Sectors

Supporting or building vibrant communities of innovators and entrepreneurs is a crucial component of the process. If well supported and nurtured, sector-specific innovation communities can drive our regional economies’ growth, competitiveness, and attractiveness.

Bratislava’s Growth Plan identifies several priority sectors where we already have assets and where global demand is rising rapidly. These are the industries that can anchor long-term prosperity, attract international investment, and create jobs for our citizens:

Cybersecurity, AI & Robotics

• Bratislava is already emerging as a natural home for Cybersecurity, AI & Robotics, with strong existing assets, skills, and capabilities that drive its growth. The city hosts a vibrant tech ecosystem, world-class security and software companies, active research groups, and universities that cultivate talent in AI, automation, and cyber-resilience. Collaborative spaces, innovation centers, and expanding digital-skills programs are strengthening the pipeline of experts, while industry and academia work together on real-world applications.
• Key ecosystem stakeholders: ESET, Innovatrics, KInIT, STU (Institute of Robotics & Cyber), SAV (Institute of Informatics and Tech Transfer Office), AIslovakIA.
• Startups to watch: Brightpick, Cequence, iERP.ai, Photoneo.

Healthcare

• The urgency of challenges Slovakia faces as a country creates room for innovative technologies to improve the health outcomes of Slovak patients and increase the efficiency of diagnosis and treatment for healthcare providers. The real opportunity will be to create a favorable environment for developing, validating, and commercializing innovative healthcare products and services in the highly regulated healthcare market.
• Key ecosystem stakeholders: Institute for Research and Development at the Ministry of Health, Siemens Healthineers, Roche Slovakia, Biohub SK.
• Startups to watch: Powerful medical, Seerlinq, Healthclip, Scienticore, S-Case, Interestingsamples, STEMI Global, Glycanostics, MultiplexDX.

• Fintech

• Slovakia is internationally perceived as a rapid adopter of fintech solutions on several fronts. In comparison to other EU countries, Slovakia ranked above average in contactless payments (in 2014, it was 64% in Slovakia vs. an average of 15% across the EU), and almost 85 % of Slovakia’s population has an account in a financial institution. We are recognized as a good testing ground for new financial solutions, and many banks frequently use Slovakia’s competitive environment to test or pilot experimental projects on a smaller scale.
• Key ecosystem stakeholders: NBS, Tatra Banka, Vacuumlabs, Booster Lab, Slovak Banking Association, Slovak Fintech Association, Elevator Lab.
• Startups to watch: Payout, Finax, Zlty melon, Keepi.sk, Datamolino, Papaya Pos, Hypomo, Archiles, Besteron, Viamo.