How to stop emigration with the help of the IT sector

The "Forum ICT Society" event is being held in Osijek, bringing together numerous IT experts, entrepreneurs and scientists from throughout Croatia. Among the issues being discussed are the digital economy and decentralization, as well as the impact of innovation on local development.

Experts are discussing employment opportunities, getting money from European funds, and using advanced technology in everyday life, all this to encourage local development and find solutions to strengthen the IT sector in Croatia.

The forum advocates creating a favorable entrepreneurial climate, reforming the education system and a quality legislative framework for investment into the ICT sector, as well as its development. It is an event at which experts are looking for answers to contemporary challenges.

One of the organizers, Anđelko Milardović, says the goal is to initiate an expert discussion on the opportunities that this sector offers in a bid to stop the emigration of young people from Slavonia, and Croatia as a whole. He added that this week's announcement by the Ericsson Nikola Tesla Company in Zagreb that a research and development center will be opened in Osijek is proof that they held the right place to hold the event.

Milardović said that the development of the IT sector needs to be accelerated so as to stop young people from leaving Croatia, primarily through private initiatives, knowledge, permanent education, investment in the sector and job creation. He added that these five steps are key when thinking about stopping emigration.

The concept of the Osijek Software City Association, of which member companies have doubled the number of employees and revenues in recent years, serves as an example to others. IT sector companies are also counting on drawing funds from the European Union. The Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Davor Huška , says that the possibility of financing entrepreneurial projects in the field of ICT is opening up through the broadband network. "We have huge resources available for areas that are not covered," he said.

The public administration is also being digitalized through projects worth some €94 million, 85% of which is being co-financed by the European Union.

Source: HRT