Gorenjska
SI042
BSC Kranj, a partner in the x-Inno Radar project, is headquartered in the Gorenjska region, making it the primary area of influence for the project’s initiatives. Gorenjska’s unique blend of industrial heritage, entrepreneurial spirit, and natural beauty positions it as an ideal setting for piloting innovative soft skills solutions aimed at supporting industrial transition and fostering local talent retention.
Gorenjska, located in northwestern Slovenia, is a diverse region combining strong industrial traditions with alpine tourism and a vibrant SME sector. Bordered by Austria to the north and encompassing key municipalities such as Kranj, Jesenice, and Radovljica, the region enjoys a strategic position with excellent infrastructure and proximity to the capital Ljubljana. It covers approximately 2,137 km² and is home to around 206,000 inhabitants (2023), representing about 10% of Slovenia’s population. Gorenjska is recognized for its high environmental quality, innovation-driven SMEs, and cross-border connectivity.
General population structure
As of 2023, Gorenjska had a population of approximately 206,000. The population density (98/km²) is below the national average. While the region remains demographically stable, it is the only Slovenian region with both negative net migration (–2.5 per 1,000) and natural decrease (–1.1 per 1,000). The average age is 43.7 years, slightly below the national median, and 15.6% of the population is under 15, indicating potential for future youth engagement. However, ongoing outmigration of working-age residents poses a challenge for long-term demographic balance.
Education
Gorenjska demonstrates strong educational indicators. 34.3% of adults aged 25–64 have tertiary education, which is among the highest shares in Slovenia. The region is known for its high-quality vocational schools and continuous training programs. Educational institutions in Kranj and surrounding municipalities offer programs aligned with regional economic needs, particularly in engineering, IT, tourism, and entrepreneurship. Lifelong learning and adult education are actively promoted, supported by local development agencies such as BSC Kranj.
Economic structure
Gorenjska has a well-balanced economy, combining industry, tourism, and services. In 2023, the GDP per capita was EUR 26,247, about 13% below the national average. The employment rate stood at 71.7%, among the highest in Slovenia, while the LFS unemployment rate was 3.2%. The region is home to over 23,000 enterprises, employing more than 84,000 people. Manufacturing remains important, especially in the metal-processing, automotive, and electronics sectors. Kranj, the regional center, hosts several headquarters of export-oriented SMEs.
Despite strong performance in employment, average net earnings (EUR 1,420) remain slightly below the national average. Job vacancy rates are moderate, with demand particularly in skilled trades, engineering, and IT sectors. Youth unemployment (15–24) and older age group unemployment (55+) are lower than national averages, indicating strong labor market inclusion.
Skilled crafts manufacturing
The region maintains a robust tradition in skilled crafts, particularly in metalworking and mechanical engineering. The presence of long-standing industrial players, combined with agile SMEs, supports local employment and exports. Innovation and digitalization are increasingly transforming production processes. Institutions and enterprises invest in upskilling workers to meet the demands of Industry 4.0 and the green transition.
Creative industries and innovation
While not a national leader in creative industries, Gorenjska shows growing potential in the cultural and creative sectors. Local initiatives, particularly in tourism-related design, sustainable products, and small-scale cultural enterprises, are emerging. Kranj has been developing a supportive ecosystem for young creatives, integrating cultural innovation with community engagement. Projects such as x-Inno Radar aim to further unlock this potential by linking creativity with soft skills and industrial transition.
Innovation RIS3 strategy
Current challenges and prospects
Gorenjska faces a dual challenge: demographic decline driven by outmigration, and the need to upskill its workforce in response to industrial transformation. However, its strong vocational education system, high employment rates, and innovation-minded SMEs position it well for future growth. The region’s compact size, strategic location, and institutional readiness make it an ideal testing ground for innovative approaches to soft skill development and regional resilience.
Experts survey
The x-Inno Radar experts survey was designed to be exploratory with participants from the networks of the respective project partners. Between 17 and 29 persons per region took part in this survey. In order to categorise the results of the x-Inno Radar expert survey, it is also important to know that the results in the 8 countries are partly attributable to different region sizes, depending on the geographical distribution of the participants. The NUTS3 region was surveyed as the smallest regional level. In some countries many participants are assigned to the same NUTS3 region, while in others the participants are scattered across several NUTS3 regions. Some participants only allocated themselves to the country and not to any NUTS2 or NUTS3 level.
In contrast, the regions described and Charts displayed in the web profiles refer to the NUTS2 level, which is due to access to comparable data.
Find more information about this survey in the corresponding survey report.
Simple survey
The x-Inno Radar simple survey was designed to be exploratory with participants from the networks of the respective project partners. Between 8 and 26 persons per region took part in this survey. In order to categorise the results of the x-Inno Radar expert survey, it is also important to know that the results in the 8 countries are partly attributable to different region sizes, depending on the geographical distribution of the participants. The NUTS3 region was surveyed as the smallest regional level. In some countries many participants are assigned to the same NUTS3 region, while in others the participants are scattered across several NUTS3 regions. Some participants only allocated themselves to the country and not to any NUTS2 or NUTS3 level.
In contrast, the regions described and Charts displayed in the web profiles refer to the NUTS2 level, which is due to access to comparable data.
Find more information about this survey in the corresponding survey report.
Need more information?
Project manager:
Franziska Görmar
IfL - Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography, Germany
Email
This project is supported by the Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE Programme with co-financing from the European Regional Development Fund.
Find more information about the x-Inno Radar project on the Interreg CE projectwebsite.
x-Inno Radar is a project of: 
Creative Region Linz & Upper Austria Gmbh, 
The Regional Chamber of Commerce of the Karlovy Vary Region, 
Padova Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Crafts and Agriculture, 
Creative Industry Košice, n. o., 
BSC, Business support centre, ltd., Kranj, 
Regional Development Agency in Bielsko-Biała, 
Stebo Competence Centre Community Developmentm, 
Association of Cultural and Creative Industries Chemnitz and Region (Creative Chemnitz), Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography – Germany, Otelo Cooperative