57th ICA Conference Programme

Annual General Assembly at FPS BOSA

Welcome Event

FPS BOSA

Welcome Address by:

Mr. Jack Hamande, Director General Digital Transformation at FPS Policy and Support | Brussels

Closing of the Day

Welcome Coffee

Opening & Welcome Remarks

Welcome by:

Chair

Vasilis Koulolias, Executive Director - Founder, eGovlab - Stockholm University | Sweden and Presidential Advisor in ICT | Botswana

Programme Committee Chair

Ms. Karen Kee, Deputy Director, GovTech | Singapore

Special Welcome

Mr. Mathieu Michel, Secretary of State for Digitization | Belgium

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Steven Latré, Lead for AI Research | Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (IMEC)

Beyond Tech Trends: Data and AI Use Cases and Implementation for Governments

In the ever-evolving landscape of tech, data and artificial intelligence (AI) have emerged as key drivers of digital transformation across various sectors. As government Chief Information Officers (CIOs), it is essential to explore and understand the practical use cases and effective implementation strategies for data and AI in government settings. This discussion aims to foster an engaging discussion among government CIOs to delve into the realm of data and AI, considering the latest trends and their implications for government operations.

Key Discussion Areas:

Exploring Data as a Strategic Asset: Understand the significance of data as a strategic asset for governments. Discuss the challenges and opportunities related to data collection, management, quality assurance, governance, and privacy. Explore how governments can leverage data to drive evidence-based decision-making, enhance service delivery, and foster innovation.

• Unleashing the Power of AI in Government: Discover the potential use cases of AI in government operations, including areas such as intelligent automation, predictive analytics, citizen engagement, and personalized services. Explore how AI technologies, including machine learning and natural language processing, can be harnessed to streamline processes, improve operational efficiency, and enhance citizen experiences.
• Best Practices for AI Implementation: Share best practices and lessons learned from successful AI implementations in government. Discuss the importance of developing AI strategies aligned with government priorities, ensuring transparency and explainability of AI algorithms, addressing biases and ethical considerations, and fostering partnerships and collaborations for AI innovation.
• Leveraging Language Models (LLM) for Government Communication: Examine the potential of Language Models (LLM) in enhancing government communication and citizen engagement. Discuss how LLM can be utilized for content generation, multilingual interactions, chatbots, and automated translation services. Explore successful use cases of LLM in government contexts and consider the ethical and privacy implications.
• Overcoming Challenges: Identify common challenges encountered during data and AI implementation in government settings, such as data quality, interoperability, privacy concerns, ethical considerations, and change management. Discuss strategies to overcome these challenges, including capacity building, skill development, stakeholder engagement, and collaboration within and across government agencies.

Session Chairs

Ms. Karen Kee, Deputy Director, GovTech | Singapore

Panel of Experts

Mr. Mitsuhiro Osafune, Deputy Director, Digital Agency | Japan

Mr. Seung Hyun Lee, Director General, Presidential Committee on the Digital Platform Government | Republic of Korea

Mr. Cheow Hoe Chan, Government Chief Digital Technology Officer, GovTech | Singapore

Coffee Break

The Importance of Good Data Governance and Management

There are several reasons for why data governance and data management has become hot topics in the public sector. Accurate and timely data empowers public authorities to make well-informed decisions, managing data effectively allows for smoother internal operations and public authorities can engage citizens in governance through open data initiatives. Since the public sector has large datasets of high quality, they are also becoming important players as custodians of data assets that can be used for example training large language models or other applications of AI. For these reasons public datasets are increasingly becoming important on the data markets where data is seen as a valuable asset – as exemplified by the European decision on six valuable data sets that shall be published as open data and through the new Data governance act and the Data act.

A growing significance means that public actors need to learn the basic skills of good data governance and management.

• Data Stewardship: Accountability and proper management of data are foundational for public authorities.
• Data Quality Management: High-quality, reliable data is essential for public policy, safety, and welfare initiatives.
• Data Compliance & Security: Public authorities often handle sensitive information, from personal identification to health records. Failing to comply with legal standards or to secure this data could result in breaches that not only violate laws but also erode public trust.

