The Role of Academy of Science in Creation of the Slovak Computer Industry

Abstract

The paper deals with the evolution of computer technology and consecutive creation of computer industry in Slovakia - the Eastern and less industrially developed part of Czechoslovakia in the years 1952-1989 at the context of Czechoslovak, COMECON and World state of art of electronics and computer technology. It analyzes how this process was influenced by the Institute of Technical Cybernetics (ÚTK) at the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV), summarizes positive and negative aspects of this development and aftereffects on the contemporary situation. Last and not least documents how visionary persons and their enthusiastic teams could achieve ambitious, at the first glance unreachable goals.