In this context, the 'The best eMunicipality' award was presented for the first time in cooperation with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development of the Republic of Latvia (VARAM).
The ICT annual award 'Platinum Mouse' was established by the Latvian Information and Communications Technology Association (LIKTA) in 2007. The aim of the prize is to enhance the ICT and eServices sector prestige, to raise awareness among citizens and SMEs about the opportunities related to ICT solutions and eServices and to point out the eServices which offer benefits to broad ranges of society.
Applications for the award are evaluated by an independent and expert jury - representatives from ICT industry, Information security and media sectors. More than 130 applications were received since 2007. This year 33 applicants submitted proposals:
- 10 in the category 'eGovernment and eServices',
- 11 in the category 'eCommerce and services for Business',
- 5 in the category 'Best eMunicipality', and
- 7 in the category 'CIO/IT Project manager of the year.
In the category 'eGovernment and eServices' the prize went to the Latvian State Radio and Television Centre (LVRTC) project 'Virtual eSignature (eParaksts)', a unique electronic verification of personal identification added to a document that has been prepared on a computer. eSignature is the electronic format equivalent of a manually signed signature on a paper document and it confirms its affiliation to a particular natural person, representing a legal person.
The 'eCommerce and services for business' award was awarded to the 'eBusiness platform - Central processing of Payments and eSecurity solutions' of a private ICT company. The solution facilitates implementation of online payment and user authentication system in company, municipal or state organization web sites with enhanced security demands.
The 'Best eMunicipality' award was presented by the Minister for the Environmental Protection and Regional Development, Edmunds Sprūdžs, and went to the Jelgava City Municipal Emergency Information Center. The latter is a comprehensive communication and information gathering mechanism, which provides direct communication between the city residents of Jelgava, infrastructure maintainers, operational services, state and local authorities, companies and the civil defense commission. The system was developed by the Jelgava agency 'Pilsētsaimniecība' (City Management).
The 'Chief Information Officer (CIO)/Information Technologies (IT) Poject manager of the year' award went to Valdis Supe, CIO of The State Social Insurance Agency.
The special prize by the LIKTA conference principal partner 'Most Innovative eMunicipality' was awarded to the project 'Jēkabpils City towards eGovernment'. The aim of the project is to stimulate use of public eServices among citizens and business.
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