Idrija is a city in southern Slovenia, in the foothills of the south-eastern Alps. Famous for its mercury mine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Municipality of Idrija was awarded the Alpine Town of the Year and the European Destination of Excellence Award in 2011.

After 500 years of mineral extraction and the title of the world’s second-largest mercury mine, Idrija has developed into an important global and regional node with a growing economy and has one of the lowest unemployment rates in Slovenia.

The transition from a raw materials supply centre to an industrial city began in the 1960s with the establishment of several electro-industry workshops. In the last decade, the municipality of Idrija has been developing an innovation-based economy, focusing on sustainable development, heritage tourism, and youth policies, all supported and driven by smart city growth strategies. The city is ready to transition again to a knowledge-based economy. 

Idrija was a participant city in the DCC.

Check out the city’s full ICC journey

Read about the city’s progress during the Intelligent Cities Challenge (2020-22) through the city’s final deliverable here.

How to join ICC?
The application period for the ICC 2023-25 edition is now closed. However, if your city is still interested in getting involved with the ICC programme, please contact the Intelligent Cities Helpdesk (helpdesk_icc@technopolis-group.com) to explore the possible options.
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