Origins (2016–Today)
Ophiz Research was founded in 2016 in response to a growing and persistent challenge within academic and research environments. Although high-quality research was being produced across universities and research centres, very little of this knowledge was reaching the people and institutions that could benefit from it most.
Across disciplines, including social sciences, public health, education, and technology, research teams were generating valuable insights, innovative methodologies, and robust evidence. However, these findings often remained confined to academic journals, conferences, and specialist forums. As a result, research rarely translated into practical tools, policy guidance, or accessible knowledge for communities, public institutions, and decision-makers.
The issue was not a lack of scientific value. Rather, research was seldom designed to be communicated, translated, or applied beyond the academic sphere.
From Insight to Mission
Recognising this gap, the founder of Ophiz Research identified a clear responsibility: if research is to contribute meaningfully to society, it must be actively translated. This involves transforming complex findings into clear knowledge, actionable recommendations, and solutions grounded in everyday realities.
From this realisation emerged the vision of a research centre dedicated to bridging academia and society. Ophiz Research was conceived as a space where researchers, policymakers, institutions, and communities could meet on common ground and work collaboratively toward shared societal goals.
The Ophiz Research Centre
Ophiz Research was established with a purpose that continues to guide its work. The centre connects people, disciplines, and institutions; translates academic knowledge into practical insight; ensures that scientific research serves society as well as science; and supports governments and communities in navigating complex social, economic, and technological transformations.
The centre operates as an interpreter of knowledge, transforming research into tools that support evidence-based decision-making and policy development.
European Scope and Collaboration
Over time, Ophiz Research has developed into a dynamic research ecosystem involving nearly one thousand researchers across multiple disciplines. While rooted in Slovenia, the centre collaborates extensively across the European Union.
Its work today includes coordinated support for local, regional, and national institutions, contributing to European transition processes, policy adaptation, strategic planning, and evidence-based governance. The founding insight remains central to all activities: knowledge has no impact unless it is shared, understood, and applied.
Research Focus Areas
As Ophiz Research evolved, a set of focus areas emerged in which academic research could be transformed into meaningful, real-world outcomes. These areas guide much of the centre’s applied work across Slovenia and Europe.
The centre works with local communities to understand lived experiences, strengthen participation, and ensure that policies reflect real social needs. It translates public health research into accessible guidance, supports prevention strategies, and assists institutions in responding to emerging health challenges. In education and youth development, research is applied to improve teaching methods, learning environments, and youth policies, ensuring that pedagogical innovation benefits future generations.
Ophiz Research also supports regions facing demographic and social transitions, including population ageing, migration dynamics, and structural change, by providing data-driven insights and strategic support. In the field of governance and policy adaptation, the centre assists municipalities, regions, and national bodies in understanding European directives, transition requirements, sustainability targets, and regulatory changes, translating these into clear and actionable steps.
In response to rapid digitalisation, Ophiz Research transforms complex technological research into practical strategies for institutions navigating digital and technological adaptation. The centre promotes social innovation and capacity building by connecting researchers with practitioners to design solutions to local challenges and strengthen institutional capabilities. A central pillar of its work is the communication of science to the public, ensuring that scientific knowledge is understandable, trustworthy, accessible, and relevant to citizens, thereby supporting informed decision-making and democratic processes.