SlovakiaTech — AI Revolution is here!

On September 19—20, 2023, the event SlovakiaTech — AI Revolution is here! was held in Košice intended for the professional public, representatives of technological and innovative companies, public administration, universities, colleges, sciences and research, but also for students of vocational high schools and universities.

The Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency (SARIO) was the main partner of the event.

The main topics of the 5th year of the international professional conference and innovation-technological fair were:

• Artificial intelligence around us — healthcare, education and jobs, manufacturing and retail, creativity and society, challenges and limitations

• Green technologies — advanced nuclear technologies, renewable energy and storage, sustainable transport, green hydrogen, emission and waste reduction

• Security in technology — cyber security, hacking, identity and privacy, finance and blockchain, defense technology.

SARIO consultants ensured discussions, provided individual consultations in the field of investment and foreign trade support, current information on activities and upcoming events and held meetings with a representative of Select USA, with whom we cooperated in the expansion of the Slovak company Maximpharm to the American market.

The discussion Stories of successful investments in eastern Slovakia was led by Marek Kopanický, Senior Consultant of the SARIO Investment Projects Department. Björn Helldén, Head of VOLVO Cars Košice and Iurii Sukhovii, Head of EPAM Systems for the Czech Republic and Slovakia praised choosing Slovakia to build a branch, respectively a plant here.

They appreciated the quality, approach, productivity of the people and state institutions, whether in the process of establishing their projects, but also as employees. They also agreed that, in addition to business intentions, their goal is to benefit the region as such. The Slovak branch of EPAM Systems providing software engineering services, digital platform engineering and digital product design are among the fastest growing in the entire group.

VOLVO will produce its own electric SUVs in a modern plant near Košice from 2026 and should create 3,300 jobs. In the future, after building basic teams, they also want to support cooperation with universities and connect practice, science and students.

At the SlovakiaTech conference, the Slovak Space Office brought a panel discussion entitled Eastern Slovakia as a driving force in the space sector.

The discussion moderated by Lenka Tkáčová, PR & Event Manager of the Slovak Space Office, Šimon Mackovjak from the Institute of Experimental Physics of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Marek Kožarík from Geodeticca Vision and Denis Sedlák from the Slovak Space Office communicated the significant success of the Eastern Slovakia region in this area. It is home to many institutions and companies that have a long history of space activities and bring practical solutions to everyday life and needs on earth.

The speakers believe that the emerging Eastern Slovak Space Cluster will connect research institutions, companies, universities and state and public administration institutions with the aim of helping further technological development in the region.