Slovenia’s ICT industry is generally regarded as one of the most vigorous areas. Its advance is a credit to human capital and well-developed ICT infrastructure is a result of an early commitment to making it one of national development priorities.

Innovative spirit and clever technical solutions are the qualities often found in Slovenian workforce. In the sector, there are 22,300 employees in over 2,000 companies. The pace of recruitment is a clear indicator that ICT is a booming business. From 2000 to 2008, headcount in ICT companies grew at 2.9% a year compared with the overall rate of employment in Slovenia of 1.2% a year. Expansion enjoyed by the companies into information technologies feeding on growing demand for ITC services has pushed the industry figures up.

Estimated gross annual labour costs in ICT for 2010

(Total cost per employee in €)  

Slovenia was quick in recognising the need for a pool of young talent educated for the “New Economy”. Computer science was included in the university curriculum some thirty years ago and since then courses in IT and informatics have become highly popular with students enrolling either in the University of Ljubljana or Maribor. Over the past few years, their number has surged and already reached 5,000 soon. Secondary education programmes for computer science, electrical engineering and telecommunications have attracted over 10,000 attendees.

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Productivity in industry and services, 2008

Related GDP (PPP) per person employed (in €) 

A central geopolitical position at the cross-roads of trade and transport routes gives Slovenia a cutting edge and explains its historical, cultural and economic profile – the key elements of the country’s economic performance.

The role played by the ICT to Slovenia’s export mix is extremely important. ICT-related export figures have risen sharply. Between 2000 and 2008, the average annual export growth rate was 21%. Exporters of IT services account for 27.5% of overall industry exports followed by providers of telecommunications services. HRC is the most successful company in the field of IT services among small-sized companies in Slovenia meanwhile Telekom Slovenija remains Slovenia’s leading exporter of telecommunication services.

Thanks to its position and decades of fostering economic links with its neighbours, Slovenia is in a pole position to serve the markets in the region. The number of international companies setting up their regional hubs in Slovenia is rising attracted by the expertise of local managers, sales force and field engineers and their in-depth knowledge of the regional markets. They speak the language, they are familiar with legislation, they know their way around, and what’s most important there are no cross-cultural barriers for them.

Slovenian companies are fostering their presence in foreign markets through outward direct investment. This trend is widely followed by ICT companies, particularly when investing in the emerging markets of ex-Yugoslav republics. Capital ties are also used to get a foothold in the markets of CIS countries.

Thanks to its position and decades of fostering economic links with its neighbours, Slovenia is in a pole position to serve the markets in the region. The number of international companies setting up their regional hubs in Slovenia is rising attracted by the expertise of local managers, sales force and field engineers and their in-depth knowledge of the regional markets. They speak the language, they are familiar with legislation, they know their way around, and what’s most important there are no cross-cultural barriers for them. 

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Comparison of key information society indicators, 2008 

Slovenia lies at the intersection of two Pan-european transport corridors for road and rail transport. Its transport and IT infrastructure is well-branched. The Adriatic port of Koper  is the shortest maritime connection for cargo arriving from Asia to landlocked countries of central Europe through the Suez Canal.

The most advanced countries in ICT are from Northern Europe but Slovenia comes second in the group of new EU Member States boasting high level of access to ICT infrastructure, including fixed and mobile telephony, Internet and broadband. In terms of ICT access, use and skills, households with a computer and Internet, and computer literacy levels, as well as the ICT capabilities of Slovenian companies and security issues, the scores are solid.

n the group of ten new EU Member States, Slovenia along with Malta and Cyprus is the only new entrant boasting widespread XDSL services. Slovenia’s ADSL coverage was at the end of 2008 over 95%.

To make headway in ICT, Slovenia has to keep the pace of modernisation and  continue to upgrade information infrastructure, encourage acquisition of new knowledge and pro-active collaboration between companies and think-tanks as carriers of R & D.  

Productivity/value added per employee, 2008