Regions - AmCham, American Chamber of Commerce in the Slovak Republic

Regions #eastinnovation

Eastern Slovakia’s Business Potential

Regional Business Community

Regional development is one of the key prerequisites for stable and sustainable economic growth.

AmCham Slovakia has been operating in the east of Slovakia since 2004. Today, more than 70 member companies of AmCham Slovakia are active in eastern Slovakia, so the development of this region is one of the main pillars of the American Chamber of Commerce in the Slovak Republic.

As part of our long-term activities in the region, we are thoroughly acquainted with the challenges and limits that the business environment in the East is struggling with. At the same time, however, we perceive huge potential and numerous positive examples that need to be made visible.

We believe that supporting innovation is the right way to successfully and long-term reduce regional disparities, positive economic development in the region, the sustainability of existing investments and present talent, as well as to increase its attractiveness towards potential future investments.

Alleviating regional disparities

Innovation requires a functioning system that supports new ideas and investment in science and research. Only a functioning and stimulating environment will keep the most talented people in the region, because it will give them the opportunity to implement their ideas, start their own companies, create jobs and thus contribute to the prosperity of eastern Slovakia.

Through its activities, AmCham supports the creation of an innovative ecosystem that connects companies, academia, startups and other actors who care about the development and creation of new jobs with high added value.

EAST INNOVATION CONFERENCE IN KOŠICE

Every year, AmCham Slovakia organizes a professional conference in Košice on the innovative potential of the East - the East Innovation Conference, which is also attended by member companies, as well as the general professional public, students and politics. The conference wants to point out positive examples of start-ups and established companies and their research and development centers (R&D centers) and highlight the potential of the region of Eastern Slovakia in the field of innovation.

EAST INNOVATION CONFERENCE 2021

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EAST INNOVATION CONFERENCE 2020

EAST INNOVATION CONFERENCE 2019

WOMEN IN BUSINESS/TECH IN KOŠICE

The fourth Thursday in the fourth month belongs to girls in ICT. On this day, AmCham Slovakia organized a professional conference Women in Business / Women in IT in Košice , where we wanted to draw attention to the few women in leadership positions and IT in Slovakia. International Girls' Day in ICT was created to support the courage of women who have a relationship with IT and have not had an easy time in a traditionally male-dominated environment. Experience from companies suggests that mixed teams have measurably better results. Women bring a new innovative look, energy and determination to the technical teams, which has a positive impact on the final result. Many of our members who employ women in the east of the country can also confirm this.

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL IN KOŠICE

AmCham Slovakia actively pushes and facilitates the establishment process of an international school in Košice, benefiting the whole region of Eastern Slovakia through increasing its investment attractiveness and possible brain gain flow. The school will also contribute to the more cosmopolitan and multinational environment within Kosice region while creating the high quality infrastructure for English speaking children and their families.

HOW TO KEEP TALENTS IN THE EAST?

	Tanmay Bakshi in Košice in September 2019 AmCham Slovakia in cooperation with AT&T, T-Systems Slovakia, UVP Technicom and Technical University in Košice hosted a TED Talk event with Tanmay Bakshi, 15-year-old coder, AI expert, TedX speaker, influencer and youtuber. The Talk attracted more than 400 university and secondary schools’ students from the region a contributed to the popularization of IT in the region.
	Employment of socially excluded groups AmCham and its partners believe that employment of socially excluded groups is an untapped potential for Slovakia’s growth. In May 2019 AmCham Slovakia organized in Poprad Employment of socially excluded groups (Roma people) - untapped potential for Slovakia’s growth. Local companies shared experiences how to give a chance also young Roma talents and workers. ( more info )
	Attracting talents abroad to come back to the region AmCham Slovakia and its BSCF members companies are part of “Work in Slovakia – Good Idea” program to attract talents from abroad to work in Slovakia for global international companies – also in Kosice. The delegation was already in London, Dublin and Coperhagen. AmCham runs web with job offers for Slovaks considering the return home.
	Mentor Network Mentor Network Program (MNP) powered by AmCham Slovakia provides talented university students with the opportunity of mentoring from the most prominent representatives of the business sector. This year marked the 8th annual reception in Košice , organized in close cooperation with CSI Leasing, US Embassy and Info USA.
	Skills for Success Business Shared Service Centers in Slovakia are finding it more and more difficult to keep growing. Many of the new open positions require candidates with specific skill sets, and fresh graduates often fail to meet the expected criteria. Through AmCham’s Business Service Center Forum (BSCF), they’ve decided to tackle this problem by preparing their future employees while they are still students. The course is offered to students at five universities in Bratislava and Košice. Read more