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February 2001


Slovenia
Summary Report (1999 - 2000)

1. Public Institutions

The National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia is the highest representative and legislative body in the country. Amongst other functions, it passes laws, the national budget and the final account declarations, resolutions, recommendations, positions and decisions. In recent years, it has adopted some important national programmes concerning of Information Society in the field of education, infrastructure and research and development. At the beginning of the year its president was Mr. Janez Podobnik. Since the regular elections in October, its president is Mr. Borut Pahor.

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia was appointed on 30 November 2000 and it is the executive and the supreme body of the state administration. In recent years, it has proposed a few sectorial national programmes related to the information Society (education, infrastructure, research and development). Prime Minister: dr. Janez Drnovsek. The Government consists of the Prime Minister and other ministers. The Government and the ministers are independent within the framework of their jurisdiction, and responsible to the National Assembly.

1.1 Ministries:

In January 2001 government also established new Ministry for Information Society. Minister: dr. Pavel Gantar

The Government Centre for Informatics was established in January 1993 as a governmental agency, responsible for the implementation of Information technology in state institutions. The centre performs the following functions:

The Centre drafted the Strategy for Providing the State Bodies with an Information Infrastructure by the Year 2000 adopted by the Government on 1st February 1996 and the Law on Electronic Commerce and Digital Signature. Director of the Government Centre for Informatics is Mr. Marin Silic.

The demands for the security in electronic commerce and easines of electronic business operations are stronger and stronger around the world and also in Slovenija. This demands are coming from the public sector and also from the companies from the areas: industry, government, health insurance, banks. That is why the Government Center for Informatics established a new agency called SIGOV-CE. This agency takes care for the certification of the digital signature, which is the bases for electronic commerce.

The Ministry of Science and Technology is the Ministry, responsible for the Information Society issues related to research, technology and development. The Ministry of Science and Technology finances the Academic and Research Network of Slovenia and the Institute of Information Science, the institutions that have played a significant role in shaping the Information Society in Slovenia.

The Academic and Research Network of Slovenia (ARNES) was established as a public institution in May 1992 to provide communication and information services to educational and research community. It is financed by the Ministry of Science and Technology. The main activities of the ARNES are:

The Institute of Information Science, which is financed by The Ministry of Science and Technology has played a significant role in promoting and shaping the Information Society in Slovenia by the informatisation of libraries and developing the Co-operative Online Bibliographic System & Services (COSBISS).

Within the Ministry of Science and Technology, there are two offices playing an important role in shaping the IS policy concerning standards and intellectual property rights:

· The Standards and Metrology Institute of the Republic of Slovenia (Dr. Ivan Skubic is Director)

· The Intellectual Property Office of the Republic of Slovenia (Dr. Bojan Pretnar is Director).

The Ministry of Transport and Communications is in charge of telecommunications. It is responsible for enactment of subsidiary legislation of the Law on Telecommunications. The Ministry had a central role in drafting the National Programme for the Development of Telecommunicatons and is now drafting a new telecommunication law. The minister is Mr. Jakob Presecnik.

Within the Ministry of Transport and Communications, there is one bodie that has important role in the implementation and supervision of telecommunications legislation:

The Telecommunications Administration of the Republic of Slovenia The responsibilities and activities of the Telecommunications Administration relate to: the management of the radio frequency spectra; telecommunications systems and devices; the regulation of telecommunications services; and to other matters in connection with telecommunications. (Mr. Marko Cuk is director)

The Ministry of Education and Sport launched the six-year Computer Literacy Development Programme (Ro) in 1994 aiming at fostering the computer literacy development and usage of information technology in education, particularly in primary and secondary schools, and increasing the efficiency in schools.

The Ministry of Culture is the ministry responsible for implementing the legislation on mass media. Amongst others, the Ministry also fosters and finances the development of on-Iine libraries

The Ministry of Economic Relations and Development has an important role in forming the macroeconomic framework for the development of the Information Society. Amongst others, the Ministry is responsible for affairs relating to the concept, strategy and guidance of national and regional development, activities in the area of privatisation of state property, trade policy, foreign investments and other trade deals, co-operation with other countries and international economic organisations, modernisation of trading methods and computerisation, assuring of consumer rights and consumer protection, price control and competition policy

2. Universities and research institutions

The University of Ljubljana and University of Maribor are organising various events, workshops and seminars relating to information technology and Information Society, especially through its electrical engineering, computer science and informatics faculties. Both universities have also carried out numerous IS related R&D projects.

Contacts:

Rectors of both Slovene universities, Prof Dr Joze Mencinger (University of Ljubljana) and Prof Dr Ludvik Toplak (University of Maribor) signed an agreement on co-operation in the academic year 2000/2001 with the General Manager of IBM Slovenia d.o.o. Mr Iztok Klancnik. Within the scope of a project, lecture rooms will be equipped with the latest IT and lecturers will be trained. As a part of the co-operation, IBM Slovenija will donate IT (hardware and software) in the total amount of 275 thousand euros. The project was launched as part of IBM's global academic initiative. The aim of the project is to educate a new generation of engineers that will help establish the new information economy in Slovenia.

