Being the most competent part of our society, especially now, in times of global economy crisis, ICT is the segment that can, and must lead the process of social recovery, was the common conclusion by all participants in an interdisciplinary Round Table discussion on the topic “ICT and E-sustainability“, held within the frame of the 33rd international convention MIPRO in Opatija.

The thesis by analysts and authorities in the segment of sustainable development, that the information and communication technologies (ICT) will, within the five years to come, stabilize in the position to act as catalyst to speed up the progress of economy and society was confirmed by the presentations by the panelists: Igor Lučić, permanent undersecretary in the Central Government office for e-Croatia, Krešo Antonović, the manager of the Administration for Electronic Communications and Cost Office Department with the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, Gordana Kovačević, the president of Ericsson Nikola Tesla, Mladen Pejković, the president of VIPNet management board, Vedran Mornar, the president of the Croatian MIPRO association and the dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing Science (FER), Anđelko  Milardović, the manager of the Center for Political Research and the moderator Ana Penović, the editor of the magazine PlanB.

Healthcare, traffic, governmental administration and education, are not only some of strategically very important areas for further ICT development, but are also segments with considerable impact, both indirectly and directly, to the quality of life, natural resources preservation, and on earning of new income. Therefore, the latest ICT solutions and technologies, as well as encouraging legal and governmental regulations, are among preconditions for e-sustainability achievement. On the other hand, knowledge and innovativeness, are key resources for successful competition in the market and sustainable development.  The use of mobile communications and broadband access assist in solving global challenges of our time, like the increased CO emission and transfer to modern and competitive information society. Although, the awareness of inevitability of such transfer is the most prominent in the technological community, to reach success it is inevitable for all social segments to be involved. Also, it is important to avoid the autistic technological optimism, as well as technologic skepticism, which are often supported by ignorance.

A great attention was aroused by the workshop on setting the emergency call service at the national level, in case of traffic accident (eCall). The participants of the workshop were, not only the representatives of MMPI; the public mobile network and motorway operator, equipment manufactures, service providers, end users and academic community, but also Pavao Britvić from the Government administration for safety and rescue measures, Dina Šimunić from FER and Boris Drilo, the director of unit for ICT solutions in industry and society segment, from Ericsson Nikola Tesla. The regulation and technology frame of eCall was presented there, and the need for its implementation and the mode of setting up within the 112 system was explained. The basic role of ICT in setting up eCall service was especially pointed out, as well as the possibilities, which such a service offers within the wider segment of national intelligent transport system.

During the formal opening the MIPRO audience was presented the first run demonstration of a wireless data transmission at the record high rate of 42 Mbps. This exceptional achievement was presented by MSc Gordana Kovačević, the president of Ericssona Nikola Tesla and MSc Mladen Pejković, the president of Vipnet management.

In the world, where time becomes one of the most important resources, this innovative solution means a new step forward, as concerns transmission rate and capacities development for wireless Internet access, and puts Croatia high in the list of countries using wireless broadband access, as well as it provides end users with instant access to wished contents.

MIPRO, the international convention in expertise and education, is the largest and the longest lasting, as concerns structure the most complex international event, not only in Croatia but in this part of Europe. It attracts more than 1000 participants from some 30 countries, and stands out for its unique platform of equality in interpenetrating the science, education and economy. Such a platform makes it different from other similar conventions in the region. Ericsson Nikola Tesla, being a socially responsible employer, is actively supporting the work of MIPRO from its very beginning, and this year its specialists joined the work of the convention with 28 scientific and professional papers. 

Ericsson Nikola Tesla Company Communications