Oracle is growing globally thanks to the huge demand for data centers and AI-related projects. How do you see the role of Bosnia and Herzegovina in this new era, where can we position ourselves in the field of artificial intelligence compared to the world?
Bosnia and Herzegovina, although a relatively small country in terms of market and population, has several important advantages in the new era of digitalization and artificial intelligence. First of all, our young experts in the IT industry are already recognized for their knowledge and competencies, often working for foreign clients or developing their own innovations. BiH can position itself as a respectable regional center for smart implementation of AI solutions, especially in areas relevant to our economic environment, such as industry, public administration and healthcare.
Through partnerships with global companies such as Oracle, we can accelerate the transfer of technology and knowledge, provide local companies with access to the most modern tools and create an environment for the growth of innovation. Although we cannot compete with leading countries in the development of AI infrastructure itself or large global AI models, we can excel in the adaptation and practical application of existing AI technologies, which will improve the competitiveness of our economy and the quality of life of citizens.
To what extent do you think BiH has a developed ecosystem for AI startups and what needs to be done to develop such an ecosystem?
Currently, the ecosystem for AI startups in BiH is fragmented. There are several interesting startup ventures and incubators, but there is not enough developed support through investment funds, mentoring, access to global markets and connections with large companies. In order to create a sustainable ecosystem, it is necessary to:
- Implement specialized education programs for AI and data science at universities, in cooperation with industry, so that students acquire not only theoretical, but also practical knowledge.
-Launch dedicated funds and grants for the early stages of startup development, along with mentoring programs and access to coworking spaces.
- Organize hackathons, meetups and professional conferences that bring together startups, investors and corporate partners, thus opening opportunities for partnerships and pilot projects.
- Facilitate bureaucratic processes and company registration through digitalization of administration, shortening procedures and reducing costs.
- Encourage cooperation with large companies, such as Oracle, which can bring access to the latest technologies, market channels and software support.
When we compare BiH with countries in the region, such as Slovenia and Croatia, which already have significant AI initiatives and startups, what is the first step to reduce this gap?
The most important and urgent step is the creation and concrete implementation of a national strategy for the development of artificial intelligence. Such a strategy should clearly identify priorities (e.g. healthcare, education, public administration), key actors (state, universities, private sector), and define measures and resources for their development.
It is necessary to invest additional efforts in connecting with regional AI communities, participating in joint projects, using experiences and good practices from the region, and seeking partnerships for joint appearances on the international market. In addition, increasing investments in STEM education and creating opportunities for practical work on innovative projects of domestic and foreign companies can stimulate talent development and reduce the gap.
Where do you see the greatest potential for the application of artificial intelligence in BiH? Is it in banking, healthcare, public administration, or in industries such as energy and logistics?
Artificial intelligence has a wide range of applications, but the fastest and most visible results can be achieved in the sectors you just mentioned, which are already in the process of digital transformation:
Healthcare: Automated medical data processing, digital diagnostics, personalized therapies, and clinical decision support can significantly improve the healthcare system and optimize costs.
Banking and Finance: Automation of credit and insurance processing, fraud detection, personalized offers, and improved user experience through chatbots and intelligent advisors.
Public Administration: More efficient resource management, automation of administrative processes, faster and more accurate processing of requests and documents.
Energy and Logistics: Supply chain optimization, energy consumption forecasting, smart grid management, and preventive equipment maintenance.
Oracle, through its cloud, big data and AI solutions, is already enabling such transformations and we are ready to help implement them in BiH.
Given Oracle's global partnerships with OpenAI and SoftBank on the Stargate megaproject, which is focused on AI infrastructure, to what extent can BiH participate in or benefit from similar initiatives at the regional level and can such a partnership be replicated in our environment?
The Stargate project, jointly implemented by Oracle, Nvidia and SoftBank, represents one of the most ambitious AI and cloud infrastructure initiatives today. What makes Stargate extremely interesting is the planned construction of the world's largest artificial intelligence data center in Japan, which will be able to support the work of the next generation of AI models, including those developed by OpenAI.
Projects such as Stargate make available the most advanced infrastructure and tools globally for the development and implementation of AI solutions, which, on top of that, also use 100% renewable energy. Through Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, local companies, academic institutions and the public sector can use highly scalable AI resources without the need for large investments in their own data centers.
This opens up unimagined opportunities for developing innovations, testing new models and services, but and for the creation of regional AI centers of excellence that can serve for education, joint development and export of smart solutions. Partnerships with Oracle provide mentoring and technical support, and our goal in BiH is to enable local teams to access these resources as easily as possible, while complying with all security and legal requirements.
What would you say to young IT professionals and entrepreneurs in BiH who want to build careers in the field of AI? Where should they focus and how can they connect with global trends?
I would advise young people to be curious, to continuously improve and follow the latest trends through online courses from leading world universities, to actively participate on platforms such as Kaggle, GitHub and Stack Overflow and to get involved in international online communities and competitions. It is very important to develop not only technical skills, but also “soft” skills: communication, presentation and teamwork.
I would also recommend that they look for opportunities to cooperate with companies that invest in AI – whether through internships, summer schools, open-source projects or hackathons. Oracle offers many opportunities to get involved in the global AI community through academic cooperation programs, free certificates and local events.
What is your opinion on the role of the state and the business community in creating a framework that will encourage the development of AI in BiH? Is current institutional support sufficient or are fundamental changes needed in the approach to digital transformation?
The state has a key responsibility in creating the strategy, legislative framework and infrastructure needed for the digital future. It is necessary to ensure much faster decision-making, invest in STEM education, and open institutions for cooperation with the private and academic sectors. Transparent procedures for public-private partnerships, simpler grant schemes, and modernization of regulations in line with EU standards are needed.
The business community should be proactive - invest in research and development, share knowledge with universities, support innovation and open opportunities for young talents. Today's institutional support is not enough for the dynamism of the AI sector - faster and fundamental changes are needed, as well as stronger cooperation between all stakeholders.