This session will explore how public authorities can balance these three dimensions. Each of these dimensions is like a leg of a three-legged stool: without one, the entire structure is prone to collapse.

Session Chair

Mr. Magnus Enzell, Senior Adviser, Ministry of Infrastructure | Sweden

Panel of Experts

Mr. Rinalds Celmiņš, Director, Information Society Development Department , Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development | Latvia

Mr. Andreas Henningsson , Senior Adviser, Agency for Employment | Sweden

Mr. Simon Kaye, Senior Manager | Sopra Steria

Lunch

Site Visit

BeCentral Digital Campus

Coffee Break

Session Breakouts

Round-Up and Closing of the Day

Mr Joren Baillière, Public Governance Institute | KU Leuven

Annual Group Photo

Welcome Coffee

Welcome & Special Opening Remarks

Special Opening Remarks

Mr. Cheow Hoe Chan, Government Chief Digital Technology Officer, GovTech | Singapore

Cybersecurity

All technological advancements act as accelerators, propelling us forward on this digital journey. However, without a robust braking system-cybersecurity, it can lead to unimaginable adversities. When it comes to cybersecurity, there are always numerous fancy new terms and concepts such as ZTA, SIEM, FAIR. During this session we will comprehensively analyze cybersecurity issues from the following three major domains:

• Cybersecurity governance, regulatory organizations: provide insights into how governments emphasize their security organization.
• Innovation ecosystem and new technologies in cybersecurity: showcasing how Israel has established a comprehensive defense system from the ground up.
• Frontline experiences in cybersecurity attacks and defense: giving you a glimpse into the challenges of virtual warfare.

With cybersecurity, let's drive safely on our journey!

Session Chair

Mr. Andrew Wang, Senior Analyst for the Department of Digital Service, Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) |Taiwan

Panel of Experts

Mr. Thorwald-Eirik Kaljo, Counsellor for Digital and Cyber Affairs | Estonia

Mr. Nir Bar-Yosef, Acting Head of the Cyber Security Unit, National Digital Agency | Israel

Mr. Steven Lin, Deputy Director, Center of Assessment and Defense, National Institute of Cyber Security | Taiwan

e-ID and eWallet: Implementation Approaches, Considerations, and Policy Challenges

The implementation of digital identity (e-ID) and electronic wallets (eWallets) has become increasingly relevant in the digital age, offering numerous benefits and opportunities for governments worldwide. It is essential to understand the various implementation approaches, considerations, challenges, and policy frameworks associated with e-ID and eWallet initiatives. This discussion aims to facilitate a comprehensive discussion among government CIOs on the key success factors, challenges, and policies for implementing e-ID and eWallet systems.

Key Discussion Areas:

Importance of e-ID and eWallets: Explore the significance of e-ID and eWallets as enablers for secure and seamless digital transactions, government services, and citizen empowerment. Discuss the potential benefits, such as enhanced convenience, financial inclusion, fraud prevention, and streamlined processes.

• Different Approaches to e-ID Implementation: Examine the diverse approaches governments have taken in implementing e-ID systems. Compare centralized versus decentralized models, authentication mechanisms, interoperability considerations, and data protection frameworks. Share experiences, challenges, and lessons learned from successful e-ID implementations.
• eWallets as Key Success Factors: Discuss the role of eWallets in transforming digital transactions and financial inclusion. Explore the different types of eWallets (mobile, web-based, or card-based) and their potential to drive economic growth, reduce cash usage, improve access to financial services, and enhance citizen engagement.
• Challenges in e-ID and eWallet Implementation: Identify common challenges faced by governments when implementing e-ID and eWallet systems. These may include privacy concerns, data security, interoperability, user adoption, legal and regulatory frameworks, and cross-border cooperation. Discuss strategies and best practices to address these challenges effectively.
• Policy Considerations and Regulatory Frameworks: Examine the policy considerations and regulatory frameworks necessary for successful e-ID and eWallet implementations. Discuss privacy protection, data governance, consent management, cybersecurity, compliance with international standards, and user-centric design. Explore the role of collaboration between government agencies, financial institutions, and industry stakeholders in shaping effective policies.

