Introduction
The event will focus on identifying new trends and technologies in the marketplace, their impact on public sector service delivery and any barriers to the take-up of these new technologies, detailing, in particular, the predicted future requirements for the sector as dictated by citizen expectations and the rapid development of private enterprise solutions.
The Background
The importance of ICT to the overall economy cannot be overestimated; a quarter of GDP growth within the EU and 40% of productivity growth can be ascribed to ICT – “the new currency of advanced economies consists of data and information and differences in economic performance between industrialised nations are largely explained by the level of ICT investment, research and use” (DTI).
Why Should the Public Sector Innovate?
- To respond more effectively to citizen expectations in the light of the rapid development of private sector solutions
- To maximise efficiency and add value
- To improve delivery and outcomes of public service
- To capitalise on the full potential of ICT
Innovation can be demonstrated through strategic policy and processes, product development, service delivery, systems interaction and governance structures.
The increased take-up in the use of personal computing, the unprecedented growth of the Internet, with 1.1 billion users – its rebirth as Web 2.0 – the ease of connectivity through 3G, 4G and WiMax and the potential offered by 2 billion mobile users are changing both the way we conduct our lives and our businesses.
This presents a real challenge to the technology industry, with rising citizen expectations, there is an opportunity to mould this environment for change with a direct impact on improving the way we deliver services, access and disseminate information, and communicate with the citizen.
Government policy to drive innovation in public services is driven in part by the Transformational Government Agenda and Strategy led by the Cabinet Office, seizing the opportunity provided by technology to transform the business of government.
In particular, the Strategy was directed to provide overall technology leadership in three key areas:
- The transformation of public services for the benefit of citizens, businesses, taxpayers and front-line staff;
- The efficiency of the corporate services and infrastructure of government organisations, thus freeing resources for the front-line;
- The steps necessary to achieve the effective delivery of technology for government.
In addition, a number of important strategy documents have been published to guide development, with the emphasis on developing a framework to encourage innovation across Government and the private sector, identifying the priority areas:
- ‘Government on the Internet: progress in delivering information and services online’ (July 2007) and ‘Innovation in Central Government’ (July 2006) both published by the National Audit Office
- ‘Transformational Government: enabled by technology’ (January 2007) published by the Cabinet Office
- The Varney Review ‘Service transformation: A better service for citizens and businesses, a better deal for the taxpayer’ (December 2006) published by HM Treasury
- 'Innovation Nation?’ (2005) published by Intellect (the trade association for the UK hi-tech industry) and their continuing work on ‘Foundations First: Building the Future of the Technology Industry’
- ‘Transformational Government: enabled by technology’ (January 2007) published by the Cabinet Office
Of course, the role of the private sector in driving innovation is irrefutable and on the 28th June 2007, Rt. Hon Gordon Brown, Prime Minister, announced the formation of two new Government Departments to drive progress in private sector improvement and development and thereby promote innovation, competitiveness, productivity and enterprise across Government and within the EU:
- The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) – “A key priority will be its cross-Government role in promoting better regulation across the business, public and voluntary sectors”; and
- The Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) – “Driving forward delivery of the Government’s long-term vision to make Britain one of the best places in the world for science, research and innovation.”
These new departments will build on the work of the former Department of Trade and Industry, which established the ‘Investment Framework for Science and Innovation 2004-2014’, setting out the Government’s aim for UK science and innovation R&D over the next decade and identifying how Government should use its enormous purchasing power to deliver better value for money, better public services and simultaneously, stimulate innovation from business.
As part of this remit, the Technology Strategy Board (formerly part of the Office of Science and Innovation, DTI, to be relaunched in November 2007, as a non-departmental body) leads on the Technology Strategy, which aims to identify, prioritise, develop and exploit new technologies critical to the growth of the UK economy, through the Technology Programme.
The Technology Strategy Board co-ordinates activities between Government, Research Councils, Regional Development Agencies to maximise co-operation and funding, via the Knowledge Transfer Networks and Collaborative R&D competitions. To date overseeing more than 600 collaborative R&D projects with a combined business and Government investment of £900 million.
IPS2007 will bring together key stakeholders from both Industry and Government to discuss the progress of Innovation in public service delivery and give an insight into future policy and strategic development.