Europe's sovereign cloud, the UK's digital blueprint, and the world's first AI-native government
Edition #103 The UK has announced a new blueprint to set the incumbent government's digital strategy, while elsewhere WEF sizes the GovTech market at $1.4 trillion by 2034...
In our previous roundup, we covered a flurry of New Year’s resolutions, strategies, and blueprints from governments’ digital teams around the world. Ukraine approved their digital development strategy until 2030, focusing on automation and data analysis in their digital government system. Similarly, the UK unveiled a new plan that promises to utilize AI to revolutionize public services.
This week, we are continuing with the theme of governments unveiling new agendas, with the UK once again busy. We look at Westminster’s new digital government blueprint, and explore Abu Dhabi’s plans to become the first fully AI-native government by 2027.
Our main stories this week:
The UK announces a new digital government blueprint
GovTech will be US$1.4 trillion opportunity by 2034, says WEF
Inside Abu Dhabi’s plans to become the world’s first fully AI-native government by 2027
As a reminder, we have recently begun to expand our digital government coverage away from just Substack and onto Linkedin, Twitter and Instagram. For original content, audience engagement, and roundups of all our pieces, feel free to follow us over on those channels. Also check out our sister newsletter, interweave.africa.
The UK announces a new digital government blueprint - Gov.UK
The UK’s new digital government review presents a case for change, a vision for a modern digital government, and a six-point plan for reform.
The report is accompanied by a State of Digital Government review, listing a plethora of challenges that the government is facing from infantilization by consultants to talent retention. These are grouped into five themes: leadership, structure, measurement, talent and funding.
An accompanying plan for reform is similarly broad, but notable among the six-points are commitments to funding for outcomes and harnessing the power of AI for the public good.
To jumpstart the new plan, the government has also announced five “kickstarter” tests and products, including a Gov.UK app and an LLM-powered chatbot for those using digital government services.
Our Take: This strategy is the UK’s 5th in 15 years, which may bring with it a sense of “here we go again” for some. But it comes amidst a wave of tech-related activity, including the AI action plan we covered last week, and the five “kickstarter” tests provide real tangible products to measure the government’s success against.
GovTech will be a US$1.4 trillion opportunity by 2034, says WEF - Amit Roy Choudhury, GovInsider
The World Economic Forum predicts the global GovTech market will grow from $606 billion in 2024 to $1.4 trillion by 2034, driven by systemic digital transformation in governments worldwide.
This growth is fueled by efficiency gains through streamlined processes and automation, transparency improvements via tools like algorithmic fraud detection, and sustainability benefits from resource optimization.
Success stories include Malaysia's MyDIGITAL initiative aiming to increase the digital economy's GDP contribution to 35% by 2030, and Ukraine's Diia platform integrating over 30 services into a single, globally accessible portal.
Successful GovTech adoption requires national strategies, private sector collaboration, and investments in digital literacy to enhance institutional resilience and contribute to global economic growth.
Abu Dhabi to be world’s first fully AI-native government across all digital services by 2027 - Andrea Benito, CIO
The UAE government has unveiled its ambitious Abu Dhabi Government Digital Strategy 2025-2027, facilitated by a US$3.5 billion investment to create a fully AI-powered governance model.
A key theme of the strategy is building a common digital framework across the government through transitioning to a fully cloud-based infrastructure and a unified digital enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform.
This foundation is seen as the prerequisite for the effective implementation of more than 200 innovative AI solutions across government services.
Furthermore, the strategy includes a people-centric initiative under the “AI for All” program, which looks to empower Abu Dhabi’s citizens by providing them with the necessary tools and skills to engage with AI applications.
GovTech News in Brief
South Korea issues digital IDs secured by blockchain - Steve Kaaru, CoinGeek
South Korea is piloting a digital identity card for all residents aged 17+ that utilizes advanced encryption and blockchain to increase security. If fully implemented, this would digitize an existing physical card system that has been used for over five decades.
Our take: While we’ve previously covered numerous government initiatives to implement a digital national identity system, plans that look to use blockchain are less common.
Estonia: 100% digital government services, with divorce as the final step - Kristiina Kriisa, e-Estonia
In making it possible to access divorce services online, the Estonian government has made it possible for every single government-citizen interaction to be completed digitally.
Thailand will launch digital arrival card in May to boost visitor’s safety - The Standard
Thailand announced the implementation of digital arrival cards for all foreign passport holders starting May 1, 2025, aiming to streamline arrivals processes, enhance security by tracking tourists, and boost visitor safety amid recent security concerns.
Cyprus launches national Digital ID system for citizens - ID Tech Wire
In an effort to align with the European Union’s eIDAS regulations, Cyrus has launched its new National Electronic Identity (eID) system, known as IDMe.cy.
Our take: We’ve previously covered the EU’s eIDAS regulation, which was passed in March last year. While initiatives to implement national ID systems represent key steps in digital government development, it is crucial that governments ensure these systems are secure, especially given the rise of increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks on mobile phones.
Australia’s employment agency sees emerging tech opportunity with cloud move - Dylan Bushell-Embling, GovInsider
Australia’s Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR), which upskills and supports Australians to find jobs, has been migrating to a cloud-based infrastructure. This aims to connect all stakeholders within the department, such as its public service employees and contractors, to fulfil the Australian government’s vision to deliver integrated public services.
Yes, civil servants: Meet Humphrey, the government’s AI package for officials - Richard Johnstone, Global Government Forum
The UK has launched a suite of AI tools for civil servants: Consult, for analyzing consultation responses; Parlex, to help policymakers analyze decades of parliamentary debate; Minute, for transcriptions; Lex, for researching the law; and Redbox, for summarizing policy and preparing briefings.
Ukraine and Germany announced the launch of the Global GovTech Board - Interfax Ukraine
During the WEF in Davos last month, representatives from Ukraine and Germany announced the launch of the Global GovTech Board, an initiative aimed at fostering the exchange of digital transformation expertise. The board will serve as a platform for digital government leaders to share ideas, evaluate progress, and set strategic priorities.
Europe unites to launch its first sovereign edge cloud - Muhammad Zulhusni, CloudTech
Europe launched its first sovereign edge cloud initiative through a multi-country collaboration to enhance data control and reduce reliance on non-European cloud providers.
India to launch indigenous affordable, secure AI model - IndiaAI
India is launching a homegrown, affordable AI model to democratize AI access for researchers, students, and businesses. This initiative marks a step forward in India's mission to establish itself as a global AI powerhouse.
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