With the Fourth Industrial, i.e. Digital Revolution, we have a chance to make up for lagging behind and catch up with more developed countries. This technological revolution will fundamentally change our lives, it is inevitable and unstoppable. Only winning societies choose to welcome changes, they do not shy away from them. The Serbian government believes that Serbia is ready to lead the entire region in changes that will follow and creation of new possibilities for all. The digitisation process will enhance the standard and quality of life for hundreds of thousands of Serbian citizens. Efficiency will be increased, costs will be reduced and new value will be created in almost all areas of life and work. The digitisation process is the most important catalyst of innovations, competitiveness and growth.
The programme for the development of the information society aims to train and raise awareness about the necessity of the swift, proper and targeted inclusion of citizens, the educational system and the economy in modern digital flows.
Under the slogan “Smart and Safe”, the programme initiates and promotes projects in the areas of digital literacy, the development and application of digital skills and digital security culture.
The projects are intended for all citizens of Serbia, with special attention focused on the younger population, women, pensioners and people with disabilities.
To enhance digital security and ensure the proper use of new technologies by the youngest citizens, the National Contact Centre for Child Safety on the Internet was established as an advisory and information desk as well as a unique centre for reporting all forms of online endangerment of children via the free phone number 19833. Digital literacy and the safety of young people are also the focus of regular campaigns for elementary school students, called the IT Caravan. Another significant initiative is the capital project “Connected Schools”, aimed at raising the information and communication infrastructure in all schools in Serbia, thereby enabling the complete digitalisation of the educational process.
The Strategy for the Development of Digital Skills in the Republic of Serbia for the period 2020–2024 aims to improve the quality of life for all citizens in a modern environment and foster greater employment, work efficiency and overall economic growth. Strategic measures focus on improving digital competences within the education system, acquiring and developing basic and advanced digital skills for all citizens, raising digital skills in line with labour market needs and implementing programmes designed for ICT experts to monitor technological development and progress.
The programme for the empowerment of women in the field of information and communication technologies for the period 2019–2020 has also been implemented. This initiative encouraged primary school-aged girls to pursue careers in ICT, enabled women educated and employed in other fields to retrain through informal education for ICT roles and raised digital competences among women of all ages to combat the economic digital gap. Notably, efforts to raise digital competences among women in rural areas have also contributed to the development of electronic commerce in the Republic of Serbia.
Electronic commerce offers numerous advantages, such as saving time and money, providing comfort and greater choice for consumers and creating exceptional opportunities for the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises. The new Law on Trade and the amendments to the Law on e-Commerce, along with programmatic and promotional activities for the development of electronic commerce in Serbia, aim to maximise benefits for both the Serbian economy and society as a whole.
Implemented and planned projects contribute to the development of IT communities, the IT industry, the application of ICT in the economy and the growth of IT personnel and employment within the sector.