University of Ljubljana
Biotechnical Faculty
Chair of Biotechnology,
Microbiology and Food Safety
Univerza v Ljubljani
Biotehniška fakulteta
Katedra za biotehnologijo,
mikrobiologijo in varnost živil
20 Years of Activity at the Chair of Biotechnology, Microbiology and Food Safety
20 LETNICA KATEDRE ZA BIOTEHNOLOGIJO, MIKROBIOLOGIJO IN VARNOST ŽIVIL
Biotechnology and microbiology
for knowledge and benefit
BIOTEHNOLOGIJA IN MIKROBIOLOGIJA ZA ZNANJE IN NAPREDEK
Ljubljana, 27.-28. September 2012
Development initiative 2010:
Integration of sustainable
approach with regards to
current challenges in the society
Janez Podobnik
Director
International ECPD Institute for
Sustainable Development
Introduction
• Active in the field of international relations
through 4 institutions
• Director of the ECPD Institute for Sustainable
Development since 2009
• Acting Director General of ICPE since March
2012
• President of the Slovenian Association of
Industrialists and Entrepreneurs since 2012
• KEN Member – Knowledge economy network
20 Years of Activity at the Chair of Biotechnology, Microbiology and Food Safety
Points to be discussed
• Describing the main activities of the
institutions as well as how they work
• Relation between the international
organizations and sustainable approach in the
time of global crises:
- how do these organizations address the
current issues, finance themselves, their
position in the media, local, national and global
environment;
20 Years of Activity at the Chair of Biotechnology, Microbiology and Food Safety
ECPD International Institute for Sustainable
Development, Urban Planning and Environmental
studies (www.ecpd.si, www.ecpdorg.net)
• ECPD‘s mission is concerned with proactive
activity in the field of rebuilding peace after
the post-Helsinki accords and increase
development in the SEE region
• How is ECPD involved in maintaining peace as
a nongovernmental independent structure?
Post graduate studies, annual conferences on
peace reconciliation, ECPD Institute>Sustainable development
20 Years of Activity at the Chair of Biotechnology, Microbiology and Food Safety
International Center for Promotion
of Enterprises – ICPE (www.icpe.si)
• The center was established on the UN Initiative as a
developmental institution for non-aligned countries
in 1974
• New paradigm shifts made the center‘s mission more
inclusive and broader, with an emphasis on
management of public sector
• The future of the center evolves around combining
sustainable approach in development: green
industry, waste management, corporate social
responsibility and quality management of PE
20 Years of Activity at the Chair of Biotechnology, Microbiology and Food Safety
Knowledge Economy Network –
KEN:www.knowledge-economy.net
• Modern and dynamic network structure,
based in Brussels and established by prof. dr.
Boris Cizelj - The network‘s vision is to
establish the economy of knowledge in the
international sphere
• Financially independent and thus capable of
being more objective and critical;
• Seeking for good practices, where knowledge
fosters added value
20 Years of Activity at the Chair of Biotechnology, Microbiology and Food Safety
International Congress of
Industrialists and Entrepreneurs SI
• A Russian constellation whose aim was to
bring together the business subjects and
enterprises from the former Soviet Union
• Lately the number of members is growing and
not anymore related just to the Eastern
Europe area
• Uniting some of the most influential capital
owners and at the same time trying to
address the current issues
20 Years of Activity at the Chair of Biotechnology, Microbiology and Food Safety
Connecting education and
expertise
• In-depth intellectual work
• Active communication with the media and the
government on all levels: local authorities,
government, intergovernmental institutions,
supranational institutions;
• Engaging young professionals into work
20 Years of Activity at the Chair of Biotechnology, Microbiology and Food Safety
Conclusion
• When addressing the actual challenges in the
society within an institution, many factors are
of key essence: the institution itself, its
leadership, proactive stance, their sustainable
approach;
• My opinion is that each of the mentioned
organizations can play a positive role by
involving itself in the regional and
international affairs
20 Years of Activity at the Chair of Biotechnology, Microbiology and Food Safety
Conclusion
• International organizations show much
potential for concrete transformation in the
sustainable approach
• Their importance is evolving during the
economic crisis, especially because
governments are overburdened with saving
banks and the economy, so sustainability is
unfortunately not first on the agenda
20 Years of Activity at the Chair of Biotechnology, Microbiology and Food Safety
Thank you for your
attention!
Q&A
Janez Podobnik
janez.podobnik@ecpd.si
20 Years of Activity at the Chair of Biotechnology, Microbiology and Food Safety