eGovernment has evolved towards a recognized research domain. A modern government using innovative ICT has become an increasingly important factor of competitiveness and growth in the European knowledge society. In the last years, many EU Member States have revised their existing strategies for public sector modernization and transformation of eGovernment, and they have adapted them to meet the objectives of the EU strategies such as i2010 and the Lisbon agenda. Also national specific foci have been revised in these eGovernment strategies. However in most cases, these strategies and activities are short to mid-term oriented. Looking into the future and investigating developments of the future are key elements for strategic policies beyond eGovernment implementation strategies of the next 3-5 years. Research is needed to nurture developments we want to enable and to avoid futures that are not desirable.
eGovRTD2020 is a project co-funded by the European Commission under the 6th Framework Programme of IST. It aims at sketching eGovernment in 2020 and, thereby, identifying future strategic research fields for the development of eGovernment and the public sector as such. The methodology consists of both scenario building and roadmapping. Visions have already been described through scenarios, which detail governments, society and economics, as well as the interaction based on modern ICT. In the current phase of the project, guidelines for eGovernment research programmes and national long-term eGovernment policies shall be developed. The resulting research roadmap(s) shall support the implementation of the vision of the European Community: to transform the European Government landscape into a coherent community anticipating customer needs and making use of the available potentials of innovative ICT.
On 12th January 2007, a workshop with high-level experts of the field and strategic decision-makers in eGovernment is organised to share and discuss future scenarios and their consequences for a research roadmap for eGovernment in 2020. The results of the workshop will provide valuable input to the new 7th Framework Programme of the EC in terms of necessary research to be undertaken.
The aims of the workshop are:
- To present and share the results of eGovRTD2020 with high-level experts and decision makers in eGovernment, as well as with representatives of other similar projects in this field;
- To discuss the results and challenge them with your own expertise and visions;
- To discuss the need for further research according to these results in the upcoming 7th framework programme, and the consequences and impact if eGovernment research is not being continued;
- To explore the potential of a future eGovernment technology platform or, at least, of Joint technology initiatives for eGovernment, driven by close collaboration between government, industry and academia;
- To frame a key policy message on the strategic importance of eGovernment research and on the potential consequences if such research is not continued.
Source: project website
