Invitation to IXth International Conference Digital Europe 2024+

The Minister of Entrepreneurship and Information Technology Minister Kristjan Järvana Minister of Entrepreneurship and Information Technology Suur-Ameerika 1, 10122 Tallinn Prague, 8th April 2024 Subject: Invitation to the conference Digital Czech Republic 2024 Dear Mr. Minister Kristjan Järvana, On behalf of the Institute for Politics and Society and its partners, we would like to cordially invite you to speak at the 9th International Conference Digital Czech Republic, which will take place on 18-19 June 2024 in Národním domě na Vinohradech, Náměstí Míru 820/9, 120 00 Prague. The opening day of the conference will focus on digitalization from a national perspective and the second day will focus on digitalization from a European perspective. The working language of the conference is English. The conference will include an accompanying exhibition focusing on digitisation and digital services. It would be a great honor for us if you could grace us with your presence as a speaker in the panel Digitalization of Education and Connection With the Labor Market, which will be held on 19th June from 9:30 to 10:45. Please see the attached conference programme for more information regarding this panel. Additionally, we would like to invite you to the Welcome Dinner, which will take place on 17. June from 18:00 to 20:00 in Prague. The exact venue will be specified. We would like to inform you that during the conference we will provide you with accommodation in a beautiful hotel in the centre of Prague and we will also reimburse your travel expenses (economy class). The conference is a social event with an international dimension and is regularly attended by top political leaders from all over Europe. For example, past years of Digital Czech Republic have been attended by Margrethe Vestager, Vice-President of the European Commission, Věra Jourová, Vice-President of the European Commission, Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and Dita Charanzová, Vice-President of the European Parliament, Vice-President of the European Commission Dubravka Šuica, former Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Andrej Babiš, Estonian Minister of Health and Labour Tanel Kiik, Morten Elbaek Petersen, Director of the innovative Danish public health portal Sundhed.dk, and many other Czech and international guests. In case you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me or my colleagues, and we will gladly answer all your questions. We are very much looking forward to welcoming you to the conference. Yours Sincerely Šárka Shoup Executive Director – Institute for Politics and Society PANEL 6: DIGITALIZATION OF EDUCATION AND CONNECTION WITH THE LABOR MARKET The digitalization of education is transforming access to study, which also positively affects the labor market, where digital skills are increasingly in demand. The COVID-19 pandemic changed educational methods and emphasized the need for adaptation to technological changes for both students and employees. Collaboration between educational institutions and employers is crucial for the development of relevant skills that prepare graduates for the future requirements of the labor market. Governments and schools should support digital literacy and ensure equal access to educational resources so that all segments of the population can benefit from the advantages of digitalization. This synergy between education, employers, and technologies represents a cornerstone for building a resilient and competitive economy that can efficiently respond to dynamic changes in the digital age. How can we ensure accessibility to digital education for all students regardless of their socioeconomic status? What skills and competencies will be needed from the perspective of the future labor market? How can we support and motivate teachers to integrate digital technologies into teaching and the development of their own digital skills? In what way should cooperation between educational institutions, the state, and the private sector take place to ensure the effective transfer of skills from the educational system into practice in the labor market? DIGITAL CZECH REPUBLIC 2024 IX. annual international conference National House at Vinohrady in Prague, June 18-19, 2024 Basic Information: Format: Two-day conference; hybrid format with online broadcast Language: Czech; English Participants: Members of the government, deputies, senators, representatives of public administration - ministries, state agencies,professional and interest organizations, academics,representatives of the business environment and also the general public Audience: 200 people each day Broadcast: Czech News Agency, partner servers + social networks Media coverage: TV, Czech News Agency, Hospodářské noviny, E15, Info.cz, Lidové noviny, Metro and others Partners: Google, Microsoft, T-Mobile, European Liberal Forum and others Additional information: An accompanying exhibition focused on digitization (e.g. Citizen's Portal, digital education tools, augmented and virtual reality, robots, programming demonstration etc. PROGRAM OF THE OPENING DAY OF THE DIGITAL CZECH REPUBLIC 2024 CONFERENCE Subtitle: IS CZECH REPUBLIC DIGITAL YET? Digitalization at the national level 08:30-09:00 Registration 09:00-09:05 Welcome Speech 09:05-09:30 Keynote Speakers 09:30-10:45 Economic Transformation as an Opportunity to Return to the First Economic League 10:45-12:00 Welcome to the World of Tomorrow with AI 12:00-12:50 Lunch 12:50-13:15 VIP TALK: Is the Czech Republic Digital Yet? 13:15-14:30 (In)Secure Cyberspace 