Invitation to Zagreb Forum 2018: Digital Transformation of Cities
Researchers from the Institute of Economics, Zagreb Maruška Vizek, PhD; Dubravka Jurlina Alibegović, PhD; and Zoran Aralica, PhD will be taking part in the Sixth International Conference ZAGREB FORUM 2018: DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF CITIES, which will be held at the Technology Park Zagreb on May 28, 2018.
The conference is organized by Development Agency Zagreb, in cooperation with the City of Zagreb, GFS (GoForeSight) Institute and the Institute of Economics, Zagreb.
Maruška Vizek will be participating in Panel I: Leadership & Collaboration for Digital Transformation of Cities, and she will present the results of the study The Impact of Digital Transformation on the Western Balkans: Tackling the Challenges Towards Political Stability and Economic Prosperity, which analyzes the state of play of the digital transformation in Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo and Albania, and estimates the social, political and economic impacts of increased future digital transformation in the countries of the region.
Dubravka Jurlina Alibegović will take part in Panel II: Digital Skills for Digital Transformation & Access to Data, and Zoran Aralica is participating in the organization of the conference.
Cities are essential complements to digital transformation. According to the EU Strategic Policy Forum on Digital Entrepreneurship report, the changes brought about by the digital age mean that geographic boundaries are no longer costly barriers to trade, communication and social interaction. European cities provide up to 85 percent of the region's GDP, which provides a high density of interactions among citizens. It creates digitally supported opportunities for education, creativity – mission of Zagreb Forum, and shared services. All together, they increase productivity, eciency and development of a good quality of life.
Successful digital transformation of cities requires recognition of their digital transformation challenges as well as taking city context into consideration. Similar to successful implementation of quadra-helix model, urban digital transformation requires strong engagement of national/local government, academia, industry, citizens and civil society in recognition of the digital transformation challenges as well as fostering digital transformation of cities.
Diverse stakeholders across the city ecosystem build partnership, identify and develop local talent, attract skills, create new form of science-industry linkages, employ data and support the investment in infrastructure that enables digital transformation. Start-ups, SMEs, retailers, artists, craftspeople, teachers and civil servants have started to adopt digital technologies in order to bring about a smooth transition into prosperous digital future.
Critical attributes for a successful digital transformation process are grouped around four thematic areas. First – Leadership and collaboration for a smart governance of the local digital ecosystem; Second – Digital skills and entrepreneurs for acceleration of the digital transformation process; Third – Access to data and technologies for applied solutions to local challenges and Fourth – Key infrastructure and investments for digital launch pads.
The objectives of the 6th Zagreb Forum 2018 are as follows:
The conference is organized by Development Agency Zagreb, in cooperation with the City of Zagreb, GFS (GoForeSight) Institute and the Institute of Economics, Zagreb.
Maruška Vizek will be participating in Panel I: Leadership & Collaboration for Digital Transformation of Cities, and she will present the results of the study The Impact of Digital Transformation on the Western Balkans: Tackling the Challenges Towards Political Stability and Economic Prosperity, which analyzes the state of play of the digital transformation in Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo and Albania, and estimates the social, political and economic impacts of increased future digital transformation in the countries of the region.
Dubravka Jurlina Alibegović will take part in Panel II: Digital Skills for Digital Transformation & Access to Data, and Zoran Aralica is participating in the organization of the conference.
Cities are essential complements to digital transformation. According to the EU Strategic Policy Forum on Digital Entrepreneurship report, the changes brought about by the digital age mean that geographic boundaries are no longer costly barriers to trade, communication and social interaction. European cities provide up to 85 percent of the region's GDP, which provides a high density of interactions among citizens. It creates digitally supported opportunities for education, creativity – mission of Zagreb Forum, and shared services. All together, they increase productivity, eciency and development of a good quality of life.
Successful digital transformation of cities requires recognition of their digital transformation challenges as well as taking city context into consideration. Similar to successful implementation of quadra-helix model, urban digital transformation requires strong engagement of national/local government, academia, industry, citizens and civil society in recognition of the digital transformation challenges as well as fostering digital transformation of cities.
Diverse stakeholders across the city ecosystem build partnership, identify and develop local talent, attract skills, create new form of science-industry linkages, employ data and support the investment in infrastructure that enables digital transformation. Start-ups, SMEs, retailers, artists, craftspeople, teachers and civil servants have started to adopt digital technologies in order to bring about a smooth transition into prosperous digital future.
Critical attributes for a successful digital transformation process are grouped around four thematic areas. First – Leadership and collaboration for a smart governance of the local digital ecosystem; Second – Digital skills and entrepreneurs for acceleration of the digital transformation process; Third – Access to data and technologies for applied solutions to local challenges and Fourth – Key infrastructure and investments for digital launch pads.
The objectives of the 6th Zagreb Forum 2018 are as follows:
Zagreb Forum and SmartEIZ inovation award
The Zagreb FORUM and SmartEIZ innovation award will be presented during Zagreb Forum 2018. The award is given for promoting innovation ecosystems and their development on the local or regional level and is presented to local and regional self-governance units or development agencies for implemented programs and/or finalized projects contributing to the contenders’ innovation ecosystem.