Digital Agenda

Now in its twelfth edition, the Digital Agenda Observatory aims to provide Decision Makers with interpretation models – instruments based on solid empirical evidence – and debate and experience sharing moments to put into effect the opportunities offered by Digital Innovation related to certain major issues affecting the Country’s competitiveness (efficiency of the PS, fight against tax evasion, development support, etc.). The Digital Agenda Observatory aims to be a qualified, independent, long-term, and stable ” location” in which to develop the dialogue between Digital innovation and Politics, Government, and PS worlds.

Digital Agenda Observatory Research

As part of the Research theDigital Agenda Observatory aims to study and examine the following topics in depth:

• Impact

This branch of Research focuses on critically analyzing the level of digitization in Italy and other European regions, examining the correlations and causal relationships that exist between digitization indicators and socio-economic inequalities. Through an in-depth investigation, the Digital Agenda Observatory Research aims to identify suitable policies to mitigate such inequalities in the Digital Transformation context, with particular focus on the role of cohesion funds. It also aims to assess the progress of local and central governments in improving the usability of public services and in identifying priority areas to balance digital transformation and reduction of inequalities, drawing inspiration from international best practices. Also planned is the development of  monitoring tools, such as dashboards, to track the implementation of the Italian Digital Agenda under the NRRP  and cohesion funds, the Three-Year Plan, and the CAD (in collaboration with AgID as well as the comparative analysis of digitization and inequality indicators between the various European regions.

• Technologies

Research conducted by the Digital Agenda Observatory regarding this topic focuses on gaining an understanding of the digital innovations developed at the international level that could shape the Italian PS in the near future. The aim is to generate strategic directions on how to seize the most groundbreaking Digital Innovation opportunities. Through a collaboration with the Joint Research Center of the European Commission and a comparison with international public bodies, Research will therefore focus on an analysis of Blockchain, High-Performance Computing (HPC) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) application solutions in the public sector. With specific reference to AI solutions, the Digital Agenda Observatory aims to develop a framework of indicators to monitor and compare the level of maturity of European states in the adoption of this technology. The thread will also focus on analyzing the impact of PS bodies’ participation in national platforms, cybersecurity management, Smart Working initiatives in the public sphere, and the deployment of some digital innovation initiatives (e.g., Cloud, interoperability) laid out in the NRRP.

• Markets

Research of the Digital Agenda Observatory on this topic aims to critically evaluate the adequacy of the Italian PS-oriented Digital Innovation bidding system and provide guidance on how to effectively set up public procurement processes, so that they drive the implementation of the Digital Agenda forward rather than hold it back. A portrayal of the Digital Innovation supply system to the Italian PA is planned, as well as the mapping of the Regional Aggregators (SARs), to analyze the level of maturity reached in terms of managed spending, territory support, sector specialization, innovation capability, and digitization of their procurement platforms. Next, the Digital Agenda Observatory Research monitors the Digital Innovation tenders/bids expected in the NRRP to outline specific recommendations for outbound tenders. a mapping of active startups is also planned at the international level in the GovTech sector and the sizing of this market at the national level. Research aims to analyze public tenders for digital solutions and monitor the transposition of the implementation measures provided in the NRRP for the public agreements Code. Following is the intention to take an in-depth look at public spending on digital solutions and services, with special focus on enabling platforms and some vertical solutions. In addition, an analysis of the public eProcurement platforms market in Italy will be conducted and, also through the collaboration with AgID, a set of guidelines on the digitization of public contracts and interoperability between eProcurement platforms will be defined.

• Strategies

The primary objective of this thread of research is to stimulate the co-development of effective strategies that decision makers and PS bodies can adopt to foster Digital Innovation once the NRRP has ended. To achieve this goal, the idea is to examine the current status of variables that characterize the digital maturity of local governments and develop accurate methods to measure it. Along with this, there are plans to analyze the strategies adopted by the PS at the local, regional, and national levels to promote Digital Innovation and understand the factors that influence the success of these strategies, also considering the role played by public-private partnerships in achieving digitization goals. In addition, an analysis of local government digitization strategies in other European countries and priorities within their PNRRs is expected. Still with a view to priorities, the intention is to analyze the priorities of Italian regions in using structural funds to accelerate Digital Transformation. We aim to present an overview of investments in eGovernment of the various European countries, the identification of best practices and strategies to promote digital innovation, the development of guidelines to improve the implementation of digital strategies, and the analysis of evidence emerging from the questionnaire on the digitization of Italian local authorities.

• People

Given the prominence of digital skills in the PNRR and in the economy and society in general, the Digital Agenda Observatory, in keeping with previous editions, dedicates an ad hoc research thread to provide tools and guidance to policymakers on public policies to be implemented to encourage citizens and the PS to develop digital skills. It also plans to analyze the effectiveness of nationwide and local policies aimed at strengthening such skills and to assess the use and accessibility of digital services provided by the PS. In this new edition, strong focus is on mapping the digital competences of Public Sector workers and teachers, with the aim of analyzing the digital development of national education establishments. With particular reference to public employees, it is also intended to investigate their well-being at work, job satisfaction and engagement, with particular attention to Agile Work initiatives, and identifying strategies for attracting new ICT-skilled resources to central and local government agencies Surveys statistically representative of the national population will be produced, as well as surveys of teachers and public employees. Statistically representative nationwide surveys will be conducted, along with surveys of faculty and civil servants. In addition, a framework for evaluating the effectiveness of e-skills development policies will be designed, and case studies on public policies will be conducted at both national and international levels.