🎥: Shaping the future of AI-enabled public services for entrepreneurs in Germany and Spain
Across Europe, governments are exploring how to harness digitalisation and AI to make public services more efficient and user-friendly. This shift is crucial from an entrepreneurial perspective and plays an important role in supporting economic growth. A recent EU-supported project helped turn that vision into practice in Germany and Spain by focusing on user-friendly, AI-enabled public services for entrepreneurs.
At the heart of this effort is a collaboration between the e-Governance Academy (eGA) and regional authorities in both countries. Together, they have worked to modernise how public institutions design and deliver services for entrepreneurs by placing user needs, digital innovation, and practical implementation at the centre of reform.
A cross-border effort for smarter services
The project brought together key public sector partners, including Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, alongside the reference region of North Rhine-Westphalia, and several Spanish regions: Navarra, Extremadura, Andalusia, and Madrid. Despite differing administrative structures and regional priorities, all partners shared a common goal: to make public services more accessible, efficient, and aligned with the realities of modern entrepreneurship.
One of the project’s cornerstone achievements was the development of a Technology Adoption Roadmap, designed to guide authorities in implementing innovative digital solutions. Rather than offering abstract recommendations, the roadmap provides practical, actionable guidance by helping authorities move from strategy to implementation with confidence.
Building skills and strengthening collaboration
Beyond the roadmap, the project placed strong emphasis on people. Through targeted training programmes, study visits, and customised online learning initiatives, public officials enhanced their ability to apply new technologies in their day-to-day work.
Equally important was the strengthening of cooperation both between Germany and the Spanish regions, and among the Spanish regions themselves. The initiative fostered an ongoing exchange of knowledge and best practices, creating a foundation for continued collaboration beyond the project’s duration.
Insights from the front lines
A video summary captures key lessons and reflections from policymakers and practitioners directly involved in the project activities. Featured speakers include:
- Jakob Michael Müller, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (Germany)
- Maria José Cousinou Toscano, Regional Government of Andalusia
- Oscar Del Campo Barxias, Community of Madrid
- Celia Liagoura, European Commission (SG Reform)
Their insights highlight the opportunities of integrating innovative technologies into public services by offering valuable guidance for other regions embarking on similar journeys.
As digital transformation accelerates across Europe, initiatives like this demonstrate how collaboration, practical tools, and capacity building can reshape public services to better support entrepreneurship.
The views expressed by the speakers in the project video are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the European Union.