The Jozef Stefan Institute is the leading Slovene institute for natural sciences. It plays an important role in shaping national information and communications technology environment. It organises various events, workshops and seminars related to information technology and Information Society and carries out numerous IS related R&D projects. Contact: Dr Vito Turk, Director

The Slovene Science Foundation is a private foundation with a public function, Its founders - the most important Slovenian organisations for research, education, economy, finance, the media and the Slovenian government - have determined that the purpose of establishing this institution is to provide moral and financial support for the development of science in Slovenia. Amongst other functions, the Slovene Science Foundation leads the activities of the Co-operative Research in Information Infrastructure (CRII) project. The CRII is an umbrella project in Slovenia consisting of several subprojects under the unifying theme of "Information Society". The idea behind the project is to contribute to the development of Information Society in Slovenia by several well-targeted technology demonstration subprojects in areas inspired by "Europe and the Global Information Society" and by one subproject devoted to social issues of Information Society. An important subsidiary goal is to contribute toward the convergence of methods, standards, and procedures in the area of Information Society activities in Slovenia and the EU. Contact: Dr Edvard Kobal, Director; Dr Bostjan Vilfan, CRII Project Co-ordinator

The Institute of Information Science (IZUM) is an information infrastructure service for Slovenian science, culture and education. Along with other agents of information activities in the country, it ensures Slovenia an entrance to the streams of the modern world's information society. As a public institution, IZUM functions as:

Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia. After completion of his term as Director of the Statistical Office, the Government re-appointed Mr Tomaz Banovec. Mr Banovec is also a Vice-President of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia Council for the use of information technology in state bodies and public institutions.

3. Companies

3.1 Telecommunications operators:

3.1.1 Telekom Slovenije d.d.
Contact: Miran Kramberger, Vice president

Telekom Slovenija d.d. established a new company, Slovenija Online - SIOL Internet d.o.o. The subsidiary company, 100% owned by Telekom Slovenija, was registered on 26 July 1999 and started its operations on 1 October 1999. Telekom Slovenija started providing Internet services on 18 April 1996. Slovenija Online as a department of Telekom Slovenija was established on 1 June 1997. Ever since, Slovenija Online has experienced substantial growth and is now a leading commercial Internet service provider in Slovenia.

Slovenija Online - SiOL Internet d.o.o.. a subsidiary company, 100% owned by Telekom Slovenija started its operations on 1 October 1999. The nominal capital of the company is 6,6 million euros. According to Mr Miran Kramberger, a Vice-President of Telekom Slovenija and President of the Supervisory Board of SiOL, the estimated revenue of SiOL in 1999 is expected to amount to about 12,5 million euros. When operations started, the company had 45 thousand subscribers and this figure may reach 50 thousand by the end of 1999. The CEO of Slovenija Online, Mr Sreta Maric, said that SiOL is amongst a few European ISPs that provide access to the Internet over ISDN. The company is planning a number of new services including access over ADSL.

3.1.2 Mobitel d.d.
Contact: Mr. Anton Majzelj, Chief Executive Officer

Telekom Slovenija is the 100% owner of a mobile operator Mobitel d.d..

Demand for mobile telephony services in the Slovene market in 1999 exceeded all expectations. The mobile telephony market continued to flourish, especially after the entrance of the second operator (Si.mobil d.d). The introduction of prepaid services in particular contributed significantly to the enormous growth. The number of subscribers rose by over 150% percent. In order to cope with high demand, Mobitel d.d. secured a loan of 69 million euros for the further development of the mobile telephony network.

3.1.3 Si.mobil d.d.
Contact: MrBojan Dremelj, Chief Executive Officer

In 1999, the Slovene mobile telephony market grew by 270%. The growth, initiated by the entrance of a second operator and the introduction of prepaid services, continues this year. However, it was only this year that this competition resulted in significant decreases in prices. In addition to falling prices of mobile services, users are offered various new services.

3.1.4 Telemach d.o.o.
Contact: Mr Vojko Rovere

Telemach d.o.o. is a new player in the Slovene telecommunications market. It was established in the beginning of the year 2000 by new partners joining the cable TV operator Meglic-Telecom d.o.o. (c.f. also the Alternative Infrastructure Report). Telemach's strategy is to become the first multimedia service provider in Slovenia to focus on the provision of cable TV services, Internet access and virtual private networks.

3.1.5 EON d.o.o.
Contact: Mr. Zoran Thaler, Chief Executive Officer

Eon d.o.o. is the first Slovene company that started providing secure Internet commerce services, Its main owner is Pošta Slovenije d.o.o. Eon, headed by the CEO Mr Zoran Thaler, a former Slovene Minister of Foreign Affairs, has started aggressively conquering the Slovene Internet market. In less than two months, Eon's portal became one of the most popular sites within Slovene Internet user community.

