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

6. Implementation of policy towards knowledge-based economy in Slovakia
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

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 !
T/F: