EPSA 2023-24

The following projects receive Good Practice Certificates:

Innovation in Public Administration

• “Oberösterreichischer Wohn- und Energiekostenbonus” (Upper Austrian housing and energy cost bonus), Office of the Upper Austrian State Government, Department of Social Affairs, Austria
• Tech Force Against Drugs, FPS Finance – General Administration Customs and Excises, Belgium
• Human Rights Capacity Building Programme, National Institute of Administration (INA, I. P.), Portugal
• Local open data catalogue and the Data portal of the Hradec Králové region Data KHK, Hradec Králové Region, Czech Republic
• BRISE Vienna (Building Regulations Information for Submission Envolvement), Municipal Directorate of the City of Vienna, Organisation and Security Division, Process management and Information and Communication Technology, Austria
• Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) collaboration with Foróige on increasing social enterprise awareness among young people, Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD), Ireland
• Outlier Detection, Ministry of Home Affairs of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Luxembourg
• Public Research Infrastructure Database: Research and Innovation through Open for Collaboration in Austria, Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF), Austria
• IdroGEO – The Italian web platform on landslides and floods, ISPRA – Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Italy
• Mentoring Program for Innovation and Leadership (PMIL), National Institute of Administration (INA, I. P.), Portugal
• Young Cities Program, National Betting Authority, Cyprus
• Census Interactive Mapping Application, Central Statistics Office, Ireland
• Together for Better, a New Funding Model for the Early Learning and Childcare Sector, Department of Children, Equality, Integration and Youth, Ireland
• Oireachtas Work Learning (OWL) Training and Graduate Programme, Houses of the Oireachtas Service, Ireland
• Justice Folder, Ministry of Justice, Spain
• Re-open EU, Joint Research Centre (European Commission)

Green Transition and Sustainability 

• Automatic Detection of Impervious Surfaces, Kreisverwaltung Recklinghausen, Germany
• The ‘Schwammstein’ – Sustainable irrigation of green spaces, City of Vienna – Road Management and Construction, Austria
• Circular Innovation HUB, Municipality of Wiltz, Luxembourg
• Energy and Raw Materials Factory (ERMF), Waterschap Aa en Maas, the Netherlands

Digital Transformation 

• The 2023 Robotic Process Automation (RPA) – Software, Training and Support Services Incorporating Artificial Intelligence, Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform, Ireland
• SeTDIBA: a journey of digital transformation, Barcelona Provincial Council, Spain
• National Platform for Artificial Intelligence – AI as a Common Good, Office for Information Technologies and eGovernment, Serbia
• CENPOS-PROJECT, Agency for the Technological Modernization of Galicia (AMTEGA), Spain
• Digital sustainability: Contribution of technology to the green and digital transition in the city of Madrid, Madrid City Council, Spain
• Learning in the Metaverse: A Virtual Reality Transversal Skills Programme from Industry and Higher Education, University College Dublin Innovation Academy, Ireland

In addition to winners and Good Practice Certificate recipients, evaluators also identified projects with outstanding efforts towards change. While these projects were not among the highest-ranking projects, the efforts demonstrated in the applications nevertheless deserve recognition.

The following projects receive special EPSA recognition:

• Implementation of OKRs methodology in National Agency on Corruption Prevention, National Agency on Corruption Prevention, Ukraine
• Mitos – National Registry of Administrative Procedures, GRNET – National Infrastructures for Research & Technology, Greece
• Application for the National Support Scheme for Farmers, National Agency of Information Society (NAIS), Albania

You can access the EPSA 2023-24 General Report here.

The EPSA 2023-24 evaluation process entailed four stages:

1. Online evaluation

Following the initial eligibility check by EIPA, all eligible projects were distributed to external experts for the first evaluation. Each project was assessed by two evaluators independently, based on the application form and against the six evaluation criteria.

The evaluators scored projects on each evaluation criterion to develop the provisional ranking of projects in each award category.

2. Consensus meeting

In the consensus meeting, all evaluators came together to review and discuss the provisional ranking. Based on this review, the evaluators collectively decided on the shortlisted projects in each award category. Moreover, Good Practice Certificates and Special Recognitions were awarded.

3. Validation visits

Following the consensus meeting, EIPA conducted visits to shortlisted applicants to validate and verify the results and recommendations of the previous two evaluation steps.

4. Jury meeting

In the final step, applicants were invited to present their projects in an online jury meeting. Collectively, the jury decided on the winners of three award categories.

European Public Sector Award (EPSA) 2023-24 Award Ceremony

The event took place in Maastricht, (NL), from 20 to 22 March, with online streaming available on 21 March.

On 21 March, we announced the winners and the Good Practice Certificate recipients of the European Public Sector Award (EPSA) 2023-24 during the official Award Ceremony at the Provincial Government House in Maastricht, where the Maastricht Treaty was signed in 1992.

Agenda Outline

• Reception at Town Hall of Maastricht (NL), 20 March 2024, from 19.00 to 22.00 CET

The reception provided space for EPSA applicants (winners and Good Practice Certificate recipients) and EPSA evaluators to network and get to know each other.

