Microsoft Digital Futures Index: Slovenia digitalization level above CEE average, among leaders in education digitalization

Croatia, Estonia, Serbia and Slovenia accelerating digital transformation

To speed up its digital journey, Slovenia should accelerate the digitization of public services, strengthen the digital sector and infrastructure, promote more flexible forms of work, and increase the number of ICT professionals.

Microsoft created Digital Futures Index and measured the digitalization level of 16 European countries, including Slovenia. The Index brings data about current level of digitalization of the country, detects the most successful areas, but also the areas where there is more work to be done to accelerate digital transformation process.

Digitalization is perceived through 5 categories of digital development: Digital Business, Digital Government and Public Sector, Digital Infrastructure, Digital Sector, and Human Capital. The overall level of Slovenia’s digital development is 107, which is 7% above the CEE average. Compared to the Central and Eastern European countries, Slovenia is ranked above average in terms of digitalization in general and can compete with some of the most digitally developed European countries in some areas. It records good results in the digitalization of education, human resources, corporate investments in research and development, and digital competitiveness of companies. Nevertheless, the Index reveals the need for faster action in some key development areas.

To reduce the gap with the most digitally advanced countries, Slovenia must pay more attention to the digitalization of public services, the development of the digital sector and infrastructure, and the promotion of more flexible ways of working, according to Microsoft’s new Digital Futures Index. At the same time, steps need to be taken to inspire more people, especially women, to pursue their careers in technology, as Slovenia has a below-average share of ICT professionals compared to the Central and Eastern European countries.

We designed the Digital Futures Index to facilitate decision-makers to design measures for faster digital transformation as a cornerstone of future economic and social development. Digitally advanced countries are also greener, wealthier, more innovative, and competitive,” said Barbara Domicelj, Director of Microsoft Slovenia. “At Microsoft, we believe that Slovenia has great potential and good conditions to become a digital role model and to build its economic growth on innovation and modern technologies.”

Results of the Digital Futures Index for Slovenia by categories, related to the average of CEE countries (100 marks the average)

In Digital Business category, Slovenia has 86 points, which is 14 percent below average. It is necessary to transit to hybrid forms of work, as Slovenia still lags far behind the leading digital countries.

Microsoft's Digital Futures index highlights key opportunities for accelerated digital development of Slovenia

In Digital Government and Public Sector category, Slovenia scores 128, 28 percent above average. The most important priority for Slovenia’s catching up on the top digital countries is the accelerated digitalization of public services. This process can increase the efficiency of the public sector and at the same time encourage citizens to make greater use of digital technologies thus strengthening their digital competences.

Microsoft's Digital Futures index highlights key opportunities for accelerated digital development of Slovenia

In Digital Infrastructure category, Slovenia totals 102 points. Slovenians are among the above-average users of the Internet and smartphones in the region, but the country is lagging in the development of digital infrastructure. The connectivity indicator, which combines data on the number of fixed broadband subscribers, 4G coverage, and the average speed of fixed and mobile internet connections, falls behind the average for Central and Eastern Europe by 14 percent. The accelerated investment in digital infrastructure could further promote active digital citizenship and the associated economic and social benefits.

Microsoft's Digital Futures index highlights key opportunities for accelerated digital development of Slovenia

In Digital Sector category, the country achieves 96 points.  An important opportunity lies in strengthening the start-up sector, where Slovenia performs well in the number of start-ups and digital asset creation but is less successful in attracting investments from venture capital funds.

Microsoft's Digital Futures index highlights key opportunities for accelerated digital development of Slovenia

In Human Capital category, Slovenia has 115 points. Slovenian companies employ fewer ICT professionals; however, they are also more difficult to hire due to the below-average share of graduates who have studied ICT professions. To bridge the gap between the needs of companies and the situation on the labor market, Slovenia needs to increase the number of ICT graduates and inspire more women for ICT careers. Also, more needs to be done to strengthen lifelong learning, retraining, and work-based learning opportunities.

https://news.microsoft.com/en-cee/2022/05/09/microsofts-digital-futures-index-highlights-key-opportunities-for-accelerated-digital-development-of-slovenia/

About the Digital Futures Index

The Digital Futures Index is a data model that shows digital development using 55 indicators from trusted public data sources such as the European Commission, the European Investment Bank, Eurofound, UNESCO, the World Bank, the OECD, the World Trade Organization, and the United Nations. It includes data for the Central and Eastern European countries (Estonia, Czech Republic, Croatia, Greece, Romania, Russia, Poland, Hungary, Malta, Slovenia, and Serbia) and selected Western European countries, which according to various reports are considered frontrunners in the field of digitization.

Microsoft continues with its mission to empower every person on the planet to achieve more.

You can research Digital Futures Index PowerBI via link aka.ms/DigitalFuturesIndex.

Note: Digital Futures Index is not a rating, it measures the “digital pulse” of every country.

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