Start of the Human Genome Project — it provides the human blueprint until 2003: the first sequenced human genome.

Tim Berners-Lee invents the World Wide Web, which by 2021 is used by more than half of the world's population.

Yugoslavia dissolves, and Slovakia and the Czech Republic are formed.

Nelson Mandela becomes President of South Africa. 

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is founded. 

Dolly, the first cloned mammal, is born and sparks global ethical debates about genetic engineering.

The hype surrounding Tamagotchis leads to worldwide bans in schools.

The first Harry Potter novel is published.

The founding of the search engine Google. Just six years later, in 2004, a new era of digital networking begins with the launch of the first social media platform.

The first Smart car is launched on the market.

The euro is introduced as the currency in eleven EU countries.

PALFINGER goes public, and the 100,000th crane is delivered.