14:30-14:45 Coffee Break 14:45-16:00 Digital Technologies and Their Role in State Defense 16:00-17:00 Networking PROGRAM OF THE SECOND DAY OF THE DIGITAL CZECH REPUBLIC 2024 CONFERENCE Subtitle: IS CZECH REPUBLIC DIGITAL YET? Digitalization at the national level 08:30-09:00 Registration 09:00-09:05 Welcome Speech 09:05-09:30 Keynote Speakers 09:30-10:45 Digitalization of Education and Connection With the Labor Market 10:45-12:00 AI, Robots and Humans: A New Era of Professions 12:00-12:50 Lunch 12:50-13:15 VIP TALK: 13:15-14:30 eHealth as A Tool For Extending Life Span 14:30-14:45 Coffee Break 14:45-16:00 Digital Democracy 16:00-17:00 Networking PANEL 1: IS CZECH REPUBLIC DIGITAL YET? The Czech Republic is undergoing a development in which digital technologies become an integral part of everyday life. In this transformation, the development of electronic identities, such as Bank ID, plays a key role, allowing for quick and secure online identity verification. Already a third of all Czechs have used this feature, and its potential continues to grow. Digitization simplifies processes in many sectors, from banking to public administration, contributes to the speed and efficiency of transactions, and paves the way for new forms of digital communication. The potential of digitizing bureaucratic processes also lies in many other spheres of the public and private sector. However, the question remains how effectively and quickly the Czech Republic is transforming in favor of digital technologies and whether it is legislatively flexible enough to adopt such changes. Which sectors of the Czech economy benefit the most from digitization? What are the biggest challenges and opportunities associated with the digitization of bureaucratic processes in public administration? How can government institutions support and motivate citizens to make more active use of digital services? How does the legislative framework support or hinder the rapid adoption of new digital technologies? PANEL 2: ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RETURN TO THE FIRST ECONOMIC LEAGUE Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotization, or the automation of work are frequently mentioned terms that are becoming increasingly crucial in all areas of our lives, and their significance is continually growing. Digital transformation is an opportunity for the Czech Republic to modernize internally, transition to a knowledge-based economy, and create domestic innovative enterprises with high added value. The Czech industry is undergoing a transformation in all sectoral areas. The main goal is to enable all industrial sectors to fully exploit the advantages of digital innovations for the development of value-added products, adaptation of their business models, and maximization of potential for growth in the digital economy. If the Czech Republic is to successfully transform into a full-fledged digital economy, it is necessary to clearly define priority themes that will lead to the achievement of this ambitious goal. What challenges and opportunities do you see for business in relation to the development and implementation of artificial intelligence? Which specific technological innovations associated with artificial intelligence do you consider key in the process of economic transformation? How do we compare with other countries? And can the Czech Republic utilize the potential of AI? If so, in which areas? What challenges do we currently face? PANEL 3: WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF TOMORROW WITH AI The speed of artificial intelligence (AI) development is increasing every year, and its application is finding a place in more and more societal areas. AI has penetrated not only the private sector but also the public sector and influences various aspects of our lives. It is capable of performing a range of activities such as data prediction and analysis, text and speech recognition, to autonomous vehicle control and performing physical tasks in robotics. In medicine and research, AI helps discover new drugs and improve healthcare. However, its power lies in the ability to work with large amounts of data to identify patterns and predictions and create simulations in an unbeatably short time. The ongoing development of AI leads to further innovations and applications while also raising important questions regarding ethics, responsibility, and privacy protection. What are the main areas where AI has the greatest potential for use? What can be expected in terms of the development of artificial intelligence? How is the debate on the ethical and moral rules of AI going? And can future misuse of AI against people themselves be prevented at all? PANEL 4: DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES AND THEIR ROLE IN DEFENSE OF THE STATE In the 21st century, modern technologies, especially drones and autonomous systems, play a crucial role in defense and warfare. These technologies bring revolutionary changes to how combat operations are conducted, thanks to their ability to conduct reconnaissance, surveillance, and attacks over long distances without directly endangering human lives. Drones and autonomous systems increase the efficiency and precision of military interventions while minimizing civilian casualties and risks to military personnel. The use of advanced technologies in defense and conflicts paradoxically has the potential to lead to peace and save human lives. Thanks to the accuracy and selectivity of drones and autonomous systems, it is possible to target with greater certainty and minimize unwanted damage to civilian objects and