Slovakia can be proud of its promising scientists and entrepreneurs, Forbes Slovakia reports. (source: Šimíček, Vladimír)
Business magazine Forbes Slovakia has published a list of individuals that it characterises as 'changemakers', who it says are transforming Slovakia for the better. The list was published on Thursday, February 29.
"The current media space is inundated with numerous diversionary topics meant to distract attention from real challenges. With Forbes Changemakers, we aimed to redirect focus onto individuals addressing issues that genuinely concern us as a society," explained Milan Čupka, the editor of Forbes Slovakia.
Personalities were selected for their achievements in four categories such as artificial intelligence, green initiatives, modern medicine, and education. Forbes selected three influential figures in each category.
Among them is Pavol Čekan, a scientist and the CEO of biotechnology startup MultiplexDX. He is recognised for his groundbreaking work in developing a unique breast cancer test and personalised treatment.
Additionally, recognition extends to Mária Bieliková, the director of the Kempelen Institute of Intelligent Technologies, for her notable contributions in the field of artificial intelligence.
What do these changemaking Slovaks do?
For the green transformation sector, Forbes recognised the efforts of Andrea and Martin Basila, who introduced a waste monitoring solution. Bureaucrat Martin Kríž earned a place in the ranking for advocating educational reform and assisting teachers in navigating information overload.
Milan Jurky, who convinced a multinational corporation to develop new electric vehicle systems in Kysuce, is also highlighted. His initiative supported the creation of hundreds of new jobs and positioned Slovakia as a hub for specialised centres in new technologies.
Forbes based its rankings on statistics regarding quality of life in Slovakia and public opinion surveys addressing the most pressing issues for Slovaks. "Subsequently, we identified an intersection of these problems with globally resonant topics, forming part of a significant transformation that is challenging and propelling human society forward," added Čupka.
