MCRUK – Mreža centrov raziskovalnih umetnosti in kulture / Network of Investigative Art and Culture Centres

The establishment of the Network of Investigative Art and Culture Centres (MCRUK) promotes the national and international competitiveness of research, innovation, and technological development in accordance with smart specialisation, the enhanced competitiveness and greening of the economy, improving research and the innovation infrastructure, and promoting competent centres, taking into account the objectives of balanced regional development.
The purpose of the measure is to enable creative cooperation in science, art, technology, and the economy based on most cutting-edge ideas globally (especially those relevant for the development of the priority areas defined in the Slovenian Smart Specialisation Strategy), and to earmark funds primarily for joint research, development and innovation, for supporting investments in research infrastructure, knowledge and research potential competences, for creativity and optimising the entrepreneurship and innovation support environment, and hence directly for enabling existing and new Slovenian companies to achieve greater success through new cutting-edge products and services.
The specific goal of the first priority investment is to effectively use the research infrastructure and to develop knowledge and competences for improved national and international cooperation within the knowledge triangle.
Based on the above, the aim of the Ministry of Culture's Open Call for the Selection of "Network of Investigative Art and Culture Centres (MCRUK)" Operations was to improve the work conditions of a maximum of two MCRUKs, which, as national networks operating based on the principle of joint creativity and networking, would each provide at least one active platform for developing modern investigative arts in Slovenia. Two MCRUKs were selected. The applicants thereof were the Trbovlje Cultural Centre (Delavski dom Trbovlje) and Kersnikova Cultural, Arts and Education Centre (Zavod za kulturo, umetnost in izobrazevanje Kersnikova), who are also the leading consortium partners. Each was allocated funds in the amount of USD 4,965,300.

Operational project cooperation between the two selected consortia is desired, in accordance with the principle of the economical use of infrastructure and old and new research and promotional equipment. Through investment and strategic cooperation in the applicants' selected priority areas, the Ministry of Culture, using the concept of modern investigative art, seeks to establish a new hybrid ecosystem of innovations, provide support for creating high-quality jobs and attaining higher added value, promote a larger critical mass of knowledge, research capacities and competences, reveal the innovation potential of culture and art in connection with science, technology, and the economy, and enhance Slovenia's competitiveness and international profile.