persons. This way of fighting means reducing overall violence and supporting a faster end to conflicts. Thus, the discussion on modern technologies in the defense sector should reflect their role not only in improving military efficiency but also in contributing to a more ethical and humanitarian resolution of conflicts. How can modern technologies such as drones and autonomous systems contribute to conflict prevention and support peace operations at an international level? How can the international community collaborate on the development and implementation of technological innovations in defense that respect international humanitarian law and promote global security and stability? PANEL 5: (UN)SAFE CYBERSPACE The online space is available to an increasing number of users, and its utilization is practically unlimited today. The majority of Czechs use the internet, and the time when it served primarily for email communication or reading online news is long gone. With the increasing number of users, their vulnerability also increases. Security risks such as hacker attacks or theft of personal and sensitive data are becoming an increasingly common problem not only for ordinary users but also for companies and state institutions. Thus, cyberspace is becoming a place of many dangers. What are the main security threats in the online space, and how can potentially dangerous situations be identified? What is the role of governments and international cooperation in protecting cyberspace and combating cyber threats? What specific security measures can individuals, companies, and governments take to protect themselves in cyberspace? PANEL 6: DIGITALIZATION OF EDUCATION AND CONNECTION WITH THE LABOR MARKET The digitalization of education is transforming access to study, which also positively affects the labor market, where digital skills are increasingly in demand. The COVID-19 pandemic changed educational methods and emphasized the need for adaptation to technological changes for both students and employees. Collaboration between educational institutions and employers is crucial for the development of relevant skills that prepare graduates for the future requirements of the labor market. Governments and schools should support digital literacy and ensure equal access to educational resources so that all segments of the population can benefit from the advantages of digitalization. This synergy between education, employers, and technologies represents a cornerstone for building a resilient and competitive economy that can efficiently respond to dynamic changes in the digital age. How can we ensure accessibility to digital education for all students regardless of their socioeconomic status? What skills and competencies will be needed from the perspective of the future labor market? How can we support and motivate teachers to integrate digital technologies into teaching and the development of their own digital skills? In what way should cooperation between educational institutions, the state, and the private sector take place to ensure the effective transfer of skills from the educational system into practice in the labor market? PANEL 7: THE FUTURE OF WORK. WHEN WILL WE STOP WORKING? In the era of Industry 4.0, the interplay of artificial intelligence and the work environment is becoming a key topic. The rapid development of technologies is transforming the way we work and raises fundamental questions regarding the future of certain professions. Automation and artificial intelligence bring new dimensions to productivity but also pose challenges in the area of changes in the skill spectrum and fair redistribution of job opportunities. A significant question is how workers and organizations will adapt their practices and what skills will be necessary for success in the new digital era. The dynamics between artificial intelligence and the future of work will shape business, employment, and social structures in the coming years. What will be the most significant impact of Industry 4.0 on the current skills of workers, and what new skills will be necessary for success in a transformed work environment? Should the state intervene in this process at all, or should everything be left to market mechanisms? And what are the key elements of preparing workers and organizations for the new digital era of work? PANEL 8: EHEALTH AS A TOOL FOR EXTENDING LIFE SPAN Electronic healthcare, or eHealth, is a trend that is especially gaining popularity in European states. It refers to the use of information and communication technologies in healthcare and includes a wide range of digital solutions and services aimed at improving healthcare provision and patient outcomes and making medical processes more efficient. eHealth also offers the potential to increase the quality and accessibility of healthcare while simultaneously reducing costs. However, it raises important ethical, legal, and regulatory questions that need to be addressed with the further development of these technologies. Moreover, it is also necessary to consider the fact that not everyone has access to the technologies used by eHealth. Therefore, the topic of electronic healthcare carries both tremendous potential and significant obstacles for its potential users. How should healthcare institutions and governments collaborate to maximize the potential of eHealth while minimizing its negative impacts? How should eHealth regulation proceed to ensure patient protection? How specifically can eHealth improve the quality of care provided to patients? And what significant financial savings can the digitalization of healthcare bring?