Ljubljana based company won over the jury with its fast growth linked with exceptional business results. In 2021 Fotona increased its revenue by a whopping 89.5 percent. EBIT represented 37 percent of the company's 92.7 million euros of sales. Value added reached 160,000 euros per employee. Fotona sells its medical laser equipment exclusively under its own brand in over 80 countries around the globe. The company’s main markets are Asia (49.5 percent), North America (23.6%), and Europe (17.8%). In 2021, Fotona was acquired by UK based investment company Vitruvium Partners for 820 million US dollars.

Fotona’s CEO Matjaž Lukač attributed this success to the company's strong commitment to its own development and production. “None of our competitors have such integrated development and production in one place”. Furthermore, Fotona is unique in its scientific orientation. “Not only do we develop lasers and other medical devices, but we also pay a lot of attention to basic research. Research on the interaction of human tissue with laser light, for example, allows us to be very innovative in introducing new applications," explains Lukač.

The Exporter of the Year Award is presented by Slovenian business daily Finance under the auspices of the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology and SPIRIT Slovenia Business Development Agency.