INVEST: Building Bridges for a More Interoperable Europe

WATCH the full event: [PART 1] [PART 2]

VIEW the workshop presentations: [LINK]

How can we create digital public services that truly work across borders, sectors, and societies?
This was the central question driving the INVEST Initial Knowledge Sharing Event that was held on 22.09.2025, a dynamic and forward-looking gathering of experts, policymakers, and innovators committed to shaping the future of interoperability in Europe.

The INVEST Initial Knowledge Sharing Event was not merely a webinar but a carefully curated experience. The planning phase involved an in-depth review of the Interoperable Europe Act, complemented by insights from the Interoperable Europe Portal and previous INVEST workshops. The objective was clear: to deliver an event that was not only informative, but also interactive, inclusive, and inspiring.

Leveraging service design and facilitation methodologies, every aspect from the agenda to the presentation templates was aligned to ensure a coherent and engaging experience. A professional host from DVV set the tone, guiding participants through the session with clarity, warmth, and structure as there was in a feedback.

True to its mission, the event placed a strong emphasis on interactivity. Participants were welcomed with icebreaker questions via Mentimeter, such as “How are you today?” and “Why are you here?”. These simple yet effective prompts helped foster a sense of inclusion and encouraged active participation from the outset.

Experts in interoperability and GovTech pilots were invited and briefed in advance, ensuring well-prepared contributions. Audience engagement was actively encouraged through live polls, surveys, and chat-based discussions. This approach facilitated a dynamic exchange of ideas and enriched the roundtable dialogue with diverse perspectives.

The speaker lineup reflected the diversity and depth of expertise across Member States:

• Riitta Alkula (DVV), emphasized that interoperability is now a foundational requirement for modern governance.
• Antonios Stasis (Greek Ministry of Digital Governance), unpacked the Interoperable Europe Act and showcased INVEST’s role in supporting policy and innovation.
• Charalampos Vassiliou (GRNET), introduced INVEST as a strategic initiative to enhance cross-border interoperability.
• Irene Gkoni (GRNET), shared research on GovTech best practices and gaps, advocating for stronger legal interoperability and open-source adoption.
• Amalia Andria (Greek Ministry of Digital Governance), presented a framework for sandbox governance and the European Business Wallet use case.
• Alex Borg (The Lisbon Council) unveiled GovTech4All, a pan-European sandbox for AI and interoperability.
• Bredo Erik Swanberg (Digdir) showcased a Nordic pilot using generative AI to simplify access to support for funeral expenses.
• Szymon Mamrot (Łukasiewicz Poznan Institute of Technology) emphasized early collaboration and legislative support to scale digital services. 

The event concluded with a thought-provoking roundtable featuring Antonios Stasis, Ana Ćorić Samardžija, and Alex Borg, who explored critical themes in digital transformation:

• Cross-border collaboration is essential to avoid duplication and to support smaller Member States.
• Strengthening the European software ecosystem boosts employment, reduces IT costs, and enhances digital sovereignty.
• Rethinking public procurement is key to supporting open-source innovation and reducing vendor dependency.
• Avoiding vendor lock-in requires sandbox environments that promote flexibility and competition.
• User-centric design must guide service development, with cultural sensitivity and accessibility at the forefront.
• Testbeds and shared specifications are vital for validating solutions and enabling inclusive collaboration. 

The INVEST event reinforced five core messages:

• Legislative support is in place through the Interoperable Europe Act.
• Collaboration drives success across borders and sectors.
• Europe must invest in its own software to ensure strategic autonomy.
• User-centricity should guide all digital service design.
• Public procurement must be used strategically to drive innovation.

To build on this momentum, the INVEST project recommends:

• Rethinking procurement to support European software and open-source innovation.
• Organizing follow-up webinars and workshops to deepen stakeholder engagement.
• Supporting sandboxes and testbeds for safe experimentation and cross-border cooperation.

The event revealed varying levels of digital maturity across Member States. Inclusive solutions, like Finland’s Suomi.fi Messages service, ensure all citizens receive essential communications, regardless of digital access.
Promising areas for future exploration include:

• AI-driven public services
• Cross-border healthcare
• Digital identity
• Cultural heritage protection