CED
2025

CED 2025

The business world is facing major changes. We are facing a generational retreat from ownership, family succession is on the wane, and the door is opening for large global investors to take over Slovenian companies. We are facing changing values among the younger generations, who are demanding a new vision of the workplace. Geopolitical uncertainty leads to an unstable business environment, and we need sustainable solutions for the sovereignty of our economy.

At this year's IED keynote event, we will present the story of an American company that solved the problem of Lasntian succession by creating employee co-ownership and rewarding the team of employees who helped make the business a success story. Slovenian business experts will talk about the ESOP legislation expected in 2025 and how Slovenian companies will benefit from it.

How will you react to the coming changes?

Read more about this year's Congress

The Economic Democracy Congress is the Institute for Economic Democracy's flagship event for discussing progressive models of entrepreneurial organisation.

This year's event, the fourth edition, builds on the success of previous congresses, with last year's event being the best attended ever with 120 guests.

The event is aimed at Slovenian entrepreneurs, managers and employees, financial organisations and other stakeholders in the economy interested in new, advanced practices of entrepreneurial organisation. The ESOP law, which has been gaining a lot of support and attention worldwide in recent years, enters the Slovenian legal order in 2025. In Slovenia, the new law will also give owners the opportunity to sell shares in their company to employees.

Did you know that the best people are interested in working for ESOP companies abroad?

Employee co-ownership is a powerful tool for attracting quality staff to build a strong and committed team. Employee co-ownership also leads to company growth and development.

Are you looking for a succession route and concerned about your legacy in the local area?

The ESOP model allows for the sale of the business, rewarding the hard work of the team and allowing the business to continue within the local community. In the UK, ESOP buyouts have been the second most popular exit method for existing owners for two years running. At the Congress we will be offering businesses a wealth of useful information to help you put the model into practice.

We will answer the following questions:

How do employee-owned companies work abroad?
Why would an owner decide to sell the company to his employees?
What benefits can users of the ESOP Law expect?
What role will banks and others in the financial sector play in the ecosystem?
What do you need to look out for when moving to employee co-ownership?

This year's programme

Keynote speech by Cindy Turcot (USA) - Why have we involved employees in business ownership?
Address by the Ministry - What does the ESOP Law bring to Slovenian entrepreneurs?
Panel with experts - Transition to employee co-ownership: legal, organisational and financial aspects
Hospitality and networking

Participants at the previous 3 congresses

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Outreach through regular conference newsletters

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Speakers at the previous 3 congresses

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Keynote speaker

More speakers will be announced soon...

The Slovenian economy is at a crossroads. As many as 40 % existing owners will transfer ownership of their companies. One question remains: to where? The new legislation in Slovenia opens a new path - the path of employee co-ownership, which is worth exploring.

Tej Gonza, Director of the Institute for Economic Democracy

Gallery

Check out highlights from last year's 3rd Congress for Economic Democracy

Organisers and partners

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