This article covers cultural cooperation between India and Slovenia, Indology and Indian studies, cinema and the arts, cooperation in science, technology, the environment and health, and the Indian community in Slovenia. It is based on the MEA brief of June 2026. The brief describes no development assistance or ITEC training for Slovenia, so its material on science and sector cooperation is included here.

Cultural agreements

According to the MEA brief of June 2026, India and Slovenia signed a Cultural Exchange Agreement in 1996 for cooperation in the fields of culture, arts, education, sports and mass media. An MoU on Cooperation in the field of Sport followed in September 2019.

Indology and Indian languages

The brief states that there is significant interest in Slovenia in the study of Indology, Indian languages and Indian culture. Sanskrit has been taught continuously for the past 100 years at the Department of General and Comparative Linguistics, University of Ljubljana, since the university's establishment.

Ms. Vlasta Pacheiner Klander, who passed away in 2025, made a substantial contribution to the promotion of the Hindi language and Vedic studies in Slovenia, according to the brief. In recognition of her efforts, she was conferred the World Sanskrit Award in 2023. The works of Mr. Evald Flisar, whom the brief describes as a prominent figure in contemporary Slovenian literature, have been translated into Bengali and Hindi.

India Study Centre

The establishment of an India Study Centre was announced during the External Affairs Minister's visit in September 2021. An MoU between ICCR and Nova University on the establishment of an India Study Centre at Nova University was signed in September 2024. According to the brief, the centre is intended to promote collaboration in education by organising training programmes and exchange of academicians.

Ayurveda

The brief states that Ayurveda is quite popular amongst Slovene people. The 5th International Ayurveda Congress was hosted as part of the 11th European Congress for Integrative Medicine in Ljubljana from 21 to 23 September 2018.

Cinema, arts and memorials

According to the brief, the Slovenian population is appreciative of India's performing arts, especially cinema, as well as visual arts. Some Indian films, especially from the South Indian industry, have been shot at different locations in Slovenia.

Slovenia has busts of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore in Maribor, Mahatma Gandhi in Slovenje Gradec and Jawarhar Lal Nehru in Gorinska Brda.

Science and technology

Bilateral science and technology programmes are pursued under the Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation, which dates from 1995. A Joint Working Group (JWG) on Scientific and Technological Cooperation has been set up to receive, review, select and award the scientific programmes under this agreement.

On 25 December 2025, India and Slovenia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on a Five-Year Programme of Scientific and Technological Cooperation (2025-2029). The brief states that the programme aims to enhance cooperation in areas such as health, biotechnology, new materials, ICT and digitalisation, renewable energy, smart cities, artificial intelligence and other mutually agreed fields, and will also promote joint research and collaboration between scientists. The brief's list of agreements also records a Programme of Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the Ministry of Science and technology, India and The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Slovenia, signed in December 2025.

An MoU on Scientific and Innovation cooperation was signed between Research and Information System (RIS) and the Slovenian Science Foundation in February 2024. The India Chapter of the India-Slovenia Science, Innovation, Technology and Economy Network of India and Slovenian experts for Science and technology was launched on 09 April 2024, and the Slovenia Chapter in June 2024. A first India-Slovenia day of science, innovation, smart technologies and economy was organised with the Slovenian Science Foundation on 25-26 September 2025.

Water, climate and energy

Mr. Igor Papic, Slovenia's Minister for Higher Education, Science and Innovation, visited New Delhi in November 2023 to participate in the 8th Water Summit and the 1st Climate Finance summit, and met the Minister for New and Renewable Energy. He visited India again in December 2024 for the 9th India Water Impact Summit and the 2nd Climate Investments and Technology Impact Summit, and met the Minister of Science and Technology and the Minister of New and Renewable Energy.

Clean Ganga, geospatial technology and national parks

The brief's list of agreements includes these institutional MoUs:

  • MoU between IIT Kanpur, India and VGB, Slovenia for Clean Ganga Operation (Sept 2019)
  • MoU between IIT Kanpur, India and Space-SI, Slovenia for Clean Ganga Operation (Sept 2019)
  • MoU between the Valley of Flowers National Park, Uttarakhand and Triglav National Park of Slovenia (February 2024)
  • MoU between Survey of India and Surveying and Mapping Authority of Slovenia for enhanced cooperation in the field of geospatial technology (November 2025)

Health

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Slovenia recognised both the Covishield (Astra Zeneca) vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India and the Covaxin vaccine.

The Indian community in Slovenia

As of the brief of June 2026, there are approximately 3000 PIOs and Indian nationals in Slovenia. Most are researchers or students or work in the hospitality industry, and a few own personal businesses.

President Ramnath Kovind addressed the Indian community during his State visit to Slovenia in September 2019.