Smart Country Convention 2021 is the main event organised by Germany that focuses on digital transformation of the public sector and is attended by public sector representatives and experts in the field of digitalisation at federal, state and local level. State Secretary said that ‘communication between the state, its citizens and companies is becoming more and more digital. The users wish public services become tailored to their habits and that such services become available at any given time as is true for the private sector. Digital communication facilitates high level of user participation in the design and co-creation of services and policies’.

Mag. Kirbiš Rojs then presented the 2030 objectives Slovenia has set in the field of administrative services. Slovenia will strive that by 2030 all key services of the public sector become available online and thus accessible to citizens and companies, as well as to ensure that citizens access their health files online all the while striving for the majority of the population to use digital certificates for identification. ‘To make all this possible we should establish a widely accessible broadband network and strive towards establishing general digital literacy among all generations, from primary school to retired persons which will, in turn, bring the desired impacts made possible by the established digital services’ also said State Secretary.

Regarding the challenges of digital transformation in Slovenia and within the European Union (EU) State Secretary said: ‘I’m full convinced that digitalisation should make life easier and improve the quality of public services. This includes improving connectivity, establishing a safe and effective digital infrastructure, enhancing digital skills, making digital public services accessible and creating a favourable environment for development, testing and application of new technologies. EU’s objective is to enhance investment in digitalisation and to finalise, as soon as possible, the process of establishing a single digital market. Artificial intelligence and data will continue to play an important role in digital transformation and autonomy of the EU which is one of the priorities of Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU in the field of digitalisation’.

Regarding women in the digital world mag. Kirbiš Rojs said that she hopes for greater involvement of women. As an example of good practice she presented the project Girls Do Code which aims to increase young women’s interest in the technology, raise the level of digital literacy and bridge the gender gap in terms of employment in the information and communication technology sector. ‘Gender shouldn’t play a role in choosing an occupation and no occupation should be open to only one gender. The project will grant free learning of the basics of programming and logical thinking to 300 girls age 10 and 11 who attend the schools that participate in the project’ said State Secretary about the project that will raise the level of women’s participation in technological occupations.