Each year, Slovenia recognizes its top municipalities through awards that highlight their development and dynamism. These five places stand out for their exceptional entrepreneurial climates.
This year's recipient of the Golden Stone award, recognizing the best municipality, is Kranj, the third-largest city in Slovenia.
Kranj boasts a rich industrial history and continues to be a vibrant entrepreneurial hub. Located just a few kilometres from the capital, Ljubljana, Kranj is a national leader in adopting smart city technologies and is recognized as a European best practice.
Idrija, another municipality with a significant industrial heritage, is the only one to have won the Golden Stone award twice. This small town is home to two prominent Slovenian technology groups, Hidria and Kolektor, and is where Japan's Hitachi tests its smart power solutions.
Ajdovščina, a small town in western Slovenia, receives high marks across nearly all criteria assessed in the award selection process. It is also the home of innovative biotech and aerospace companies, including Pipistrel, G Astral, and Sartorius Bia Separations.
Ptuj, the oldest town in Slovenia, is rich in cultural heritage and is also a highly attractive location for fast-growing companies.
Trzin, once a small village near Ljubljana, has transformed into an entrepreneurial magnet in recent decades. It is the only municipality in Slovenia with over 100 companies per 1,000 residents, indicating a higher number of workplaces than inhabitants.
