Technology is inexorable and the governments of the worlds have realized its importance. Thus, the governments are seeking assistance from start-ups and corporates to ease their transformation.

Fremont, CA: Government budgets are getting tighter, and the expectations of digital-savvy citizens are growing. GovTech presents an alternative for those who are struggling to stay ahead of the rising tide. GovTech start-ups are using the latest technology to get an edge over the competition and to benefit any government buyer. GovTech provides agility, innovation, and a greater variety of buying options.

GovTech can improve public service delivery and innovation. Marietje Schaake, Dutch MEP, said, “Technologies capable of serving the public and helping governments deliver better services can help rebuild trust in democracy. Due to the passion of the politicians and civil servants to ensure that technological innovations do not cross the engagement with citizens, the SMEs and start-ups have new opportunities.  

Initially, the government used tech in the form of one-off IT solutions to get medical records online for doctors. According to Gartner, the government has spent 425 billion USD on IT, which is just below banking and manufacturing. Global IT providers and consultants were the beneficiaries of the spending. “Today, however, the government is spending project by project,” says Robyn Scott, the co-founder and CEO of Apolitical. For instance, the European Commission launched VentureEU, which is a 2.1 billion Euro fund consisting of both public and private funds across Europe.

The government is the biggest employer and contractor in the majority of countries. So, if a company can meet the changing needs of the government, it can be a massive market for them. To make changes in technology, health, politics, climate change, population growth, consumption, future of work, and automation require innovation. Thus, the governments are working with start-ups to boost innovation, adopt new technology to become more agile, just as corporates do. Millennials are reaching high positions in the government and are accelerating tech adoption as they expect the same level of technology they have at home.  Lastly, governments have massive data sets that are essential for AI, and a new approach is required to unlock its potential.

In earlier times, to make a change, a person had to be a civil servant, a politician, or an activist. However, in modern times, technology is an excellent enabler to influence change. Even entrepreneurs are increasingly focused on solving issues around healthcare, welfare, and education. To address the problems in these sectors, governments and the private sector alike have to take the necessary steps to adopt new technologies faster.

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