PE2 supports Slovenia EE delegation

MAKATI CITY, 21-22 April 2026 – Philippine Energy Efficiency Alliance (PE2) officers and member representatives actively participated in a two-day energy efficiency (EE) event “Science2Business: Energy Resilience for Enhanced Security” organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in the Philippines and the Stratbase Institute, in partnership with International Center for Promotion of Enterprises (ICPE), Slovenian Energy and Environment Partnership in Defense (SiENE) and the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport and the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia. It was held at the Manila Polo Club.

The first day facilitated discussions on the challenges related to the transfer of science, R&D, and innovation to the private sector. It tackled the importance of the decarbonization and energy efficiency of the defense sector as well as the digitalization and the use of artificial intelligence in crisis management, particularly in strengthening disaster resilience. The second day of the event provided a business-oriented platform for B2B exchanges and partnership development between Slovenian and Philippine stakeholders.

Opening both days were officials from both countries which included Dr. Smiljana Knez, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in the Philippines; Rupert Paul Manhit, Chief Operating Officer, Stratbase Group; Dr. Igor Papič, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Republic of Slovenia; Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. of the Philippine Department of Science and Technology; Atty. Bobby G. Fondevilla, Executive Director, Investment Assistance Center, Philippine Board of Investments; and Dragan Barbutovski, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in the Philippines.

PE2 president Alexander Ablaza pitched the role of technology deployment in accelerating the transformation of the energy efficiency market, while PE2 vice president for internal affairs Ruth Yu-Owen moderated the panel discussion to explore collaborative opportunities for the decarbonization and energy efficiency of the defense sector in both countries.

Senior representatives of PE2 member companies, Airdrive Industrial, Climargy, CLIXLogic, ESE-TECH Industrial Solutions, Mitsubishi Corporation, Novenco Building & Industry, Upgrade Energy Philippines and ZMG Ward Howell, made time to meet the visiting Slovenian companies, which included:

• ARGOxr develops a Digital Knowledge Twin platform that transforms procedures, maintenance protocols, emergency playbooks, and operational know-how into guided, traceable workflows. It is built for critical infrastructure, industrial sites, and emergency-response environments where resilience, compliance, training, and faster reaction times are essential.

• PEK Automotive develops autonomous, electric, tracked unmanned ground vehicles and enabling technologies for dual-use applications. Their platforms support defence, civil protection, industry, rescue operations, and agriculture. In off-road, contested, or hazardous environments, these unmanned systems eliminate the need for human exposure while ensuring reliable and efficient mission execution.

• Robotina develops intelligent control, battery intelligence, hybrid power, and tactical microgrid solutions for critical infrastructure and resilient energy systems. Its technologies are relevant for off-grid operations, backup power, deployable energy systems, and infrastructure requiring secure and efficient energy management.

• Smartis develops secure OT/IT integration, cyber security, digital twin, and interoperability solutions for critical infrastructure, defence, and industrial environments. Its offer is particularly relevant where resilient digital control, secure data exchange, and coordinated system operation are needed across complex infrastructures.

• Waboost solutions are based on nanobubble-based water treatment and optimisation for irrigation, wastewater, aquaculture, drinking water, and other water-intensive applications. Its systems combine chemical-free disinfection and oxygen enrichment with scalable hardware, integrated gas generation, and remote monitoring.

Participating research organizations included:

• Milan Vidmar Electric Power Research Institute (EIMV) is an independent  electric power system research institute combining deep technical expertise with real-world implementation across the full lifecycle of energy infrastructure, from consulting and engineering to accredited transformer DGA diagnostics, maintenance, and asset management. We operate at the intersection of system planning and operations, resilience, digitalization, and the energy transition, supporting national TSO and DSOs, power generation companies, the nuclear sector, and industry in solving complex, high-impact infrastructure and environmental challenges. Our strength lies in a clear understanding of the European energy landscape.

• National Institute of Chemistry is a leading Slovenian research institution contributing scientific capacity relevant to hydrogen technologies, carbon capture and material science innovation, as well as cross-sector cooperation. Its participation adds a research and predevelopment support dimension to the delegation and supports closer links between scientific knowledge, innovation, and practical deployment.

Under the objective of exploring collaborative opportunities for energy efficiency across borders, PE2’s Alexander Ablaza likewise had special meetings before and after the event with the following Slovenian organizations which played a crucial role in assembling the delegation to Manila:

• TECES is Slovenia’s leading innovation cluster and an internationally recognized leader and coordinator of strategic partnerships and projects in green technologies and energy-efficient solutions. In cooperation with the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia (Si MoD), it established the Slovenian Energy and Environment Partnership in Debence (SiEnE). The SiEnE partnership exemplifies successful civil–defence cooperation and the integration of Slovenian stakeholders into international defence initiatives focused on energy efficiency and the resilience of critical infrastructure. TECES is also a recognised coordinator and partner in European Defence Fund (EDF) projects and actively contributes to initiatives under the European Defence Agency (EDA), connecting Slovenian experts from industry and research organisations.

• JT Business Development Ltd. is an international business development company established in Hong Kong in 2015, focused on helping companies build partnerships and enter foreign markets more effectively. Its work includes business development, partner search, market analysis, knowledge and technology transfer, joint research cooperation, project management, and targeted trade missions that connect companies with decision-makers and concrete opportunities in high-growth markets.

The Republic of Slovenian believes that climate security and resilience to natural disasters, as well as the modernization of the defense sector, are priorities for both Slovenia and the Philippines. The Philippines is highly exposed to climate change–induced natural disasters, and the government invests significantly in the transfer of science and research and development (R&D) to businesses to better manage these challenges. The ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East has once again exposed the fragility of global energy systems and the risks faced by countries dependent on external supply. For both the Philippines and Slovenia, this emerging energy crisis reinforces the strategic importance of advancing renewable energy solutions while urgently improving energy efficiency. The breakthrough results of Slovenian research, development, and innovation (RDI) projects in the field of energy efficiency have drawn the attention of key international stakeholders, including the European Union, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and the United Nations. The solutions developed by research institutes and the private sector are applicable to both the military and disaster management. This is the result of close cooperation between the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Slovenia, researchers, and private companies.