• Award Ceremony at the Provincial Government House in Maastricht (NL) & Online, 21 March 2024, from 9.00 to 16.00 CET

The ceremony provided a forum for debate on public sector reform policies and innovation across Europe.

• Workshop at the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) in Maastricht (NL), 22 March 2024, from 9.00 to 12.30 CET

During the workshop EPSA applicants had the opportunity to exchange practices and provide resources on relevant topics.

The workshop was facilitated by NIDO Innovation Lab, Innovation lab of the public sector in Belgium, by FPS BOSA.

Workshop facilitators:
Frédéric Baervoets, Manager NIDO Innovation Lab
Laurien Mues, Innovation Project Manager NIDO Innovation Lab
Janet Cherop, Innovation Project Manager

The EPSA goes beyond merely identifying and recognising excellence and innovation. It serves as a dynamic platform for sharing best practices and fostering mutual learning in public administration.

We have organised a range of activities covering topics such as social innovation, sustainability, law enforcement, leadership, and behavioral science.

Briefings

As part of the knowledge dissemination, EPSA 2023-24 provides five policy briefings on topics relevant for public sector innovation. The briefings pursue three main objectives: to present the state of the art of the topic, to appraise opportunities for innovation and to analyse challenges, obstacles and limitations, and to provide an outlook, offer suggestions and ways forward.

• Sustainability in Practice in Europe: From the 2030 Agenda to Local Action by Guillem Ramírez Chico, Coordinator, Eurocities Academy

• Collaborative Governance for Innovation in Public Services by Elke Loeffler, Director, Governance International
• Strategies and Instruments to Develop Talent for the Twin Transition in the Public Sector by Cristina Simón, Professor Organizational Behavior and People Management, IE University
• AI-Powered Interoperability: Lessons Learned from the European Public Sector Awards by Michaela Sullivan Paul, Senior Research Officer, Digital Protections and Artificial Intelligence, EIPA & Elpida Longinidou, Digital Policy Researcher, EIPA
• The Role of Innovation Labs in the Public Sector: Concepts and Conditions for Successful Transformation by Christoph Klika, Expert EU Policy Making, EIPA & Elpida Longinidou, Digital Policy Researcher, EIPA

Webinars

We hosted a series of six half-day webinars designed to foster active audience engagement and knowledge sharing among public sector professionals across diverse government levels. Each session featured live presentations, expert panel discussions, and interactive Q&A segments, creating a dynamic environment for exploring key topics relevant to public administration.

These webinars were open and free of charge to public officials from EU institutions, as well as from national, regional, and local administrations. The series has attracted over 300 participants from EU institutions, EU Member States and candidate countries, highlighting the strong commitment to cross-border collaboration and continuous learning within the public sector.

• Innovation for Digital Transformation: Key Trends and Developments
• Social Innovation: Mental Health and Well-Being

Did you miss it? You can watch the recording here.

• Pathways to Sustainability: Innovative Solutions in Urban and Rural Areas

Did you miss it? You can watch the recording here.

• Data-Driven Justice: Innovating Judiciaries and Law Enforcement

Did you miss it? You can watch the recording here.

• Public Sector Strategies Against Climate Change

Did you miss it? You can watch the recording here.

• Beyond Borders: Innovating Customs for a Connected World

Did you miss it? You can watch the recording here.

Workshops

The first workshop, titled “Leadership and Change Management for Innovation,” was held on 19 September 2024. This interactive session was designed to equip current and aspiring leaders with essential strategies and skills for navigating and leading change effectively within their organisations. Through practical exercises, case studies, and collaborative discussions, participants explored approaches to foster a resilient culture of innovation, drive organisational transformation, and address common challenges in implementing change. The workshop emphasised actionable insights, enabling leaders to develop practical roadmaps for sustaining innovation and inspiring team adaptability amidst evolving organisational needs.

The second workshop, titled “Collaborative Governance: Avoiding Pitfalls and Materialising Promises,” took place on 3 October 2024. This session delved into the principles of collaborative governance, offering participants a comprehensive framework to understand and apply these concepts effectively. Through real-world examples and group activities, attendees examined common challenges that can hinder collaboration and received practical guidance on overcoming these obstacles. The workshop provided actionable strategies to unlock the full potential of collaborative governance, empowering public sector professionals to drive innovation, enhance interagency cooperation, and create more resilient, responsive institutions.

The third workshop, titled “Behavioural Science to Foster Innovation,” took place on 22 November 2024. The session introduced participants to key behavioural science concepts and their application in fostering innovation within the public sector. Attendees learnt how cognitive biases influence decision-making and innovation and how to overcome these challenges. The workshop also explored techniques for fostering a culture of risk-taking and novel thinking, along with practical applications for designing solutions that are more effectively adopted by users. Interactive sessions and case studies provided real-world insights into how behavioural science can drive innovation in public services.