Session Chair

Mr. Oren Ariav, Chief Information Officer State of Israel Population and Immigration Authority

Panel of Experts

Mr. Sam Van den Eynde, eIDAS and Digital Identity Expert at FPS Policy and Support | Belgium

Mr. Dominic Chan, Assistant Chief Executive, Government Technology Agency | Singapore

Mr. Oren Ariav, Chief Information Officer State of Israel Population and Immigration Authority

Coffee Break

Session Breakouts

Report Back | Q&A

13:20

Lunch

14:30

Improving Citizen Services, Omnichannel and Life Events

Governments have obligations to provide key services to their citizens, and the emphasis on digital service delivery has never been greater than it is now during the waning pandemic era. At the same time, on-line channels do not reach everyone and, driven by need or by preference, other channels of service delivery remain important. Some key elements of high-quality service delivery include the ability to provide a seamless client experience across multiple channels of delivery, strengthening of the digital underpinnings of all channels and, perhaps most importantly, focusing services on the key life events of citizens, to make them as relevant as possible to day-to-day needs and priorities.

More specifically, in this session we will discuss:

• CX (Client eXperience): Designing services for citizens, with citizens, based on real-life citizen events (birth, education, work, loss-of-job, retirement, death) to properly reflect and address needs.
• Citizen services designed and tested by citizens, for citizens: How to engage the consumers of services in order to deliver the best client experience.
• Leave no one behind: Channels other than online digital for the delivery of services to all citizens.
• Omnichannel: Delivering a seamless experience for citizens across online, telephone, in-person, and all channels.
• Everything is Digital: Leveraging digital service delivery to enable all channels of service and the seamless, omnichannel experience.
• Multi-channel, Digital First, or Digital Always: Which is it? International strategies for citizen service delivery.

Session Chair

Mr. Peter Littlefield, Chief Information Officer (CIO) Employment and Social Development | Canada

Panel of Experts

Mr. Niko Ruostetsaari, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Finance | Finland

Mr. Sason Sofri, CIO, Ministry of Justice | Israel

Mr. Frank Leyman, Head of International Relations, Federal Public Service for Policy and support (BOSA) – DG Simplification and Digitalisation | Belgium

Mr. João Dias, President of the Board of the Administrative Modernization Agency (AMA) | Portugal

15:45

Coffee Break

16:10

Session Q&A

17:00

Round-Up of the Day

Mr Joren Baillière, Public Governance Institute | KU Leuven

17:10

Closing of Day | Free Evening

Welcome Coffee

Welcome & Special Opening Remarks

Special Opening Remarks

Video Presentation “DIA – Digital Transformation in Ukraine.”

Multi-Organization Views

Looking through the prism of international organisations and European institutions, this session will focus on supporting activities towards intelligent digital services. We will assess international standards and best practices related to AI, cross border harmonisation and use cases.

The objective is to advance user experience, not only as Member States but also as governments globally and as international organizations and institutions. We will examine ways and means for adapting to this new culture of serving our customers and look at organisational adaptation for fostering a new type of talent, capacitating existing resources, predictive modelling, accessibility and privacy.

Session Chair

Vasilis Koulolias, Executive Director - Founder, eGovlab - Stockholm University | Sweden and Presidential Advisor in ICT | Botswana

Panel of Experts

Ms. Natalia Aristimuño, Digital Services Director | European Commission

Ms. Barbara Ubaldi, Deputy Head, Open and Innovative Government Division, Public Governance Directorate | OECD

Mr. João Ricardo Vasconcelos, Senior Governance Specialist, GovTech | World Bank

Coffee Break

Country Reports | Part I

This year’s country reports will focus on Innovation. Each participating country will present a recent innovation that brings “uniqueness” into this session and may have applicability in other countries’ Digital Services.

