark the outstanding sports achievements of students in the 2025/2026 competition season
The University of Ljubljana (UL) and the Sports Association of the University of Ljubljana (ŠZUL) held a special reception today in the UL Assembly Hall for UL athletes, and opened an exhibition of sports achievements in the 2025/2026 competition season. The event was dedicated to the generation of students who this year demonstrated that outstanding academic results and excellence in sports are not at odds with each other, but rather they represent the fundamental building blocks of a modern university.
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Prof. Dr. Marko Žnidarič Awarded Prestigious ERC Advanced Grant
Physicist and researcher at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics UL, Prof. Dr. Marko Žnidarič, has been awarded a European Research Council (ERC) grant for established researchers (ERC Advanced Grant) for his project NUMBS – Effective Non-Unitarity in Many-Body Systems. The ERC Advanced Grant is one of the most prestigious funding schemes available to individual researchers, supporting established scientists with outstanding research achievements.
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Dr. Rachel Trode receives MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship
Dr. Rachel Trode, a researcher from the European University Institute in Italy, has been awarded the prestigious Marie Skłodowska–Curie Action Postdoctoral Fellowship for her project BURKNOW. The project will be carried out at the Faculty of Arts under the mentorship of Prof. Dr. Rok Stergar.
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University of Ljubljana has a new highest position of the last decade on the international QS rankings
On the international rankings of the best universities in the world, the QS World University Rankings 2027, which came out for the 23rd time in June 2026, the University of Ljubljana (UL) was ranked in 530th place, marking an improvement over last year’s placing (when it stood at 535) and at the same time attained its highest ranking since 2015, when it was ranked in the category of universities between 501st and 550th place.
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Slovenia gains the cutting-edge FRIDA supercomputing infrastructure
On Tuesday, 16 June 2026, the University of Ljubljana Faculty of Computer and Information Science (UL FRI) launched FRIDA, a high-performance data centre and new supercomputing infrastructure designed to support research and development partnerships. The opening event was attended by Dr Tomaž Boh, Director-General of the Science and Innovation Directorate at the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth (MIZM); Prof. Dr Gregor Dolinar, UL Vice-Rector for Research and Development; and more than 150 representatives from academia and the business sector.
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Fourth Dr Ana Mayer Kansky Awards presented for the most outstanding doctoral theses
On 17 June 2026, the University of Ljubljana (UL) presented the Dr Ana Mayer Kansky Awards for the most outstanding doctoral theses for the fourth consecutive year. The awards are named after Dr Ana Mayer Kansky, the first person to obtain a doctorate from the University in 1920, less than a year after it was established. The ceremony was held under the honorary patronage of the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar.
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University of Ljubljana at ZOTKS Talents 2026: Talent needs opportunity. The University of Ljubljana creates opportunities.
On Saturday, 6 June 2026, the University of Ljubljana (UL) joined forces with the country's best young competitors, their parents, and mentors at the ZOTKS Talents 2026 event held at Cankarjev Dom. The event, organised by the Association for Technical Culture of Slovenia (ZOTKS), is dedicated to young people who have excelled in national knowledge competitions and the young researchers' meeting. This year, it brought together more than 1,300 primary and secondary school pupils, their parents, mentors and other guests.
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The University of Ljubljana has made significant progress in strengthening scientific excellence, internationalisation, and societal impact
The University of Ljubljana significantly strengthened its research excellence, innovation capacity, and societal impact during the 2022–2025 period, according to its self-evaluation report. Among the most notable achievements are the acquisition of 15 European Research Council (ERC) projects, 93 researchers ranked among the world's top 2% most-cited scientists, and the University's highest-ever position in the QS Europe rankings.
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Commitment to an open, inclusive and safe academic community
To mark Pride Month, the Rectorate of the University of Ljubljana is flying the rainbow flag as an expression of support for the LGBTIQ+ community and as a reaffirmation of our commitment to equality, respect for human rights and diversity within the academic environment.
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Researchers from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering UL Developed an Innovative Elastocaloric Cooling System
Researchers at the University of Ljubljana’s Faculty of Mechanical Engineering have developed a novel actuation system for elastocaloric cooling. Elastocaloric cooling is an emerging sustainable cooling technology that exploits temperature changes in solid-state materials subjected to cyclic mechanical loading and unloading. Considered one of the most promising next-generation cooling solutions, it offers the potential to eliminate the need for environmentally harmful refrigerants while achieving significantly higher energy efficiency than conventional vapor-compression refrigeration systems.
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UL Faculty of Mechanical Engineering alumna Ljupka Vrteva named among the world’s 12 outstanding women engineers
Ljupka Vrteva, recipient of the Slovenian Engineer of the Year 2023 award and an alumna of the University of Ljubljana’s Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, has been selected as one of the 12 outstanding women engineers worldwide in the prestigious Women Engineers You Should Know – 2026 initiative. The selection is organised annually by the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), the world’s largest organisation dedicated to connecting, supporting and advancing women in engineering.
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Associate Professor Dr Emilija Stojmenova Duh from the University of Ljubljana’s Faculty of Electrical Engineering Appointed to the EU AI Act Scientific Panel
Assoc. Prof. Dr Emilija Stojmenova Duh from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the University of Ljubljana has been appointed to the Scientific Panel of the European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act (EU AI Act Scientific Panel). This is an expert advisory body established by the European Commission.
The panel will support the implementation of the European Artificial Intelligence Act.
