Digital First! Reform in the Swedish Public Sector

June 2015

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Author: Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation Government Offices of Sweden

The Digital First! Reform aims to modernise and transform the Swedish public sector by prioritising digital channels and services. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation, this reform is part of a broader strategy to harness the opportunities presented by digitalisation and to position Sweden as a global leader in digital innovation.

Objectives

  1. Innovative and Collaborative Government:
    • Foster innovation and collaboration within government administration.
    • Enhance transparency to support innovation and public participation.
    • Improve the quality and efficiency of government activities.
  2. Simpler Day-to-Day Life for Citizens:
    • Simplify interactions between citizens and the government through user-friendly digital services.
    • Ensure that public services are easily accessible and efficient.
  3. A Transparent and Supportive Administration:
    • Increase the transparency of government operations to foster trust and accountability.
    • Support innovation by providing open data and encouraging public participation.
  4. Enhanced Quality and Efficiency:
    • Streamline government processes and improve service delivery through digital solutions.
    • Utilise data and technology to optimise government functions and reduce administrative burdens.

Key Areas of Focus

  1. Digital Renewal and Governance:
    • Establish a solid national digital infrastructure to support digital government initiatives.
    • Implement governance frameworks that ensure the effective use of digital technologies across the public sector.
  2. Open Data and MyData:
    • Promote the use of open government data to drive innovation and economic growth.
    • Develop MyData initiatives to empower citizens with control over their personal data and improve data privacy.
  3. Big Data and Smart Government:
    • Leverage big data technologies, including sensors, blockchain, and cognitive computing, to enhance government operations.
    • Foster a smart government that utilises digital tools to create public value and support a smart society and economy.
  4. Public Sector Information (PSI):
    • Encourage the use and sharing of public sector information to stimulate innovation and improve public services.
    • Ensure that PSI is accessible and usable by various stakeholders, including private companies and citizens.
  5. E-Government to Digital Government:
    • Transition from e-government, which focuses on using ICTs to improve government efficiency, to digital government, which emphasises creating public value through digital interactions.
    • Develop a digital government ecosystem that supports the production and access to data, services, and content.

Implementation Strategies

  1. Supporting Supply and Demand:
    • Focus on supporting government agencies and private suppliers in providing digital services.
    • Promote social innovation and support startups and scale-ups to drive digital public innovation.
  2. Aggregation and Standardisation:
    • Link and standardise data sources to ensure interoperability and usability.
    • Develop guidelines and regulations to support data aggregation and standardisation efforts.
  3. Understanding New Technologies:
    • Invest in AI, analytics, and distributed technologies to stay at the forefront of digital innovation.
    • Promote understanding of these technologies and their potential impact on public services and society.
  4. National Archives and Open Data:
    • Leverage the expertise of national archives to promote open data initiatives.
    • Provide platforms like opendata.se and Datahotell to facilitate data sharing and accessibility.