Datathon – uniting sectors for efficient governance

Countries

Iceland

Policy areas

Organisation name Treasury of Iceland (Ríkiskaup)

Share this article via:

Contact person: Gisli Ragnar Guðmundsson

gisli@rikiskaup.is

Context

In an era defined by digital transformation, Ríkiskaup, a self-funded entity under Iceland’s Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, remains committed to optimising public procurement practices. To this end, a Datathon was initiated, an innovative event that serves multiple objectives. Specifically, this project was designed to fulfil an urgent government mandate to find creative ways to optimise spending, thereby aiding in the fight against inflation.

In a period where the government is tasked with reducing inflation, the Datathon serves as an innovative platform to find creative solutions to cut government spending without sacrificing service quality.

Objectives

The project had the following objectives: (1) Public-private-academic collaboration: to create a tripartite synergy that serves the public interest while benefiting all stakeholders. (2) Data-driven innovation: to promote innovative, cost-effective solutions through data analysis. (3) Talent pool connection: to allow private companies early access to emerging talent in data science and analytics. (4) Local–national cooperation: to strengthen relationships between local and national governmental bodies for more coordinated procurement. (5) Gender inclusion: to encourage women’s participation in STEM fields. (6) Raising Ríkiskaup’s profile: enhancing visibility and reinforcing the importance of data-driven decision-making in public procurement.

Implementation

The project operated on a lean budget supplemented by private sector contributions, with a dedicated team from Ríkiskaup managing the event. Recent mandates from the Ministry of Finance for government agencies to limit spending to help combat inflation meant keeping the budget to an absolute minimum. We had private companies sponsor the prize categories as well as the food and drinks. The project was governed by a specialised team from Ríkiskaup; the project conformed to our stringent procurement protocols and responsible governance models. In terms of communication, a strategic, multichannel communication plan was implemented, encompassing traditional and digital media. Our event reached around 300 000 views in total, which is impressive for a country of about 390 000 people. The views were captured through Instagram, LinkedIn, podcast interviews and the largest newspaper in Iceland. Private organisations found invaluable early-stage access to a burgeoning talent pool of data scientists and analysts. With their challenges in recruiting capable professionals, this Datathon became an ideal platform for them to scout for and mentor emerging talent.

This project is a transformative shift in the practice of public administration. Traditionally, procurement and resource allocation have been conducted through standardised processes with limited public involvement. The Datathon changes that by employing open innovation and engaging the brightest minds from universities to come up with novel methods for achieving efficiency in public spending. This democratises the process and opens the door for unexpected but brilliant solutions. In essence, it serves as an innovation lab where new ideas can be tested and applied. Plans are in place to make the Datathon an annual event.

No results found.

Also interesting