Bled, Slovenia, February 22: 23 participants from various academic and business organizations around the world gathered at IEDC – Bled School of Management for an afternoon event to discuss the potential establishment of Bled Institute For Leadership In Digital Transformation And Artificial Intelligence (BILDAI).
The participants came from IEDC-Bled School of Management, Roche, Microsoft, University of Oxford, ETH Zurich, European School of Management and Technology (ESMT), Better, Cosylab, Comtrade, University of Maribor, University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten, IFA – French Institute of Directors, University College Dublin (UCD), New Frontier Group, University of Edinburgh, Harvard and Florida International University,
The event began with special opening talks from experts in the field of digital transformation and AI, including Prof. Danica Purg, President of IEDC; Eva McLellan, General Manager of Roche Slovenia; and Mag. Samo Zorc, AI Policy Expert at the Ministry for Digital Transformation of Slovenia. They highlighted the importance of the BILDAI initiative and the potential it has to shape the future of leadership in digital transformation and AI.
The 23 participants discussed in breakout groups three sets of questions related to the potential for a BILDAI ecosystem in Slovenia, the activities and outputs of BILDAI, and who should be involved and how BILDAI should cooperate with others.
The event generated valuable insights and conclusions, including the potential for a digital ecosystem in Slovenia, with a focus on business, science and society rather than just technology. The institute would be designed to help guide leadership and executive engagement, support product enhancement, and facilitate business model transformation. Additionally, the participants discussed the importance of addressing ethical and legal aspects, disseminating trends and best practices, and tailoring programs to meet the needs of specific audiences, including "teach the teacher" initiatives.
One of the most notable conclusions was the potential for BILDAI to support with the IEDC’s professors’ learning competences and experience a large pool of AI experts, industry and government networks. Furthermore, the participants highlighted the importance of open structured dialogue on the implementation, benefits, and limitations of BILDAI, and emphasized the need for cooperation with other organizations.
The event concluded with closing remarks from Prof. Stjepan Orešković, President of IEDC Supervisory Board, who thanked the participants for their insightful contributions and expressed his excitement for the potential of BILDAI.
Overall, the event was a success, with participants engaging in productive discussions and generating valuable insights for the establishment of BILDAI. The organizers expressed their gratitude to the participants and emphasized the importance of continued cooperation and collaboration in the development of this important initiative.