Steel production is deep-rooted in Košice. The first steel mills were established in the 1960s, and since then steel production has become the city’s most important sector.
There have been several rumours that the current owner of the largest steel plant in Slovakia, the American steelworks U.S. Steel, might depart Košice. Hence, the city needs to diversify the economy into several areas and look for potential in future technologies.
The last 10 years have been marked by the evolving IT business. IT companies are vital for innovation in Košice, however, their profile of shared service centres raises concerns among experts.