The paper describes the Young Researchers Programme, which has been running in Slovenia since 1985. The aims were to renew and rejuvenate research and teaching personnel in universities and research institutes, to educate highly skilled personnel for employment in the business sector, and to promote postgraduate education and training in Slovenia in general. So far, around 5000 postgraduates have been included into the programme, and around 2800 have finished by obtaining a Ph.D. or M.Sc. degree.