support in the form of financial incentives and promotion of digitisation. Measures for counselling and
supportive services have to be implemented in order to fully utilise the advantages of digital
technologies. Access to financial resources must be facilitated, digital knowledge and skills must be
improved, entrepreneurial culture must be strengthened, enterprises, researchers and education
institutions must be integrated, the number of ICT experts must be increased and an enabling
legislative and regulatory environment for the development of digital entrepreneurship and business
in cyberspace must be established.
By investing in research and technology development, Slovenia will increase the share of innovatively
active enterprises and the number of high-technology ICT patents, which will contribute to the
establishment of innovative environment and improve the competitiveness of the ICT sector.
Resources of the Obzorje 2020 programme can importantly contribute to supporting the RDI activities
of enterprises and research organisations; they are a potential for broadening partnerships, business
networks and markets. By means of pre-commercial public procurement in cloud computing, the
future internet and big data, and by financial incentives to RDI projects for making open standardised
platforms and development of new technologies, products and services, Slovenia will encourage the
private sector to develop innovative products and services and make a prompt transition to the
market. Open standardised technological platforms are a condition for development cooperation
among enterprises, for the development of convergent ICT solutions and appearance on foreign
markets. At the same time, they will enable the achievement of synergistic effects in investments in
the economic infrastructure. Besides direct investments, a suitable business environment must be
provided to enable and encourage successful ICT enterprises to stay in Slovenia. The internet is
becoming a key economic infrastructure that thoroughly changes enterprises and business and serves
as an innovation platform. Slovenia must establish an enabling business environment for newly
established or start-up ICT enterprises and a suitable supportive environment for their development
and internationalisation of business.
Support for internet start-ups shall be based on a comprehensive stimulating development
environment that includes a set of special purpose supportive services (education, mentorship, ICT and
other infrastructural support), and on direct financial support for individual projects. Effective support
for the development of internet start-ups requires an integration of key stakeholders (national
institutions, economy, sectoral associations, research and education institutions). Because the needs
of internet start-ups are specific, the mechanisms of the general supportive environment for start-ups
shall be accompanied by specifically adapted enabling measures (integration, motivation, promotion,
etc.). Particular attention shall be focused on integration with internet-based entrepreneurship
abroad, attracting foreign investors and entering foreign markets.
6.3.2
Strategic Objectives
Enhanced competitiveness of the Slovenian ICT industry.
Digitisation of entrepreneurship and the private sector (industry 4.0).
Development of the internet of things, smart cities and smart homes.
ICT as enabling technology for the improved competitiveness of other sectors.
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DIGITAL SLOVENIA 2020 - Development strategy for the information society until 2020