HUP-ICT Association Defined Key Challenges of the Sector and Priorities for the New Government

The leaders of the HUP-ICT Association today presented current topics and challenges faced by the IT and ICT sector in Croatia, calling on the private sector, the state, and the scientific community to jointly create quality solutions for the further development of this rapidly growing part of the economy. Adrian Ježina, president of the HUP–Association of Information and Communication Activities, welcomed the announcements of the new Government suggesting a focus on digitalization through the establishment of the Central State Office for the Development of the Digital Society, although it has not moved from a standstill in terms of appointing responsible persons since its establishment at the first Government session. Ježina expressed the HUP-ICT association’s readiness to actively participate in the work of that office and other relevant bodies and ministries. In his presentation, he also outlined long-term and short-term priorities and goals within the ICT sector in Croatia.

From HUP-ICT, they reminded that Croatia will take over the EU presidency in 2020, noting that there is no time to waste and that it is of utmost importance for the Croatian Government to focus on three priorities: education and curricular reform, which was discussed by Hrvoje Balen, a board member of Algebra and vice president of the HUP-ICT Association, the digital economy and digitalization of public administration, and the development of broadband internet, which was presented by Boris Drilo, a member of the HT Management Board, with the remark that we are traditionally lagging behind trends in the EU.

Balen, reflecting on the curricular reform, stated that it is currently most important to continue working on the implementation of the Education, Science, and Technology Strategy and the establishment of a national Strategy for the Development of Digital Jobs and Skills, which should contribute to a significant increase in the number of young professionals in the medium term.

– It will be essential to put into operation a strategic framework that will impact all levels of education, from primary school through higher education to lifelong learning. Additionally, horizontal action and collaboration among stakeholders should encompass the employment system and encourage job creation, addressing not only the growing problem of youth emigration but also attracting skilled professionals from other countries – emphasized Balen.

Establishing Dialogue and Cooperation

– If they want to remain competitive, Croatian companies must implement digital transformation on a daily basis to be ready for the challenging and demanding markets of Europe and the rest of the world. Likewise, it is necessary to accelerate the process of digitalization of public administration, which must be efficient and ready to respond to all challenges of the modern economy and citizenship – added Boris Drilo, a member of the HT Management Board and a member of the Executive Board of the HUP-ICT Association, in his presentation on guidelines.

– One of the goals is certainly to reduce the amount of documentation in paper form and to use more modern digital formats that represent the standard in the rest of developed Europe. One of the significant reasons for the inability to implement digitalization in state and public administration bodies is also communication disconnection, i.e., the unavailability of broadband internet, especially in rural areas. It is of particular strategic importance to provide equal access to information for all citizens to achieve, among other things, quality communication between them and representatives of local and regional administration, which is currently not sufficiently adapted to new technologies. “Creating an encouraging environment for further investments in the broadbandization of Croatia is a fundamental prerequisite for achieving the goals of the Digital Agenda. We expect the new Government to establish dialogue and cooperation and hope for the creation of a more stable and secure business environment, which primarily relates to reducing high tax and parafiscal burdens, removing administrative barriers, and strengthening legal certainty – says Drilo.

Five Short-Term Goals

Adrian Ježina, president of HUP-ICT, also presented five short-term goals that the HUP-ICT Association considers necessary to resolve in this budget year, which are: tax reform (aimed at increasing the competitiveness of ICT professionals), adoption of the public procurement law (amendment of the law to include the economically most favorable offer and innovative public procurement), adoption of the e-Croatia 2020 Strategy, aimed at utilizing available funds from EU funds, revision of the Smart Specialization Strategy (so that software development is treated as R&D, which it is), and a more flexible MRMS system for quota applications for labor needs, given that it is a dynamic sector with unpredictable needs for hiring a larger number of people.

To ensure that all of the above is brought to the attention of the Government of the Republic of Croatia and relevant ministries as soon as possible, members of the HUP-Association of Information and Communication Activities have also formed special targeted working groups that will focus on addressing the long-term and short-term priorities of the ICT industry and are ready to make their expert staff and resources available to the new Government of the Republic of Croatia and state bodies and institutions to ensure the quality realization of the stated goals.