Panel Discussion on Building Croatia’s Digital Future Held as Part of the 33rd SoftCOM Conference

Discussion Focused on ICT Trends, Regulatory Challenges, Upcoming EU Regulations and Their Impact

ZAGREB, 19 September 2025 - The 33rd International Conference on Software, Telecommunications and Computer Networks (SoftCOM 2025) has opened in Split. The event, taking place from 18 to 20 September, is jointly organised by the University of Split, FESB, and the Croatian Communications and Information Society (CCIS), under the technical sponsorship of the IEEE Communications Society.

Among those who welcomed the participants were Damir Habijan, Minister of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation, Blaženko Boban, Prefect of Split-Dalmatia County, and Andro Krstulović Opara, Member of Parliament.

Prior to the official opening, an industry panel entitled “Building Croatia’s Digital Future: Opportunities and Challenges of the ICT Sector” brought together Minister Habijan, Irena Weber, Director General at Croatian Employers’ Association, Dr Valerio Frascolla, Director of Research and Innovation at Intel, and Ana Katalinić Mucalo, Assistant Director  at HAKOM. The discussion was organised and moderated by Siniša Krajnović of McKinsey & Company.

The discussion focused on current ICT trends, regulatory challenges, and upcoming EU regulations that require implementation, including the AI Act, the Data Act, and the Radio Equipment Act, among others, as well as their implications for an already complex European regulatory landscape. Emphasis was placed on the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders, particularly in the research and development of new technologies, but also more broadly, as such cooperation is essential for ensuring that Croatia’s ICT sector remains aligned with global technological trends.

Regarding regulation, to which Minister Habijan and Ana Katalinić Mucalo primarily responded, it was emphasised that the regulatory framework must be carefully balanced—promoting innovation and investment, supporting new technologies and market growth, while simultaneously safeguarding the interests of users and the Republic of Croatia.
Particular emphasis was placed on people as the key to progress - their expertise and appropriate competences - which is one of the core values of HAKOM’s new strategy for the period 2026-2028. A strategic approach at the national level, together with effective cooperation at all levels, was concluded to be a prerequisite for success.

Further information about the conference is available at the following link.