Tech4Germany (Media Kit)
The Technology Task Force for the Federal Government
Who we are:
Tech4Germany is the technology task force under the direct supervision of the Federal Chief of Staff and Head of the Federal Chancellery. We bring the best digital talents and creative minds together with different government entities and federal ministries in 10-week programs aimed at tackling Germany’s biggest digital challenges.
How we work:
We organize interdisciplinary teams around sprints aimed at taking an innovative approach to government digitalisation efforts. Emphasizing the use of modern methodologies and a user-centric approach to product-building, we aim to create an optimistic and open work culture that gives everyone the room to learn from and with each other.
Why we do what we do:
Our aim is to bring promising digital talents in contact with exciting opportunities to work in the public sector and broaden the pool of talent the government has access to while also pushing for modernization of public-sector work culture. We believe that only a shift in work culture can transform our government into the sort of trustworthy, efficient, and citizen-focused institution that is prepared to take on an increasingly digital future.
Description
Tech4Germany is the technology task force under the direct supervision of the Federal Chief of Staff and Head of the Federal Chancellery. We bring the best digital talents and creative minds together with different government entities and federal ministries in 10-week programs aimed at tackling Germany’s biggest digital challenges.
Over the course of 10-week fellowships, a cohort of developers, designers, and entrepreneurs work in interdisciplinary teams with government officials from different areas of government to create innovative solutions for people in Germany. Our pilot program was launched in 2018 with 9 fellows working together with ITZBund, the federal government’s central IT provider. This year, our program has expanded to include 27 fellows working in direct collaboration with 22 top civil servants. This year and last year, the fellowship is funded by the Volkswagen Foundation.
The 2019 Fellowship
Our 2019 cohort is 27 Fellows strong: seven Product Fellows, seven Engineering Fellows, seven Design Fellows, two Strategy Fellows, and one Media Fellow (more information here).
On average, the Fellows are 27 years old — most of them are already working or studying for a Master’s degree. Almost half of all Fellows (46%) are female. All Fellows receive a one-time scholarship of €3,500 for the 10 weeks.
4 Project Partners:
- Informationstechnikzentrum Bund (ITZBund) — the federal government’s centralized IT provider
- Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales (BMAS) — the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
- Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) — the Federal Ministry of Education and Research
- Auswärtiges Amt (AA) — the Federal Foreign Office
The Tech4Germany Team
Andrej Safundzic
Andrej Safundzic founded Tech4Germany in 2018. Prior to founding Tech4Germany, Andrej established two different edtech startups in East Africa, worked in Product Management at AI/robotics startup NavVis, and worked on applied AI projects at the Boston-based startup QuantCo. He completed his studies in Computer Science and Business Administration, graduating valedictorian at Harvard University and TU München.
Sonja Anton
After participating in Tech4Germany’s first cohort as a fellow in 2018, Sonja Anton accepted a leadership role at the organization in its second year. Previously, Sonja worked in public sector consulting at Capgemini and provided product management support for the launch of a government-funded Swedish Public Tech Startup. She studied Psychology and Management in the United States.
