Update April 2000: Slovenia
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Update April 2000: Slovenia |
During the last three months, there were several communications activities aimed at promoting the Information Society in Slovenia.
Femirc Slovenia and the Ministry of Science and Technology continued with the promotion of the 5th Framework Programme. They published extensive information on their Web sites and organised several information days throughout Slovenia aimed at explaining the actual calls within the 5th Framework and giving out basic information on the Thematic Programmes.
Within the framework of the TRICO initiative, a Brokerage Event on Information Society Technologies was organised in Villach, Austria (24 – 25 January). The TRICO (Trilateral Co-operation) initiative was set up by Slovenia, Northeast Italy and Austria as a permanent platform for the stimulation of R&D co-operation in the region. TRICO fosters relationships between industry and research, promoting the exploitation of research results. A major focus of TRICO is the organisation of brokerage events aimed at offering a forum for the identification of potential partners for international research and technology co-operation.
On 7 March, the Ministry of Economic Relations and Development in co-operation with the Slovene Information Technology Association and International Trade Centre of UNCTAD / WTO organised a Business Roundtable on Market Prospects for Information Technology Export from Economies in Transition. Ms Vojka Ravbar, State Secretary for Economic Relations opened the roundtable. Over forty businessmen from Slovene IT companies took part in the event. The participants agreed that the growth of the IT sector is vital for the further economic and social development of Slovenia, and stressed that the Government should play a more active role. They also stressed the need for a clear, business oriented governmental policy including a strategy for the development of Information Society in Slovenia. The businessmen agreed as well that Slovenia should sign the WTO Information Technology Agreement as well as the Agreement on Basic Telecommunications, taking into account national interests.
Another well attended event was the Teleinfos 2000 (8-10 March) seminar, organised by Infos d.o.o.. It was opened by Mr Anton Bergauer, Minister for Transport and Communications. The ESIS II project was presented as the opening lecture of the telecommunications services section at the seminar.
A week later (16 March), the third conference for Competitive Advantage Improvement Through Electronic Commerce took place. It was jointly organised by the Faculty of Organisational Sciences of University of Maribor, Ministry of Science and Technology and Chamber of Commerce and industry.
Another in a series of events was organised by the Science and Technology Committee in the National Assembly on 27 March: A Public Presentation of Views on Information Society as a Challenge for Slovenia. It was chaired by Mr Samo Bevk, Chairman of the Committee. The event was opened by the reading of a letter from Mr Milan Kucan, President of the Republic of Slovenia, and a speech by Mr Janez Podobnik, President of the National Assembly. There were more than 50 speakers presenting their views on Slovenia’s transition into an Information Society.
The International Trade Centre of UNCTAD / WTO in co-operation with the Ministry of Economic Relations and Development and Slovene Information Technology Association is preparing a Slovene IT export potential country profile.
The Slovene Society INFORMATIKA published its document "Slovenia as an Information Society".
4. Announcement of Main Events Over the Next Three Months (April – June 2000)
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