CAF -Development Bank of Latin America– and the IE PublicTech Lab from the IE School of Global and Public Affairs, an institution that is part of IE University, launched the report “Govtech and the future of government”, that analyzes the impact of govtech ecosystems in the region, as well as how they can contribute to the economic recovery.
In a world where citizens demand immediacy and personalization of services and where new digital technologies permeate most of our activities, govtech ecosystems present a new type of public-private alliances that promote innovation in the public sector. These alliances give governments agility, flexibility, innovation, and specialized private sector capabilities. This is especially relevant at the local level and in sectors where the citizen is the end-user.
According to the report, govtech ecosystems in the world are worth around 400,000 million dollars annually, and therefore they represent an opportunity for governments to work more efficiently while supporting economic development and promoting digital SMEs with high added value in the region.
“The States’ digitization agenda was important, but now it is essential. For this reason, we must put our States in startup mode for recovery. It is not about digitizing the procedures, but about rethinking the State by putting the citizen at the center, a citizen that is now digital,” says Carlos Santiso, Director of Digital Innovation of the State at CAF.
The digital transformation of governments is finding a new ally in startups, scaleups, and digital SMEs with a public vocation. They not only seek financial returns but also to create public value and social impact. His proposal focuses on its public impact through the improvement of services for citizens and companies, the operational efficiency of public administrations, the consolidation of the digital and data infrastructure, and the promotion of public integrity and the prevention of corruption. They also represent a powerful tool for public policy to foster entrepreneurship and promote new growth segments.
Read the report: Govtech and the future of government (Spanish).
Original source: CAF
