GovTech in Europe: How technology advancements lead to interoperability
Public services are becoming more efficient through sharing information
For governments worldwide, the market for increasing the productivity of public services with the use of technology, also known as GovTech, is worth more than 365 billion euro. GovTech shapes the future of government services by enabling governments to operate with innovation and agility by streamlining administrative processes, increasing the quality of public services, and fostering transparency. As part of the Interoperable Europe Act (IEA) that came into force in April 2024, GovTech can support interregional cooperation by providing technical solutions that can be used by multiple governments.
To stimulate cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises, public, and private institutions, the Commision has set up the GovTech Connect project. In this community, knowledge and experiences can be easily shared to accelerate innovation in the public sector. The importance of collaboration and innovation is emphasised in the clauses of the IEA, together with identifying priorities and common innovation needs, showing how GovTech initiatives support interoperability.
As part of GovTech Connect and uniting 26 organisations from 18 different countries, the GovTech4All project was designed to improve public sector technology. There are three pilot projects on which GovTech4All focuses: Secure Cross-Border Information Sharing in data spaces, Personal Regulation Assistant for EU citizens, and the GovTech Startup Challenge for innovative procurement. Data.europa.eu supports these initiatives for an interoperable Europe by providing free access to more than 1 700 000 open datasets from different Member States, which can be used by the GovTech community.
The GovTech initiatives are a good start for innovation in the public sector. Nonetheless, Europe needs to overcome barriers like procurement processes, demand for innovation, and a fragmented market. By sharing data and enhancing collaboration, the full potential of GovTech can be reached.
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