Slovenia 4.0 – A wish or a realistic goal?

Povzetek uvodnega predavanja na Dnevih slovenske informatike 2019

Abstract

If we take Slovenia 4.0 as a synonym for the digital transformation of the society and all of its subsystems, then this is both a wish and an achievable goal. There are no real factors that should prevent us from becoming more than successful. However, there are also no guarantees that we will succeed. The possibility of success will largely depend on us though there are also certain circumstances that we cannot influence. The analogy with Industry 4.0 highlights the non-technological issues that we will face. According to DESI, Slovenia is an average EU country and any breakthrough to the top would be very difficult. We are still relatively unrecognizable in the EU and not particularly flexible and ready for the risks posed by a radical digital transformation. We continue to face many dilemmas which are far from being resolved. However, if we remain an average digital performer, in the long run, we will “drown” as a society. The big economies can afford to be just average while smaller economies and societies must become substantially more effective and, above all, more flexible in order to survive as well as thrive; and digitization is the most appropriate tool to achieve these goals.