Ljubljana

The first European Summer School on Artificial Intelligence (ESSAI) opened in Ljubljana on 24 July, featuring courses and lectures by 60 world-renowned experts. The event aims to acquaint young researchers with the latest advances in the field and stimulate AI development in Slovenia.

Large numbers of tourists are flocking to Ljubljana again this summer. Judging by the impressions some of them shared with the Slovenian Press Agency, they are charmed by the city's small size, comfort, and cleanliness. They point to to the abundance of green spaces, delicious Slovenian food, the friendliness of the locals, and the unique little shops in the old town.

Generics producer Sandoz is planning to invest roughly US$90 million at its site in Ljubljana to establish a dedicated centre for development of biosimilars by 2026. As part of the process to spin off from Novartis, Sandoz holds part of the Slovenian pharmaceutical company Lek.

Maribor, Slovenia's second largest city, will launch its first international primary school programme in September, joining Ljubljana in catering to the needs of internationally mobile families.

Ljubljana will host the world's first ever official water volleyball tournament on 12 and 13 August. After two successful promotional events, real volleyball showdowns are now on the programme as part of the re:do Volleyball on Water Ljubljanica 2023 tournament, the Slovenian Volleyball Federation has announced.

Slovenian gelato company Aroma Global is launching ice-cream production in Croatia's Ogulin in what it says will be the world's largest gelato factory using all-natural ingredients.

The company has invested €7.3 million in expansion over the past 15 months, opening 47 new ice-cream parlours in Croatia on top of existing three. They have none in Slovenia.

Ljubljana architecture students have recreated some of the iconic buildings designed by architect Jože Plečnik (1872-1957) using Lego bricks. The scale models are on show at the chapel of Fužine Castle until 30 September.

The Ljubljana-based company Aerosol is one of the six recipients of this year's WIPO Global Awards for SMEs that use intellectual property rights to make their business ideas a reality and contribute to a better future by applying innovation and creativity.

Members of a Catholic youth association from Domžale, just north-east of Ljubljana, have constructed a church out of 87,423 toilet paper tubes in what is the largest such structure in the world. They hope to make it to the Guinness Book of World Records but also to raise awareness of the importance of resource saving and the power of working together.

The Slovenian National Drama Theatre, Ljubljana's main theatre house, will undergo a thorough renovation starting this month with preliminary archaeological works on the site. Both the main early 20th century building and the two 1960s extensions will be renovated.