Croatia keeps pace with Europe on digitalization, PM tells council

Croatia is keeping pace with European trends in digitalization, members of the National Council on Digital Transformation said on Friday at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković — though the session’s main attraction turned out to be two humanoid robots, Rino and Tonka.

“When everyone realizes the potential of digital transformation, everyone will want to contribute. I will be there to support them — with elegance, of course,” Tonka said after opening the session.

According to data presented at the meeting, Croatia is performing at or above the EU average across most indicators of digital transformation. The country has a higher share of the population with basic digital skills than the European average and ranks well in the digitalization of public services and 5G network coverage.

However, competitiveness and innovation remain key challenges.

Plenković said the government would soon adopt a National Plan for the Development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) through 2032. He stressed that digital transformation is essential for boosting productivity and living standards, helping Croatia both catch up with and keep pace with global trends.

As an example, he pointed to two Croatian innovators and entrepreneurs from Imotski and Pakrac who presented their locally developed humanoid robots, Tonka and Rino.

The prime minister also highlighted the growing importance of data centers as AI adoption increases. Croatia currently has 66 data centers — 44 state-owned and 22 commercial — with six more planned.

Plenković said cybersecurity, the protection of digital infrastructure — which he described as part of the country’s critical national infrastructure — and strengthening Croatia’s digital sovereignty remain major challenges for further digital transformation.