It’s hard to believe digital government is barely 20 years old. But what is next? Nowadays, citizens, government agencies, coders, benefit recipients, fonctionnaires are all united in a complex, interlocking chain of supplier, user, dispenser, creator, regulator. What does it take to make this complex system work? And if we can identify that, how can we come together to serve citizens better?
To answer these and many more questions, the Lisbon Council convened The 2023 Digital Government Summit. For the first time in Brussels, Mykhailo Fedorov, vice prime minister for innovation, development of education science and technology and minister of digital transformation of Ukraine, delivered a fascinating keynote on the landmark Diia platform and its functionalities. Johannes Hahn, European commissioner for budget and administration, joined the conversation with a preview of the Interoperable Europe Act proposal, which goal is to deepen trans-national collaboration in the digital government field. Against this background, the Digital Government Summit witnessed the official launch of the Govtech4all, a four-year collaboration initiative running under the DIGITAL guiding programme, which goal is to innovate the way governments deliver citizen services digitally. The Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine is one of 21 key European partners in the consortium with more to join soon.
Additionally, two panels further enriched the conversation and put upfront shared challenges and successes from several key stakeholders in Europe. Mark Boris Andrijanič, member of the governing board, European Institute of Technology (EIT); former minister of digital transformation (Slovenia); Luukas K. Ilves, government CIO and undersecretary for digital transformation, Ministry of Economy and Communications (Estonia); Frank Leyman, international relations manager, FPS Policy and Support (BOSA) (Belgium); and Idoia Ortiz de Artiñano Goñi, CEO and founder, Gobe (Spain) presented innovative programmes running across Europe and questioned new instruments and necessary skills for governments to develop better, faster and more simple solutions for the citizens.
The debate continued with interventions from leading members of the Govtech4all consortium and other experts discussing the scope for collaboration and the power to drive social change and economic improvement. Nitesh Bharosa, professor of govtech and innovation, University of Delft; academic director, Digicampus (The Netherlands); Cláudia Gonçalves Barroso, head of international and institutional affairs, Administrative Modernisation Agency (Portugal) and Pavlo Kartashov, CEO, Ukrainian Startup Fund presented successful examples of govtech implementation and how the Govtech4all initiative can improve the ecosystem.
Watch VPM Mykhailo Fedorov Keynote
Watch the panel discussion
Download Mykhailo Fedorov Presentation
Download Nitesh Bharosa Presentation
Download Luukas K. Ilves Presentation
Download Pavlo Kartashov Presentation
Download Press Release