The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Ljubljana has achieved remarkable international success with its IceJet innovation. At the DT Launch Pad Liftoff event, which was held as part of the Hello Tomorrow Global Summit in Amsterdam on 11–12 June 2026, the IceJet innovation was named the winner of the deep-tech project category.
The Hello Tomorrow Global Summit is widely regarded as one of the most important international events in the fields of science, innovation and breakthrough technologies. For the first time this year, it was held in the Netherlands, attracting researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, industry representatives and policymakers from around the world to Amsterdam. The event encourages the development of technological solutions to the key social and economic challenges of the future, while also strengthening the relationship between the research and business communities.
Photo: personal archive
DT Launch Pad Liftoff is a side event of the DT Launch Pad programme, designed to showcase promising European deep-tech innovations, and to connect research teams with investors, industry partners and other stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem.
IceJet is an innovative ice-abrasive waterjet cutting technology offering a more sustainable alternative to traditional abrasive cutting processes. The key innovation is a system that produces ice particles and feeds them steadily into a high-speed water jet. This can be used to process various materials effectively. As the ice particles melt after the process, no additional solid waste is generated, and the environmental footprint of the process is reduced. This technology is designed for use in industries where high process purity, reduced environmental impact and the efficient processing of challenging materials are important considerations.
Image: Laboratory for Alternative Technologies (LAT)
The members of the Laboratory for Alternative Technologies (LAT) — Tch. Asst. Dr. Marko Jerman, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Joško Valentinčič, Pavel Drešar, dipl. inž. stroj., Assist. Prof. Dr. Izidor Sabotin and Assist. Prof. Dr. Andrej Lebar — are collaborating on the development of this innovation.
The technology development research team is continuing to optimise processes and test their effectiveness on materials that are relevant to industry. The goal of further development is to validate the technology in real-world industrial settings and launch the first pilot projects. This could encourage the wider adoption of more sustainable material processing methods.
This success at an international event confirms the quality of the research and the development potential of the IceJet innovation. It also represents significant recognition for the research team at the University of Ljubljana’s Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. At the same time, it demonstrates the Faculty’s ability to address current technological challenges through its research and knowledge, attracting the attention of the international innovation community.
We sincerely congratulate the research team on their outstanding achievement and on successfully representing the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the Uni
Photo: personal archive