On the 9th of July 2021 in BTC City Ljubljana, the Slovenian Digital Center – Technology for people has officially opened as a junction of Slovenian development and economic growth. The general public will be enabled to get in touch with the most advanced technologies, products, services and educational programmes in the fields of new technologies until the end of the year. This main economic event of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union is a unique European example of full-time economy promotion during one presidency.
The project partners – Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, SPIRIT Slovenia, public agency, Digital Innovation Hub of Slovenia (DIH Slovenije) and the BTC Company are fulfilling, together with the Slovenian Digital Center, one of the Slovenia’s priority tasks during its Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half the year, namely “Resilience and recovery of the European Union, strategically autonomous Union”. The innovative and virtually enriched opening of the Slovenian Digital Center was attended by the Minister of Economic Development and Technology Zdravko Počivalšek, the Minister of Education, Science and Sport prof. dr. Simona Kustec and the Minister of Public Administration Boštjan Koritnik.
Minister Zdravko Počivalšek welcomed the opening of the Digital Center and emphasized that its purpose is to present the best aspects of the Slovenian economy, as all the eyes are focused on Slovenia due to its Presidency of the Council of the European Union. “Because the strength of our country is defined by the economic resilience, I call on all companies to make their greatest contribution to ensuring that this will not be only a digital hub, but also a business one.”
As stated by the Director-General of the Internationalisation, Entrepreneurship and Technology Directorate Jernej Salecl at the press conference after the opening of the Center, the Slovenian Digital Center impersonates the priorities in the fields of green transition and digital transformation, and highlights the most innovative segment of the Slovenian economy. “During the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU, when Slovenia will receive the greatest media attention, the Slovenian Digital Center will give more than 200 companies the opportunity to present their technological solutions to the world.”
The Slovenian Digital Center will operate in two dimensions; both in the physical location and in the virtual dimension. During the world exhibition Dubai Expo 2021, the virtual dimension of the Slovenian Digital Center will enable companies to present themselves in the Slovenian pavilion in Dubai. “During this time, SPIRIT Slovenia is preparing various economic delegations and events, as well as numerous other activities, at which Slovenian companies will be able to establish contacts with foreign companies and take advantage of new business opportunities,” concluded the director of SPIRIT Slovenia, public agency, dr. Tomaž Kostanjevec.
The content of the six-month event is divided into thematic fields: July is marked by smart cities and communities, August will focus on sustainable society and economy, September on artificial intelligence, October on 5G and cybersecurity, November on digitalization, while the project will terminate focused on industry 4.0 and robotics in December. According to the director of the Digital Innovation Hub of Slovenia, mag. Katja Mohar Bastar, the partners created a programme that is interesting for various target groups – entrepreneurs, professional public as well as families. “We believe that the topics discussed in the accompanying events and the presented achievements of Slovenian companies will inspire, raise awareness and effectively contribute to the promotion and acceleration of the digital transformation in Slovenia.”
In the BTC Company, they similarly believe that modern technology brings answers to numerous social, economic and environmental challenges. “As a proud project partners, we recognize the potential brought by the Center to participants and the society as a whole in the form of exceptional business opportunities and the creation of advanced solutions corresponding to the challenges of the modern time” said the BTC CEO Jože Mermal.
Together with the Slovenian Digital Center, Slovenian companies, institutions and individuals therefore obtain a space to present their knowledge and achievements to both the Slovenian and international public. Special attention is given to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, which can present themselves at the Center free of charge as part of “de minimis” assistance.
GALERIJA FOTOGRAFIJ
