On 14 March 2016 the Slovak Economy Minister Vazil Hudák and the Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs of the European Commission Elzbieta Bienkowska hosted the conference “Smart Industry” in the historic building of the National Council in Bratislava. During a total of five panel discussions, the conference participants addressed challenges and opportunities of the digital transformation for companies in Slovakia and other EU countries. The aim of the gathering was in particular to take a closer look at the links between sectors as well as several factors which have an impact thereon.

Plattform Industrie 4.0 was also represented: Henning Banthien, head of the platform’s office, was invited by the Economy Minister and EU-Commissioner to take the floor during the third panel discussion on the topic of ‘Cooperation’, where he presented the work being done by the platform.

The discussion was kicked off by an exchange between Hudák, the Czech Minister for Trade and Industry Jan Mládek, British Secretary of State Baroness Neville-Rolfe and Austrian Secretary of State Harald Mahrer. Among other topics, they exchanged views on essential political framework conditions in order to support innovation and prepare our countries for future developments, rather than simply reacting and adapting retrospectively. Finally, participants discussed the consequences of current technological advances and their opportunities – for the labour market as well as for research and society.