Platform economy, smart city innovations and social networks are radically transforming our lives. We strive to ensure that policy-making in this area does not overlook the interests of modern and forward-looking consumers.

We have executed a 2-year project that eventually led to update of the regulatory framework for the platform economy and made it fit for the 21st century. Thanks to our efforts, Slovakia became a trailblazer in the CEE region and crafted a successful, innovative and future-proof regulatory model for policy-makers in other countries to follow.

Cryptocurrencies, blockchains and innovative fintech services challenge the hegemony of traditional banks and revolutionize the way we deal with money. While closing the loopholes for tax evasion and money laundering, regulatory authorities must at the same time guarantee that these innovations can flourish and allow general users to benefit from such innovative financial services products.

CEE countries have seen a rapid uptake of modern financial services products – for instance, in just three years, the number of mobile payments in Slovakia increased by 2,722% and the volume (in EUR) rose by 3,015%.

We have developed a set of tangible recommendations that will support Slovakia’s goal of increasing the efficiency of public financial management while assessing the current mechanisms of government payment flows (disbursement, collection, government expenses, etc.).

As European states are striving to be global leaders in sustainability, the amount of initiatives is constantly changing the ways we approach the environment, energy production, transportation, and housing. Delicate compromises have to be found to balance the needs of our planet and its population.

At the Smart Consumer Institute, we have authored market analysis of Slovak utilities sector, shaped the national debates on energy efficiency or presented best practices in energy efficient construction to regulators and the public, motivating thousands of consumers to increase the energy efficiency of their homes.

The food chain is currently undergoing transformational changes. Transition to sustainable food systems is essential to achieve climate ambitions, protect biodiversity, enhance public health, and ensure food safety and security. The agri-food supply chain must be sustainable, resilient, and reliable and facilitate healthy and sustainable consumer choice.

Health systems in the CEE region and all over the world face an unprecedented crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic has only laid bare the urgent necessity for major overhaul of the paradigm how we approach and shape our health systems – not only technologically but also philosophically.

Good health and wellbeing are namely connected to a variety of overarching factors including not only quality of healthcare facilities or fair and timely access to healthcare but also healthy lifestyles. A robust, well-functioning, more patient-centred health ecosystem built upon digital technologies has a potential to provide inspiration for renewed, innovative and high-quality solutions that fulfil unmet medical needs and deliver enhanced social well-being in a multi-faceted manner (i. e., in partnerships with patients, healthcare professionals, healthcare providers, health insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies as well as regulators or academia).