A Strategy for Building an Information Society, The Case of Slovakia

1. A Strategy for Building an Information Society,The Case of Slovakia Mikuláš Kačaljak State Secretary Ministry of Transport, Post and Telecom, Slovak Republic mikulas.kacaljak@telecom.gov.sk

2. CONTENT • Introduction • Definitions and Principles • Setting the Baseline • Main Pillars: Content, People, Infrastructure • The Driving Force • Institutional and Legal Frame • Conclusion

3. Development of IS:a Definition: is understood as a process leading to the utilization of a potential held in modern ICTs to the greatest possible extent in all relevant areas of social, political and economic life

4. Development of IS: • Setting a baseline • Identify the main pillars • Determine the driving force of the process • Set up the institutional and legal frameworks • Create a Plan of Action Things to be Done:

5. Development of IS: • Client Centricity – Focus on the Citizen • Live Document – a Possibility to Adapt • Respect for Principles of Supply and Demand • Program Financing • Conceptualism • Gradualism Basic Principles:

6. Development of IS: • IS is not a political priority, lacking institutional framework, • Blurred jurisdictions of state offices, • Lacking a comprehensive regulatory framework, • Splintered, uncoordinated financing Setting the Baseline – Main Problems

7. Creating Conditions for IS • Building the Main Pillars: content, people, infrastructure • Management of the process • Financing of the process • Institutionalization of the process • Legislative environment of the process

8. Main Pillars IS is Built on Three Main Pillars: • Content – Integrated information and services – the driving force • People – Creators and users of content • Infrastructure – access, connectivity, security and interoperability

9. Management of the Process • From a Department to ………??? Coordinate the process of IS Development. • Appointment of a Commissioner for IS • Office of the Commissioner for IS • A Ministry of IS, or .......... ???

10. Financing Is Today Lacking Coordination • Ministerial Level – Individual Projects, • National Level – Common Projects, • EU Resources, 6th FWP, Structural Funds, • Other Resources – EBRD, EIB, WB Coordination of IS Development Saves Money, People and Time

11. Legislative Environment Out With the Old, In With the New • New Bill on Information Systems of Public Affairs, • Legislations supporting the process of IS, • Legislations supporting e-documents, • Legislations as a set of norms and standards enabling the execution of the process of IS development

12. Clustering of Relevant Areas he Building Blocs of Pillars • Content: Public Affairs, Education, R&D, eCommerce, Security • Easy and Meaningful Coordination • Integration and Implementation of Complementary Projects • Competition and an Effective Utilization of Public Resources • Development of IS Without Duplicities • People: Public Affairs, Education, Security • Infrastructure: R&D, Security

13. Conclusion2004? • Shift jurisdictions to a single institution • Build an enabling regulatory framework • Build the main pillars through a set of specific projects outlined in the Action Plan Keep focus on the client. Societies are made up from individuals. Information society is not an exception.

14. I Appreciate Your Attention. Questions. Mikulas.kacaljak@telecom.gov.sk