More information can be found here

Session Chair

Mr. Peter Bruce, Senior Associate, Leadership and Learning Institute on Governance | Canada

Panel of Experts

Mr. Soltan Bayramov, Deputy Director of Innovations Center of SAPSSI | Azerbaijan

Mr. Frank Leyman, Head of International Relations, Federal Public Service for Policy and support (BOSA) – DG Simplification and Digitalisation | Belgium

Mr. Peter Littlefield, Chief Information Officer (CIO) Employment and Social Development | Canada

Mrs. Andriana Achilleos, Director with the Department of Information Technology Services Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy | Cyprus

Mr. Mait Heidelberg, Councillor, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications | Estonia

Mr. Niko Ruostetsaari, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Finance | Finland

Mr. Arie Rimini, General Manager SHAAM The Technology and operations Division, Tax Authority | Israel

Mr. Toshiyuki Zamma, Director-General, Digital Agency | Japan

Lunch

Country Reports | Part II

Panel of Experts

Mr. Rinalds Celmiņš, Director, Information Society Development Department , Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development | Latvia

Ms. Barbara Ubaldi, Deputy Head, Open and Innovative Government Division, Public Governance Directorate | OECD

Mr. João Dias, President of the Board of the Administrative Modernization Agency (AMA) | Portugal

Dr. Carmen Elena CIRNU, Scientific Director, ICI Bucharest | Romania

Mr. Dominic Chan, Assistant Chief Executive, Government Technology Agency | Singapore

Mr. Magnus Enzell, Senior Adviser, Ministry of Infrastructure | Sweden

Mr. Andrew Wang, Senior Analyst for the Department of Digital Service, Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) |Taiwan

Mr. João Ricardo Vasconcelos, Senior Governance Specialist, GovTech | World Bank

Emerging Leaders Programme: RTE and Sustainable Technologies in Public Sector

Climate change forces not only citizens and enterprises to adapt, but also the public sector needs to take actions to lower its ecological footprint. The European Commission has launched its "Green Deal"; a major programme to make Europe more ecologically friendly. Therefore countries are called to take action. Every year EU countries will have to report on their progress in this matter. During this session we discuss and exchange good practice in the public sector context on how to achieve ecologically friendly governments and tackle "green" in ICT strategies.

To provide comparable and measurable ecological footprint, we need quality data. It helps the public and private sector to make more data-driven decisions and measure more effectively the impact of our decisions.

In the second part of the session we will focus on Real-Time Economy and business data standardisation. Our goal is to simplify life for businesses but also for citizens as well as the state, empowering them with more time to invest in their productive work through real-time exchange of high-quality data. Better and more data-driven business environment will increase overall economic growth and provide the public sector more data-driven decision making in the government. The purpose of this topic is to elaborate on how standardised data can enable new innovative and more personalised as well as responsive public services, including AI-based services through the best practice examples of our Member States.

Session Chair

Ms. Sirli Heinsoo, Head of Real-Time Economy (Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications) in Business and Consumer Environment Department. | Estonia

Panel of Experts

Sustainable Technologies in Public Sector

Ms. Kaidi-Kerli Kärner, Strategic Planning Director, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications | Estonia

Mr. Markus Rahkola, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Finance | Finland

Mr. Niko Ruostetsaari, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Finance | Finland

Real-Time Economy

Dr. Hsin-Chung Liao, Deputy Director, Taiwan E-Governance Research | Taiwan

Ms. Minna Rintala, Project Director for the Real-Time Economy project coordinated by the Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH) | Finland

Mr. Simon Ang, GoBusiness Product Management in Public Sector | Singapore

Ms. Sirli Heinsoo, Head of Real-Time Economy (Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications) in Business and Consumer Environment Department. | Estonia

Round-Up of the Day

Mr Joren Baillière, Public Governance Institute | KU Leuven

Closing of the Conference

Buses to Depart from Place Charles Rogier

Closing Dinner

Venue: BELvue Museum

Buses to Depart for Hotel