The strategy, which covers the period from 2021 to 2030, aims to place Slovenia among the top five countries in the use of advanced digital technologies according to the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI Index) in the first two years and among the top three countries by the end of the strategy period.

The strategy has been prepared in parallel with the digitalisation, computerising and digital single market processes already underway in the EU. It focuses on current advanced digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, the internet of things, big data technologies, blockchain technologies, high-performance computing, quantum computing and 5G technologies, which will be the engine of economic growth and competitiveness.

The strategy addresses three main or priority areas. The first presents the advanced digital technologies that enable the digital transformation of the economy in the first place, the second focuses on an effective ecosystem for a competitive economy, and the third focuses on an open and sustainable society as the basis for the growth of the digital economy.

Accordingly, three calls for tenders will be prepared. The first will be published by the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology this month, under which €44 million will be allocated for digital transformation alone. This month, a call for tenders will be also published for the creation of a hybrid cloud that will combine registers such as the AJPES register, the register of the Financial Administration of the Republic of Slovenia and, for example, court registers, with the aim of simplifying procedures for businesses in relation to the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology. A total of €2.5 million will be made available for this purpose. Under the third call, scheduled for the second quarter of this year, €10 million is to be made available to support projects of common European interest.

The primary funding for the implementation of the strategy will be provided under the national Recovery and Resilience Plan, i.e. €56.5 million. We also see possibilities for additional funding under the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021–2027 and other EU Programmes (Horizon Europe, InvestEU, etc.).

The measures set out in the strategy will be implemented by the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology in cooperation with the SPIRIT Slovenia Public Agency, the Slovene Enterprise Fund and the SID Bank. To this end, €26.5 million will be available in 2022, a further €24 million in 2023 and €6 million in 2024.

Strategy for the digital transformation of the economy

The Strategy covers the period from 2021 to 2030. It has been prepared in parallel with the digitalisation, computerising and digital single market processes already underway in the EU. It focuses on current advanced digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, the internet of things, big data technologies, blockchain technologies, high-performance computing, quantum computing and 5G technologies, which will be the engine of economic growth and competitiveness. It builds on existing digital technologies and initiatives, the findings arising from the European Commission’s recommendations and the indicators achieved in the area of digitalisation produced by European and global (OECD) statistics.

The strategy addresses three main or priority areas. The first presents the advanced digital technologies that enable the digital transformation of the economy in the first place, the second focuses on an effective ecosystem for a competitive economy, and the third focuses on an open and sustainable society as the basis for the growth of the digital economy.