{"id":13062,"date":"2025-06-08T18:03:59","date_gmt":"2025-06-08T16:03:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inova.to\/?p=13062"},"modified":"2025-06-08T18:03:59","modified_gmt":"2025-06-08T16:03:59","slug":"from-a-poor-country-to-one-of-the-worlds-top-13-economies-what-can-slovakia-learn-from-south-korea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inova.to\/en\/from-a-poor-country-to-one-of-the-worlds-top-13-economies-what-can-slovakia-learn-from-south-korea\/","title":{"rendered":"From a poor country to one of the world’s top 13 economies: What can Slovakia learn from South Korea?"},"content":{"rendered":"

As part of the <\/span>Slovakia\u2013Korea Knowledge Sharing Program 2024\/25<\/b>, organized by the <\/span>Slovak Innovation and Energy Agency (SIEA)<\/b><\/a> in cooperation with the <\/span>Korea Development Institute (KDI)<\/b><\/a>, we had the opportunity to travel to Korea. The goal was not only to admire the success but, above all, to understand the principles behind it and to explore ways to adapt them to the Slovak environment.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Strategic thinking\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Innovation in South Korea is no accident. It is the result of long-term strategic planning, infrastructure development, and strong collaboration between the public and private sectors. The state does not play a passive role here but actively coordinates and connects universities, startups, and local governments.<\/span><\/p>\n

Vladim\u00edr Tanistr\u00e1k<\/strong>, Chief State Adviser in the Strategy Department at the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic, points out that Korea\u2019s success is largely due to strong coordination between the government and businesses, especially in the fields of technology, energy, and export-oriented manufacturing.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFrom a historical perspective, one can see the firm hand of the state in decision-making \u2014 the so-called top-down approach. Unlike Korea, Slovakia lacks a strong structure of large domestically owned companies, so applying the Korean model of coordination between government and businesses would be very challenging,\u201d<\/span><\/i> adds Tanistr\u00e1k.<\/span><\/p>\n

Katar\u00edna Augustini,<\/strong> Director General of the Strategy Section at the Ministry of Economy, adds that Korean success is driven by a hardworking and agile approach \u2014 a quality Slovakia also possesses but needs to utilize more effectively.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Collaboration and investment in human capital\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Peter Golia\u0161<\/strong> from the Institute for Strategies and Analysis (ISA) highlights the unique cooperation between the academic, private, and public sectors, especially in supporting startup entrepreneurs. <\/span>South Korea has built a strong infrastructure that provides financial, legal, and analytical services, as well as tax and financial incentives.<\/strong> Slovakia currently lacks such systemic support at the university level, which presents a significant opportunity for improvement.<\/span><\/p>\n

Like Korea, Slovakia cannot rely on natural resources.<\/span>\u201cAs our Korean partners told us, if they had to choose one thing that was the key to their prosperity, it would be investments in human capital through systematic support of science, research, and innovation<\/strong>,\u201d<\/em> explains Golia\u0161.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

What did we see in South Korea?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

We visited leading institutions such as KAIST, Startup Village, Incheon Technopark, Yonsei University, Celltrion, and the Korea Hydrogen Alliance.<\/strong> Each of these places focuses on a different area \u2014 from smart cities to biotechnology \u2014 yet they all share one thing: connectivity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Startups collaborate with universities, universities work with companies, companies cooperate with cities, and cities coordinate with the state. The result is faster innovation, more effective application of research in practice, and higher competitiveness.<\/span><\/p>\n

Anna \u010caplovi\u010dov\u00e1<\/strong>, Executive Director of INOVATO, emphasizes that Korea built a functional system practically from scratch and today ranks among the world leaders in innovation and technology.<\/strong> The state plays a key role and makes many decisions from the top down, maintaining a strongly centralized approach. Combined with the mentality, hard work, and emphasis on education, this created a very strong foundation for development.<\/span><\/p>\n

Our different cultural and social environment does not allow us to transfer everything from their approach to our conditions. \u201cBut what I would most like to bring to Slovakia is their ability to set clear priorities and support them long-term \u2014 regardless of who is in power. Such cohesion and continuity would greatly benefit our companies, researchers, and the entire economy,\u201d<\/em> \u010caplovi\u010dov\u00e1 says.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
Zobrazi\u0165 tento pr\u00edspevok na Instagrame<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pr\u00edspevok, ktor\u00fd zdie\u013ea INOVATO (@inovato.sk)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n