German ambassador visits the Mediterranean Health Centre and the Laboratory of the Institute for Kinesiology Research at ZRS Koper

Sylvia Groneick, ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Slovenia, visited the Mediterranean Health Centre and the Laboratory of the Institute for Kinesiology Research at ZRS Koper, located at Pristaniška 45 in Koper. She was welcomed by the Deputy Director of ZRS Koper, Dr Tilen Glavina, who briefly introduced the public research institution based in Koper. Dr Boštjan Šimunič, Head of the Institute for Kinesiology Research, together with his colleague Dr Luka Šlosar, presented the institute’s main fields of research to the distinguished guest.

The Ambassador showed great interest both in the institute’s technological equipment and in its numerous projects. She was particularly interested in the cooperation with the NATO Mountain Warfare Centre of Excellence (MW COE). This cooperation focuses on strengthening joint research in the development of new technologies, tools, and interventions aimed at improving the performance of armed forces personnel in demanding operational environments.

Among other activities, ZRS Koper collaborates with the NATO Mountain Warfare Centre of Excellence on the Human Enhancement Experimentation project, which focuses on researching passive, semi-active, and active exoskeletons and their impact on soldiers’ performance, physical strain, and user experience in combat environments, particularly in mountainous terrain. These studies also hold promise for the development of supportive tools with direct applications in everyday life and broader use in improving quality of life across different environments.