Provinces strengthen cooperation on digitalization
European provinces are bolstering their intergovernmental collaboration in digitalization, with a strategic focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and digital resilience and autonomy. This initiative, spearheaded by the Kring van Provinciesecretarissen (KPS), aims to concrete digitalization ambitions and drive practical implementation. The KPS has committed 12 full-time equivalents (FTE) for the next year to facilitate this enhanced cooperation, underscoring a proactive approach to digital transformation across regional administrations.
This intensified collaboration directly supports the Dutch Digitalization Strategy (NDS), enabling provinces to collectively steer digital challenges and accelerate progress on issues with significant societal impact. By prioritizing AI, cloud, and digital resilience, provinces are addressing the urgent need for continuity in essential services amidst evolving geopolitical landscapes. This strategic focus is crucial for maintaining administrative continuity and reducing reliance on non-EU technology providers.
The increased capacity allows provinces to develop greater in-house digital execution power and act as a more substantial intergovernmental partner in digital initiatives. This pooled effort fosters shared expertise and is essential for achieving the scale needed to become less dependent on external technology. The provinces intend to define a clear interprovincial course for each thematic area, contributing to future governmental program development and strengthening their collective digital sovereignty.
Curated and translated by Europe Digital for our multilingual European audience.
Why this matters for European digital sovereignty
European provinces are intensifying their collaboration on digitalization, with a strategic focus on AI, cloud, and digital resilience to enhance autonomy and reduce reliance on non-EU technology providers. This initiative directly supports national digitalization strategies by pooling resources and expertise to accelerate practical implementation and maintain continuity of essential services. By developing greater in-house digital execution power, these regional administrations aim to become more substantial partners in digital initiatives.
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