The approach to knowledge management in Slovakia is conditioned by two factors.  One is the historic fact that 15 years ago, Slovakia re-emerged after more than 1000 years of subsistence in someone else’s shadow, and started creating its own image from the scratch.  The other is the abrupt change in the socio-political paradigm, also that during the last 15 years.  This has resulted in restructuring of Slovakia’s industrial complex: one part of it was privatized, mostly into foreign hands, the other part is idling. 

Currently the emphasis is on developing the car industry as the country’s main source of revenue.  This is done with the help of leading European and Asian car constructors.  The process goes on smoothly, as Slovakia has an abundance of highly qualified workforce of all levels, and the cost of labor is not prohibitive.  The question is what next, what will be the course of development after car production has passed its zenith sometime in the future.  It is here that knowledge management comes into the picture.

The Slovaks approach this problem from the top.  Judging by articles in the leading economic daily Hospodárske noviny, there is a consensus that the only remedy to future problems is a domestic knowledge-based economy (knowledge-based economy is characterized by the use of knowledge to produce a high value return; more on this in a forthcoming article). At least, this is the message of the country’s Minister of Finance.  In a recent speech (25 October 2005) delivered in the HNClub, the Minister outlined a dedicated program called Minerva to help Slovakia transit into knowledge-based economy.  The Minerva consists of two parts.  One part comprises reforms and restructuring of the national economy, currently nearing its end.  The other part is the development of knowledge economy by stimulating entrepreneurship, more investment into education and innovation, and a broader application of IT.  According to the Minister, the reforms generate conditions for growth in the near and medium terms, knowledge economy in the long term.

Leading managers of high-tech enterprises agree with this conclusion, and admit that without government support the transition would not be possible.  They also offer a great deal of advice on the importance of IP, IT, and other abbreviations.  However, many people would probably agree that for Slovakia to succeed in the globalized world, it is necessary to develop efficacious administrative structures and skills, boost the awareness of the intellectual capital (particularly of the importance of brand names, trade names and relational assets), as well as implement advanced manufacturing and manufacturing-on-demand.