About us

The Urban Planning Institute of the Republic of Slovenia (UIRS) is the main national scholarly research institution in the field of spatial, regional and urban planning and related discipline

Founded in 1955 as a research and consultancy agency, UIRS was transformed into a public research organisation in 1993, a status which continues to apply to date.

The UIRS currently comprises 26 researchers, four administration personnel and one librarian. The strongly interdisciplinary research group is made up of experts with a broad range of academic backgrounds including, among others:

Achieving excellent scientific research results

UIRS has a Research Programme Group which is co-financed by the state budget within the framework of the Spatial Planning Programme.

The fundamental principle of work of the Research Programme Group is the achievement of excellent scientific research results through the performance of high quality research, both basic and applicative.

The means of achieving this objective include, among others:

• Conducting high scientific quality research
• Application of scientific research methodologies which enable the achievement of optimum research results
• Development of innovative solutions which have the potential for international transferability
• Presentation of research findings at scientific conferences at home and abroad
• Publication of scientific articles in domestic and internationally recognised scholarly journals.

Facilitating linkages between research and the implementation of its findings in practice

The UIRS pays particular attention to sustainable development issues, at all levels, when conducting research in the areas of spatial planning and design, environmental protection, preservation of cultural heritage, housing, transport and spatial informatics.

UIRS thus strives to search for opportunities to conduct operational projects (e.g., case studies), which enable the simultaneous testing and implementation of research results in practice. 

UIRS also provides state institutions knowledge and consultancy services during the process of drafting of or preparing amendments to legislation and other regulations concerning spatial planning.

Performing research commissioned by domestic entities

UIRS has a variety of possibilities for conducting scientific research projects as well as spatial planning projects for domestic entities.

Such possibilities include, among others, the following:

• Submission of bids to the calls of the Slovenian Research Agency for (co)funding research projects
• Submission of bids to the calls of the Slovenian Research Agency for target research programmes
• Submission of bids to the calls by various ministries and other competent bodies
• Submission of direct proposals for research to potential funders or beneficiaries in Slovenia
• Participation in various calls announced by other state institutions, such as municipalities, regional development agencies etc.

Collaborating as partners in various EU research programmes and other international research projects

UIRS intensively collaborates with numerous research and professional organisations across Europe in the implementation of research projects which are co-funded within the framework of various European Commission programmes or individual European organisations.

UIRS researchers have been working in this area for quite a long time. The successful collaboration in the implementation of various research projects enables the acquisition of valuable international experience and provides opportunities for the mutual exchange of knowledge and innovative solutions between participating countries.