At the latest GovTech4All Café, we were joined by Manuel Kilian, one of the leading voices in GovTech, who now leads the newly established Global Government Technology Centre (GGTC). The discussion revolved around how GovTech can scale, how it is influenced by geopolitics, and why collaboration is the key to success.

GovTech – From Niche Topic to Global Priority

Manuel began by explaining GGTC's mission and how it positions itself globally. The center has strong ties to both the German government and international partners, including the World Economic Forum, enabling faster and more effective initiatives to drive the GovTech agenda forward.

GovTech has long been a topic confined to technology and policy circles, but we are now witnessing a shift where it is becoming an increasingly important issue at the highest political levels. The World Economic Forum has identified it as a crucial area and is now collaborating with GGTC to facilitate dialogue and the implementation of technological solutions in the public sector.

Four Key Focus Areas for Global GovTech

Manuel presented four central areas where GGTC is working to create maximum impact:

1. Agenda-Setting – Elevating GovTech on the political agenda and concretising its impact.
2. International Networks – Establishing a global collaboration platform for CIOs, CDOs, and digitalization ministers to share experiences and strategies.
3. Insights and Knowledge Sharing – Launching a Global GovTech Intelligence Hub to collect and disseminate best practices and concrete lessons learned.
4. Skills Development – Initiatives to enhance digital competence within the public sector and drive long-term change.

Geopolitics and GovTech – A New Area of Collaboration

The discussion also touched on how the current geopolitical situation affects GovTech. Manuel emphasized that digital transformation can act as a bridge in international relations and create opportunities for stronger collaboration between different regions.

Further, the need for digital sovereignty in Europe was highlighted – an issue that is still in its early stages. How can EU countries balance the need for independent technology solutions without isolating themselves? Here, GGTC sees an opportunity to act as a coordinating force to ensure sustainable digital development.

Challenges and Next Steps

A central challenge discussed was how to move from policy to actual implementation. Many countries have developed extensive strategy documents, but concrete projects and large-scale implementations are often lacking.

Several participants emphasized the importance of increasing collaboration between different GovTech initiatives in Europe and creating better connections between research projects, policy development, and practical implementations. Manuel stressed that successful digitalization projects are often driven by an urgent need – such as the pandemic – but that we must find ways to drive transformation without waiting for a crisis.

Conclusion: The Future of GovTech Requires Action

The conversation ended with a shared insight: we need to move from words to action. GovTech is no longer a niche topic but a crucial component of how future public services should be designed. We look forward to continued dialogue and collaboration to translate these visions into tangible change.

 

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This blog post captures the key takeaways from our latest GovTech4All Café, where the discussion focused on scaling GovTech, geopolitical challenges, and the power of collaboration. Manuel Kilian, head of the Global Government Technology Centre (GGTC), shared insights on how governments can leverage technology to drive impact, innovation, and digital sovereignty. By fostering cross-border cooperation and strategic governance, GovTech can transform public services and accelerate digital transformation. Read on to explore the key challenges, opportunities, and next steps shaping the GovTech landscape.