Government delegation pleased with US visit
Slovenia's efforts to be recognised as a green, referential digital country is gaining support, he said.
Slovenia is interesting to key players in digital technologies, stressed Koprivnikar for the STA at the conclusion of a trip during which a Slovenian business and government delegation visited companies such as IBM, Cisco, Uber, LinkedIn, Facebook, Google and space agency NASA.
The minister, who is in charge of Slovenia's digital transformation, said that the first part of the visit was focused on internet security and the second part on establishing cooperation with companies that are transforming both business models and the way of life.
Special attention was given to leading companies in the sharing economy, including the US ride-hailing company Uber, with which he signed a letter of intent that is to lead to a memorandum of understanding by the end of the year establishing a partnership to boost development of the sharing and digital economy in Slovenia.
Slovenia as well as other European countries are having trouble accommodating business models like Uber's in the existing legislation. Slovenia wants to regulate the field clearly and fairly, both for workers and users and for companies, Koprivnikar stressed.
Successful US companies have shown willingness to adapt to European values and legislation, he added. "They are enthusiastic to have a willing partner at the state level who will critically oversee their operations and is on the other hand willing to critically accept their suggestions for improvements," the minister said in reference to Slovenia's wish to become a referential country.
The trip was also an opportunity to meet successful Slovenian expats, whom Koprivnikar wishes would be regarded as ambassadors of green referential Slovenia that will be an interesting and attracting environment for the development of the most demanding technologies.
The minister travelled to the US with a delegation consisting of representatives of 26 companies, institutes and academic institutions that concluded the trip at the Stanford University on Saturday.
As part of the visit, Slovenian accelerator ABC Global Home in the Silicon Valley was inaugurated and a debate on Slovenia's potential for establishing highly innovative environment.
Executive director of the AmCham Slovenia Ajša Vodnik signed an agreement of cooperation with the American Slovenian Education Foundation.