Alma Mater Europaea University received a bronze award for the innovation of the Intelligent Study Environment at the ceremonial event Awards Ceremony for the Best Innovations of the Podravje Region 2026, organized by the Styrian Chamber of Commerce.
The recognition was awarded to Marko Bencak, Prof. Dr. Marjan Slak Rupnik and Senior Lecturer Tomaž Klojčnik, MSc, who made an important contribution to the development of a modern study environment and the digital transformation of higher education through their innovative solution.
This year’s call received 33 innovation submissions involving more than 100 innovators from companies, organizations, and institutions in the Podravje region. The event was intended to showcase the most successful innovation achievements and to present awards to the creators of solutions that make a significant contribution to the development of the region and society at large.
The audience was first addressed by the Mayor of the Municipality of Selnica ob Dravi, Dr. Vlasta Krmelj, while the keynote guest of the event was Tadej Slapnik, director of HashNET Slovenia and founder of the Industry 5.0 Institute. Special attention was also drawn to the presentation of the robot Jože, which symbolically illustrated the development of advanced technologies and their increasingly important role in modern society.
At the conclusion of the event, the president of the Styrian Chamber of Commerce, Albert Kekec, emphasized that the chamber has been promoting innovation for more than two decades. He highlighted: "Today’s award winners are proof that we have people in our environment who are actively co-creating the future. Innovation is not merely the result of a single idea, but the result of trust, cooperation, and dedication. Podravje has the knowledge, the talent, and the potential for great stories."
The recognition received represents an important confirmation of the quality of the research, development, and educational work of Alma Mater Europaea University and its commitment to creating innovative solutions that contribute to the development of the modern higher education landscape.
