Under the slogan “Emerging from the crisis with courage and vigour – digital as the new normal”, the Zukunftskongress-digital has got off to a successful start.
In his opening remarks, Dr Johannes Ludewig (Council for the Review of Legislation) pointed out that the Zukunftskongress-digital was taking place at a unique moment in time. He said: “It strikes me as a gigantic experiment: How does a free and democratic society respond to such a challenge? Where do its strengths lie? Where are its weaknesses?”
In his keynote speech, Armin Laschet, Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia, highlighted the following in reference to the coronavirus crisis: “Instead of an ‘everything must change’ approach, we need a ‘now more than ever’ mindset when it comes to digitalisation: the digital expansion of broadband and mobile networks, the digitalisation of public administration, and the provision of digital equipment for schools.”
Dr Klaus Effing (KGSt) asked in his statement: ‘What actually prevented us, over the last ten to twelve years, from achieving the successes we have achieved during the coronavirus crisis?’ With regard to the Online Access Act (OZG), he argued in favour of involving local authorities as equal partners, as they would be responsible for implementing the OZG.
Corinna Krezer (Accenture) summarised what previous speakers had also highlighted: “The consequences of COVID-19 have not spared the Zukunftskongress-digital either. The format has changed – the importance of digitalisation has increased.”
Following the kick-off, Dr Markus Richter (Federal CIO) was cross-examined by Dr Helene Bubrowski (FAZ) and Marc Reinhardt (Capgemini). Dr Richter emphasised: “Digitalisation belongs at the very heart of public authorities, the civil service and the public. The key now is for public authorities to regard digitalisation as one of their core responsibilities.”
Dr Richter also spoke in favour of a digitalisation academy dedicated to imparting digital skills. When asked about diversity in the IT sector – where women are still under-represented – and within the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI), he replied: “I am currently working on developing my own team; diversity is a key factor in ensuring we generate creative ideas and engage in dialogue with one another. We must promote this at a structural level.”
Dr Uda Bastians (German Association of Cities and Towns) highlighted the following point in the Future Forum ‘Corona as a driver for administrative digitalisation?’: “In the past, a lack of funding, staff and legal barriers have prevented us from making further progress. This makes the federal government’s economic stimulus package – which earmarks 3 billion euros for digitalisation – all the more important. The OZG is only a small part of administrative digitalisation; we need a much broader framework. We must also consider, for example, the e-file, mobile devices, and training and further education.”
The Minister-President of the Free State of Saxony, Michael Kretschmer, referred in his keynote speech, amongst other things, to the implementation of the Digital Pact for Schools: “We have dedicated teachers. The generation that will join the teaching profession in the future brings a wealth of knowledge about new media with them. The federal and state governments have a duty here to implement the DigitalPakt swiftly.”