The forum opened with the presentation of the first findings from the research project DEVELOPER – Digital Data, Infrastructure, and Development (HRZZ IP-2022-10-2780), which aims to contribute to the understanding and advancement of the digital society in Croatia. The findings were presented by project leader Paško Bilić from IRMO, along with collaborators Valentina Vučković from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Zagreb and Toni Prug from the University of Rijeka.
At the centre of the programme was the panel discussion “Key Dimensions of the Digital Decade in Croatia,” which brought together experts from public administration, academia, the private sector, and civil society. Panel participants included Boris Korbar (Ministry of Justice, Administration and Digital Transformation), Goran Đoreski (Croatian Data Centre Association), Martina Silov (CroAI), Žarko Čižmar (Telecentar / Algebra Media Lab), and Duje Prkut (Politiscope). The panel addressed four key areas of digital transformation according to the European framework: digital infrastructure, digital skills, business digitalization, and the digitalization of public services.
Participants raised questions about regulatory barriers in the private sector, the lack of institutional capacity in public administration and the education system, approaches to artificial intelligence, and the importance of protecting digital rights. Emphasis was placed on the need for inclusive, sustainable, and equitable development, while pointing to the lack of broader stakeholder participation in the implementation of existing digital policies and insufficient cross-sectoral coordination among the dimensions of the Digital Decade. The discussion was moderated by Emina Bužinkić from IRMO.
