The global competition for high-quality talent is fierce and will intensify in the future due to global factors (ageing and declining populations worldwide).
According to some estimates, Slovenia needs 5,000 new ICT professionals every year. Slovenia must thus urgently take action in the following areas:
To strengthen the high-tech sector, we therefore need three measures:
a)
The high-tech sector must develop an integrated strategy for educating the workforce for the future, both formal and non-formal, and lifelong, from digital skills to entrepreneurship and other skills and knowledge related to the high-tech sector or the economy of the future. The Association notes that current attempts by governments are too fragmented, not sufficiently coordinated and lack political will in this area. This needs to change urgently.
The high-tech sector must develop an integrated strategy for educating the workforce for the future, both formal and non-formal, and lifelong, from digital skills to entrepreneurship and other skills and knowledge related to the high-tech sector or the economy of the future. The Association notes that current attempts by governments are too fragmented, not sufficiently coordinated and lack political will in this area. This needs to change urgently.
b)
It must deepen cooperation between the commercial sector and universities to enable new breakthroughs in high-tech development. At present, university staff is not sufficiently rewarded for working with the commercial sector and is therefore not interested in doing so. The State must do everything possible to promote cooperation between the commercial sector and universities, including by enabling universities and faculties, or their staff, to set up companies to develop and market solutions that arise from the research findings of a university or faculty.
It must deepen cooperation between the commercial sector and universities to enable new breakthroughs in high-tech development. At present, university staff is not sufficiently rewarded for working with the commercial sector and is therefore not interested in doing so. The State must do everything possible to promote cooperation between the commercial sector and universities, including by enabling universities and faculties, or their staff, to set up companies to develop and market solutions that arise from the research findings of a university or faculty.
c)
The high-tech sector should facilitate the recruitment of highly qualified foreigners who want to come to Slovenia to work, which means speeding up procedures for recruiting foreigners and minimising the bureaucratic burden of recruitment. It must also introduce digital nomadism schemes, which allow individuals from all over the world to apply for a digital ID card and access Slovenia's e-services, allowing them to do business in the country without actually having to live there.
The high-tech sector should facilitate the recruitment of highly qualified foreigners who want to come to Slovenia to work, which means speeding up procedures for recruiting foreigners and minimising the bureaucratic burden of recruitment. It must also introduce digital nomadism schemes, which allow individuals from all over the world to apply for a digital ID card and access Slovenia's e-services, allowing them to do business in the country without actually having to live there.
d)
It must "restructure" the workforce. In other words, it must give the people of Slovenia the opportunity to further their education and to acquire the skills that the economy of the future needs, and it must encourage such personnel to move from less efficient companies to those that create high added value. In this context, it must also decide which sectors of the economy the State wishes to support and develop.
It must "restructure" the workforce. In other words, it must give the people of Slovenia the opportunity to further their education and to acquire the skills that the economy of the future needs, and it must encourage such personnel to move from less efficient companies to those that create high added value. In this context, it must also decide which sectors of the economy the State wishes to support and develop.
We call on decision-makers to undertake immediate and comprehensive reforms in the area of human resource development. Otherwise we face the threat of new lost decades in the field of technological development.
