From tackling the housing shortage in the Netherlands to transforming foreign-policy information management in Switzerland and using innovative procurement to improve healthcare in Spain, three public sector projects from across Europe have taken first place in their categories at the European Public Sector Award (EPSA) 2025-26.
The winners were announced today at the EPSA Award Ceremony in Maastricht, marking the 10th edition of the European Public Sector Award, organised by the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA).
The EPSA 2025-26 first-place winners
Investing in Infrastructure, Mobility and Energy – CH@World 2.0, Switzerland
Switzerland’s CH@World 2.0 modernises foreign-policy information management for around 4,000 users. The project brings together country information, policy inputs and thousands of annual consultations on a single digital platform, replacing fragmented processes with automated workflows and analytical tools.
Implemented between May 2023 and June 2025, the project replaced the previous system by January 2025 and was delivered on schedule and within budget. The new platform supports more efficient and evidence-informed decision-making across Switzerland’s diplomatic network and federal departments.
Innovating Government, Governance and Policies – De Thuisgevers, Netherlands
The Dutch initiative De Thuisgevers supports municipalities in finding new ways to address the housing shortage and provide people with a home more quickly. Rather than relying solely on new construction, the initiative helps municipalities identify opportunities in vacant buildings, existing properties and suitable construction sites.
To date, 2,200 promising locations have been identified across 29 municipalities, with space for an average of at least 20 homes per location.
“De Thuisgevers shows that societal challenges cannot always be solved through new policies or regulations. Sometimes, it starts with looking differently at what is already available. It is great to see that an initiative originating in the Municipality of Kampen is now helping municipalities across the Netherlands to create new housing opportunities.”— Municipality of Kampen
Delivering User-Centric Services at Subnational Level – Innovative Public Procurement in Healthcare, Galicia, Spain
Since 2012, Galicia has used Public Procurement of Innovative solutions (PPI) to develop and deploy innovative healthcare solutions through its regional health service, SERGAS.
Between 2012 and 2026, more than €120 million was invested in programmes covering areas including electronic medical records, e-prescription, telecare and clinical trials. The approach combines market consultation, stakeholder involvement, procurement and impact evaluation, helping turn identified healthcare needs into tested solutions while strengthening Galicia’s capacity for innovation procurement.
A European platform for public sector innovation
Opening the ceremony, Cecilia Wikström, Chair of the EIPA Governing Board, highlighted the milestone represented by the 10th edition and the long-term role of EPSA in European public administration:
“Since 2009, EPSA has been a cornerstone of EIPA’s mission. Today, it is a unique pan-European award open to all levels of government. Almost 1,800 projects have been submitted throughout its history, making EPSA a living platform for reform and innovation.”
She also emphasised that the value of EPSA extends beyond the ceremony itself, providing public administrations across Europe with opportunities to learn from each other and build on solutions that have already been tested in practice.
Emile Roemer, King’s Commissioner of Limburg, welcomed the ceremony to the province and stressed the importance of innovation and cooperation in strengthening Europe:
“Limburg is used to looking across borders for solutions. That is exactly what EPSA is about: sharing what works and learning from each other. It is great to see these European examples of public-sector innovation being recognised here in Maastricht.”
The ceremony’s keynote speaker, Marie Donnay, Director of the Reform and Investment Task Force (SG REFORM) at the European Commission, underlined the role of EPSA as a meeting point for public sector practitioners:
“This ceremony is more than an award. It is a European meeting point for practitioners who are shaping reforms, finding new ways to deliver better results for citizens and learning from each other. The projects showcased this year demonstrate that innovation in the public sector is closely linked to competitiveness.”
She highlighted the importance of reforms and investment in supporting Europe’s green and digital transitions, noting that public administrations have a central role to play in enabling Europe to innovate and remain competitive.
Recognising public sector innovation across Europe
In addition to the three category winners, six other projects received second or third place, while three projects received Special Recognition for their long-term impact and adaptability. A further 24 projects received Good Practice Certificates, recognising innovative approaches to public administration challenges.
We will soon update the EPSA page and list all the winners and Good Practice Certificate recipients in the three award categories as well as the Special Recognitions.
Thank you to all stakeholders that made EPSA 2025-26 possible as well as to our category leaders Pavlina Stoykova, Christoph Klika and Marco Lopriore, to the evaluators and the whole EPSA team.
EPSA 2025-26 is financed by the European Commission, Austria, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and supported by the Province of Limburg and the City of Maastricht.
