Context
The Madrid Govtech Programme is an initiative driven by the City Council of Madrid’s Digital Transformation Strategy, ‘Madrid, Digital Capita’ (2023–2027). This overarching strategy aims to solidify Madrid’s position as a leader in the digital sphere, encompassing all levels from citizens and businesses to the municipal government itself. One of its core objectives is to establish Madrid as a ‘Digital Innovation Hub’. The Govtech Strategy, nested within this larger plan, focuses on incorporating cutting-edge solutions into citizen services, fostering competition in public procurement and stimulating the economic growth of digital startups and SMEs. The Madrid Govtech Programme is a key instrument for achieving these goals.
Objectives
The Madrid Govtech Programme recognises the need to bridge the gap between the public sector and innovative startups. Traditionally, a disconnect has existed when it comes to integrating private sector solutions into local administrations. This programme addresses this challenge by promoting an entrepreneurial ecosystem and laying the groundwork for a novel Govtech governance model within the City Council. By fostering collaboration between the City Council, startups, universities, research centres and the public, the programme aims to leverage the collective expertise to develop and implement new technologies that tackle urban challenges, enhance public services and modernise Madrid.
Implementation
The Madrid Govtech Programme is resourced with a dedicated annual budget of €155 000. This budget supports technical assistance, contracts for Govtech challenges and Govtech4All initiatives. A designated team of municipal staff, with varying time allocations, manages the project. The General Directorate of the Digital Office spearheads the programme, coordinating Govtech and open innovation training across different City Council departments with the support of ‘digital delegates’ – employees tasked with facilitating the city’s digital transformation. Open innovation is a cornerstone of the programme’s methodology. The Digital Office finances contracts from various departments to experiment with Govtech solutions through pilot projects. Additionally, an open innovation platform allows startups and companies to access information on challenges and participate in the programme. To ensure transparency and widespread knowledge, the programme utilises explanatory videos, information on the City Council’s Digital Transformation portal and the open innovation platform for communication.