NDS Cloud accelerator team seeks dialogue with the market

The Dutch government's NDS Cloud program is initiating an open dialogue with the market to foster a sovereign cloud infrastructure. This proactive approach, starting early in the program's exploration phase, underscores the critical role of private sector collaboration in defining and delivering future cloud services for public administration. The initiative seeks to bridge the gap between governmental needs and market capabilities, aiming for a shared understanding of what constitutes a sovereign cloud solution. This dialogue has involved multiple rounds of discussions, gathering input from a diverse range of market participants, from Dutch startups to international hyperscalers. A total of 69 qualifying entities, alongside industry associations NLdigital and Dutch Cloud Community, have contributed to shaping the program's direction. The primary objective is to explore how market players can contribute to the development of sovereign cloud services, ensuring both innovation and control for the government. The outcome of these discussions, to be made public soon, is expected to highlight the significant potential for collaboration while also signaling the necessity for the government to make definitive strategic choices. This will guide the path towards achieving greater digital sovereignty through advanced cloud adoption, potentially influencing future procurement and technological development within the public sector.