The conference was held through two parallel tracks – IT and Business – and this year participants had the opportunity to hear lectures from experts from Mindsmiths, A1 Croatia, Emil Frey Digital, Burai AI, Aircash, Arbona Digital Agency, Upheave, Podravka, L’Oréal and Solvership. Marta Šoštarec, Matej Metelko, Marko Štajcer, Leon Mirčić, Hrvoje Kovačević, Marko Krmek, Mario Jurić, Maja Krivić, Marin Maškarin and Bruno Premužaj shared their knowledge and experiences. These experts from various fields demonstrated how AI is used in practice—from software development and football scouting analysis to marketing in the age of AI, financial security, skincare supported by AI solutions, and culinary digital tools.
AI in the real world — the topics that drew the most interest
Students and pupils especially emphasized the value of lectures that showed how artificial intelligence is applied in everyday work processes. The IT track covered how AI is transforming software development, how it enables more precise football scouting, and why emotional artificial intelligence is becoming a new direction for advanced digital solution development. Significant attention was also drawn to the session on what an IT career looks like in the age of AI and which competencies will be crucial for future IT professionals. All of the speakers acquired their foundational knowledge at the Faculty of Organization and Informatics and, as FOI alumni, delivered lectures demonstrating how the basic knowledge gained during their studies became the foundation of their current careers.
The Business track addressed topics such as AI transformation models within large Croatian corporations, changes in user behavior in the era of AI-driven search, advanced digital advertising tools, the development of personalized skincare solutions, and the creation of a culinary AI assistant. Interest was also sparked by the presentation of a real-time transaction monitoring system.
Keynote lecture by Ivan Šimičević on the future of digital banking
The final part of the conference was marked by the keynote talk delivered by Ivan Šimičević, a member of the Management Board of OTP Bank responsible for digitalization and operations. Through an overview of his career and key projects—from the largest banking integration in Croatia to the implementation of the euro and the development of modern mobile banking—Šimičević highlighted how artificial intelligence is becoming an integral part of the strategic development of financial institutions. He also emphasized the importance of continuous learning, adapting to new technologies, and understanding AI as essential skills for all future professionals.
FOI as a bridge between education and industry
This year’s Tech&Business Talks@FOI once again demonstrated the strong interest of young people in artificial intelligence, digital transformation, data analytics and new types of IT careers. Participants noted that real-world examples were particularly valuable, and the conference reaffirmed FOI’s role as an important bridge between the education system and industry.
The event was organized by the FOI Student support and career development center.