3.2 Potential alternative infrastructure providers:

3.2.1 ELES d.d
Contact: Vekoslav Korošec, Chief Executive Officer

In accordance with the recently adopted law, electrical power supply enterprises will have to undergo restructuring and privatisation. The liberalisation and opening of the power supply sector is interesting, as on one side, the Government resolved to open the market in the year 2000 (soon after adopting the corresponding law), and on the other side the main high voltage transmission operator (ELES - Elektro Slovenija d.o.o.) is also the most important alternative infrastructure provider.

3.2.2 Slovene Railways
Contact: DrMarjan Rekar, Chief Executive Officer

At its session on 29 July 1999, the Government nominated a new CEO of Slovene Railways, Mr Igor Janez Zajec, for a period of five years. Mr Zajec was a former State Secretary at the Ministry of Transport and Communications, responsible for transport policy and international relations. His priority will be adoption of three laws, in particular the one on railways transport. Mr Zajec also proposed some changes to the present loosely defined National Programme for the Development of National Railways Infrastructure. One of his tasks, started by the former CEO, is the reorganisation of Slovene Railways where, in accordance with EU directives, infrastructure and transport should be separated. Another important task is the rationalisation of operations. By building optical telecommunications infrastructure, Slovene Railways are establishing a solid basis for providing commercial telecommunications services once the market is liberalised.

3.2.3 Motorway Company in the Republic of Slovenia
Contact: Mr Janez Bozic, Chief Executive Officer

3.3 Largest IT companies:

Slovene ICT companies take part in programmes for the development of Southeast Europe. For example, the largest Slovene ICT company Iskratel d.d. will co-operate in the reconstruction of the telecommunications network in Kosovo. The co-operation of Slovene companies is of great importance as they can leverage their experience and knowledge of the region to provide advice to Southeast European countries

A former director of Microsoft d.o.o. Mr Aaron Marko was appointed a Regional Manager for OEM for Eastern Europe. The position of a General Manager of Microsoft Slovenia was turned over to Mr Grega Kukec who has been with the Slovene branch of Microsoft since its foundation in 1994.

At the beginning of this year, Mr Janez Bencina, former General Manager of IBM Slovenia d.o.o., was appointed General Manager of the South EastArea (IBM Central and Eastern Europe / Middle East / Africa, Inc.). His position at the top of IBM Slovenia was turned over to Mr Iztok Klancnik.

4. Business Associations (within the Chamber of Commerce and industry of Slovenia):

4.1 Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia
Contact: Mr Jozko Cuk, President, Ms Francka Gabron, Secretary General

4.2 Slovene Information Technology Association
Contact: Mr Franci Mugerle, President

By regular elections, a new Executive Committee of the Slovene Information Technology Association of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia was elected. Members of the committee selected a new president amongst themselves, i.e. Mr Franci Mugerle, the CEO of the IT company MAOP. The Executive Committee prepared a draft of the working plan for the next year and put promotion of Information Society at the top of their agenda.

4.2 Slovenian Society INFORMATIKA
Contact: Mr Niko Schlamberger, President

The Slovenian Society INFORMATIKA is a non-profit society of individuals who work in various areas of information technology and information sciences -- in business, universities, and administration -- and who, among other concerns, care to exchange their experience between them as well as make it publicly available. It is managed by a Board elected from among respectable professionals. The Society has a president and two vice-presidents, and from October, last year, it has also an Advisory Board chaired by a member of the Board. The members of the Advisory Board represent the major Slovenian users and providers of information technology goods and services.

The Society has been established as early as 1976. In December 1997, it has about 300 members the membership of whom is by the Society's statute not limited by the Slovenian citizenship. It publishes a quarterly professional journal Uporabna informatika (where the Slovenian translation of The Bangemann Report has been published), and a scientific periodical titled Informatica. Another opportunity to exchange opinions, achievements, and information, is an annual conference. The Society's conference Dnevi slovenske informatike (The Days of Slovenian Informatics) has a tradition as of late 1970's, and has since succeeded to earn a reputation of the most comprehensive event of the year in the field of information sciences in Slovenia. It is a national conference with an international participation, and every year a few notable guest speakers are invited.

4.3 Information Society Forum
Contact: dr. peter Tancig, President; Mr Niko Schlamberger

The main goal of Information Society Forum is to promote development of information society in Slovenia. Main activities are based on "Blue book – information society in Slovenia", published by Slovenien Society INFORMATIKA.


Please note that this report has been prepared under the sole responsibility of the ESIS II contractors.
It does not necessarily reflect the views of the Commission, nor does the Commission accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of information contained herein.
The ESIS Team of contractors welcomes any additional information or corrections.
 

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