Walking the innovation path with Ramojus Reimeris

This time, we talked to Ramojus Reimeris from the JRC. Ramojus is a co-facilitator of two Experimentation Journeys in the Preparatory Action: Improving Digital Services and Healthcare and Mastering Digital Transformations for Competitiveness. 

The first journey brings along the experimental learnings of 5 EU regions: Lombardia (IT), Southern Regional Assembly (IE), Municipality of Cluj-Napoca (RO), Municipality of Reus (ES), and City of Oulu (FI). While the latter brings together regions from 5 EU and Horizon Europe Associated countries: Basque Country (ES), Trakya - Tekirdag (TR), Aragon (ES), Jönköping (SE), Overijssel (NL). Discover more about the work the regions are doing to champion digital transformation.

What does improving digital services mean in practice? What specific challenges do territories in this experimentation journey address? 

I believe that every territory across the EU and beyond can and should benefit more from enhanced digital capabilities and potential. Digital uptake can contribute to competitiveness, productivity, resilience and to fairness. In our experimentation journey, we have participants working collaboratively to address specific territorial challenges using a transformative approach. This involves applying the theory of change and utilizing specialised tools to develop actionable solutions. The challenges we are tackling include improving data usage for regional and urban development, also for healthcare, enhancing services for SMEs through AI, integrating various city services into an AI-based app for citizens, and achieving better interinstitutional collaboration. Additionally, we are exploring how digitalization can help bridge the urban-rural divide and even depopulation, or for example, how to prepare for the future technologies such as quantum computing and what it will mean for governments and citizens. To some extent, these specific issues apply horizontally across various territories, just with different vertical integration.

How important is digital transformation of social services in the EU? Could you share some examples of transformative solutions fostered by territories you are working with? 

There is an immense potential to enhance and expand various services through digital innovation. One of the applications we received for the Preparatory Action began with the impactful statement: 'Data saves lives.' This narrative has resonated with us throughout our experimentation journeys. Digital technology serves as a powerful catalyst for transforming services, reshaping how governance functions are organized, and improving service delivery. We are seeing the adoption of AI, transitioning from small-scale solutions to the integration of diverse services provided by different entities. For example, city of Oulu (FI) is building OuluBot, an AI based application which integrates various services for foreign students, increasing not only the reach of information and accessibility to the services, but also the social integration. Such app one day could become a general-purpose citizen app with “city as a service” in your hands. 

One of the European Commission’s key priorities for the coming years is to boost Europe’s competitiveness in order to safeguard the wellbeing of its citizens. In this context, how do the Preparatory Action and the digital transformation journeys support and advance this objective?

Competitiveness plays a crucial role in both digital experimentation journeys, with a central focus on the ecosystem approach. Participants actively engage in discussions and learn from one another how to build digital ecosystems in practice with different governance set-up and technological environments. While working with and for their local ecosystems, participants concentrate on key technologies such as quantum computing, semiconductors and AI. These technologies and ecosystems are instrumental in increasing not only competitiveness but also strategic autonomy. For example, Jönköping (SE) and Reus (ES) both are working to enhance AI integration in their agencies and ecosystems. They are focusing on identifying obstacles to digital adoption and finding ways for businesses to become more digitally advanced and competitive faster.

An important aspect of digital transformation is fairness, that is how benefits of the transformation are distributed across society. (Does place-based approach help in addressing fairness of digital transformation?)

With participants of the Preparatory Action we use a tool called the Action Plan Canvas, which is based on the Theory of Change. This tool, still under development, helps to plan a transformative action, to identify the value proposition, and ensure involvement of all relevant actors and ecosystem stakeholders (such as initiators, beneficiaries, users, indirect impact etc.) For example, Basque country (ES) is building a quantum computing ecosystem BasQ, that will ensure that both public and private sectors are ready for what such technologies can bring. More on this, they are thinking about embedded inclusiveness, learning and co-creation, a platform to work with practitioners across industries and regions to go from "insights to instruments".