Trends and Potential Prospects in the Information Society in Slovakia

2. Trends and Potential Prospects in the Information Society in Slovakia Peter DRUGA Slovak Governance Institute / PD Consulting, Bratislava, Slovakia October 18, 2004 – IHM / ICEG Conference, Budapest, Hungary

3. Slovakia and its policy framework towards information society • Information Society Policy (06/2001) • National IS Strategy and IS Action Plan(01/2004) • State e-communication policy 2003 • GOVNET Project (since 1992) • National Plan of Regional Development (2000) • National Development Plan (2003)

4. The legal framework • Telecommunication Act(2000) • Electronic communication act(2004) • Digital signature Act(2002) • Act on the Science and Technology Support Agency (2001) • Act on Science and Technology (2002) • Act on the Slovak Academy of Sciences (2002) • E-commerce Act (2004)

5. Year Total costs Public resources Private resources Total EU National resources ERDF Total State budget Regional governments Local Gvt. others 86.28 81.97 64.71 17.26 17.26 0 0 0 4.31 2004 21.48 20.41 16.11 4.30 4.30 0 0 0 1.07 2005 28.88 27.44 21.66 5.78 5.78 0 0 0 1.44 2006 35.92 34.12 26.94 7.18 7.18 0 0 0 1.80 Financing of Operational Programme “Basic Infrastructure” – priority “Local infrastructure” (mil. EUR)

6. World Bank: * economic incentive and institutional regime * educated, creative and skilled people * dynamic information infrastructure * Effective national innovation system EU (eEurope+,...) * basic building blocks for IS * cheaper, faster, secure Internet * investing in people and skills * stimulate the use of the Internet Implementation of policy towards knowledge-based economy in Slovakia

10. 60%

11. 40%

12. 16%

26. 2833 1612 791 305

29. Growth effects of the EU accession

30. Education • Infovek • eSlovakia Research networks • SANET

31. Public Internet Access Points • 22-times less than EU average Web Access initiatives • Support Centre for Visually Impaired Students • webhousing for Slovak Blind and Partially Sighted Union(EMCIS 2004, HU)

33. Part of costs for different kind of knowledges in % GDP

34. Challenges for policy makers to update the National Strategy for Information Society and IS Action Plan (annual evaluation and benchmarking and also by regularly updating of these documents) to implement eGovernment activities in praxis (ITAPA 2004) to eliminate the barriers that ensure the current limited Internet access for the majority of population to separate ownership competence from the telecom policy making process in incumbent telecom operator to implement strictly e-communication regulatory regime “Acquis 2003” in praxis to ensure flexible and effective regulatory body activities in telecommunication to decide on the second stage of privatisation of Slovak Telecom to ensure motivation for further investments in ICT in Slovakia to eliminate the barriers that ensure balancing between all regions in their socio-economic developments.

35. Kőszőnőm szépen!Thank you for your attention ! druga@pdc.sk T/F: + 421 2 5292 4685