Dr. Siniša Grgić is a researcher, author, publisher, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, who created the leading business reporting company in Croatia (poslovna.hr) and initiated dozens of NGOs. He is a graduate engineer who has completed numerous programs related to the United Nations at Columbia, Fordham, and Harvard Universities and holds a Ph.D. from the University of Zagreb in the field of social network analysis. He is an expert in databases and has also graduated from Harvard Business School. Currently, he is the Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to the Kingdoms of Sweden and Latvia, and on April 24th, at the MoStart conference at the University of Mostar, he will deliver the keynote lecture.
You have lived abroad for many years but still maintain a strong connection with Croatia, especially with the business community. What binds you most to your homeland?
My connection to the homeland is multidimensional; from family and professional ties, numerous research culminating in two encyclopedias (Encyclopedia of Croatian Surnames and Homeland Encyclopedia), to proudly representing my country in the world, first as a general consul in the USA and then as the Croatian ambassador in Sweden and Latvia. As the founder of the first Croatian company dealing with business intelligence and as an advocate of the competitiveness of the Croatian economy and the importance of exports, I was primarily focused on improving business in Croatia. Regardless of my current role in Sweden, my heart remains in the homeland, and the greatest compliment to me is when some people in international circles reproach me for being too "Croatocentric."
The European Union is a pioneer in regulating the use of artificial intelligence (AI). How will this decision affect the development of new AI tools, and their everyday use?
The EU's regulation of artificial intelligence lays the groundwork for ethical AI use, which can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it will set standards for privacy protection and ethical decision-making, but on the other hand, it could slow down innovation due to stringent requirements. As someone from the field of information sciences, I believe that regulation should encourage the development of more responsible and transparent AI tools, which could increase user trust in technology. However, following the not-so-great experience with the infamous GDPR, which solidified the positions of big players, primarily American tech giants, and prevented the emergence of a new Croatian or European "Google" or "Facebook," we have just received another confirmation of the old rule – regulate only what is necessary!
Given your expertise in the field of social network analysis, what are the key changes you have noticed in their impact on everyday life? How do you comment on the EU's decisions to regulate in this area?
The drastic increase in the influence of social networks on daily life has led to changes in communication, business, and politics. The EU's regulations in this area, such as the GDPR, were more of a panicked reaction to the fear of powerful companies meddling in political and even electoral processes. To defend against "unfair" competition, European politicians wanted to protect individual privacy and ensure data transparency. However, what we warned about from the beginning happened. The big ones easily obtained all possible consents from their users, because if you don't click "accept," your email doesn't work, you don't have navigation, you don't have your photos that you've shared with friends for years... The small ones had no chance to get the same or similar consent from new users because people are naturally more cautious towards new unknown companies. The result was that we made the powerful even more powerful. In the meantime, these big ones have even dared to interfere more directly in politics, starting to censor posts from unsuitable users and further promote those from suitable ones, influencing elections in much larger countries than Croatia.
Analysts like me, in terms of processing and interpreting large datasets, are not limited by the legal framework, as we mostly work on anonymized data (without names and surnames). However, we know very well what those who have the "consent" of their users to use their personal data in shaping general social attitudes can do.
As an expert in databases, how do big data influence business processes and decision-making in today's world?
Large volumes of data have revolutionized business processes, enabling more accurate analyses and predictions. This practice allows some companies, and better-organized states, to be proactive instead of reactive, leading us to more innovative and efficient solutions.
In my work, I regularly use large databases because I am interested in facts, not impressions. There is hardly any global, national, or local topic in which I haven't found a larger or smaller gap between facts and narrative. What worries me is that sometimes these narratives are so strong that they don't allow anyone to come out even with bare facts, like during the recent pandemic. Axel Oxenstierna, an influential advisor to the Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus, once said: "Son, do you still not understand how little wisdom governs the world?"
As the founder of the leading business reporting company in Croatia, can you share your vision of how technological innovations shape the business world?
Technological innovations fundamentally drive the global economy, changing the way companies operate and how decisions are made. Poslovna Hrvatska was the first analytical tool for business entities in Croatia, where users could get an objective picture of their business partner or associate based on business results and not just the story that the partner would tell them. That is why we used the technological innovations of the time in business reporting, which enabled companies to better understand their market and adapt to changing conditions. If I were to enter entrepreneurship again today, I would definitely deal with the application of artificial intelligence. That is the wave that as many Croatian entrepreneurs as possible should catch to gain a better position in a completely new economic environment that will be not 10 or 20 percent smarter but a thousand times smarter than what we see today.
Considering your education at the University of Zagreb and Harvard, and the practical skills you gained through entrepreneurship, how do they affect your current role as the Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to the Kingdom of Sweden?
My education and entrepreneurial skills have allowed me to develop a unique approach to diplomacy, focusing on innovation, strategic planning, and building stronger international relations. As an ambassador, I use these skills to promote the interests of the Republic of Croatia, strengthen bilateral ties, and encourage cooperation between the Croatian and Swedish economies, especially in the areas of technology and innovation.
At the end of April, you are arriving in Mostar for the MoStart conference, where you will give the keynote lecture on "weaving a network of knowledge." What can participants expect from this lecture?
Participants can expect an inspirational lecture with an emphasis on the importance of building knowledge networks in today's globalized world. Based on my experiences in social network analysis, entrepreneurship, and diplomacy, I will try to simply demonstrate how connecting with the right people and exchanging knowledge can open doors to incredible opportunities and stimulate innovation. By sharing practical examples, we should motivate participants to actively build and nurture their professional networks and never, ever stop learning.
