Digital transformation within the public sector: GovTech, CivicTech and Smart Cities can be considered as the main sub-categories. // Photo by Štefan Štefančík on Unsplash

From October 12 to 14, 2018, Prague will host the fourth edition of the Startup Weekend Prague, an event open to the participation of the general public interested in startups and entrepreneurship. This time it will focus on using technology to solve problems in the Public Services and to improve the citizen experience through innovative solutions.

Public services are often associated with outdated solutions, archaic attitudes and failure to adapt to the emerging digital economy. The gov agents and organizations are constantly facing new technological challenges and subsequently, the rising expectations of the public. The incubation period of an idea in this field takes much longer and it’s often focused too much on the final result and the feedback of the citizens, ignoring the process itself.

Solution? People willing to look at the current state with fresh eyes and determined enough to take the risks and innovate. The main aim is to use available open data and new technologies to improve the state of PS — making them consequently cheaper and more effective. GovTech, CivicTech and Smart Cities can be considered as the main sub-categories.

StartupWeekend is an inspiring weekend full of grand visions, coding, great cooperation, tasty food and fun. Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

The idea— why, how, what?

It can be in a form of a technological solution, service, database, platform, community, AI or ML software.

  • improving public services and supporting local development through new technological solutions
  • simplifying the official processes, enabling citizens to access data more easily and cost efficiently in an easy-to-use interface
  • connecting citizens with the state, making it easier for them to be heard
  • empowering the government/organizations to collaborate with residents on local issues
  • collecting and presenting data, providing analysis to improve services
  • collecting information to prevent future problems, measuring and managing the impact
  • converting data into maps, visual presentations or real-time displays

Every sector of society has been transformed by technology or software. The change happening in the public services should be driven by smaller start-ups and active citizens. Are you one of them?

Startupweekend is supported by the global accelerator Techstars.

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