The Federal Digital Ministry and Databund, the federation representing medium-sized IT service providers and software manufacturers for the public sector, have announced a joint “SME Initiative.”
A cooperation agreement was signed on Thursday, aimed at accelerating the digitalization and modernization of state and public administration. According to a joint statement, the initiative seeks to harness the expertise of medium-sized IT companies for developing digital administrative services and expanding a sovereign digital infrastructure. The agreement is open to other interested associations and companies for co-signing.
State Secretary Markus Richter emphasized that collaboration with developers of municipal specialized software and other actors within the digital ecosystem will ensure that the digital reality aligns with practical municipal processes. He characterized these specialized software manufacturers as partners capable of providing solutions across all regions, stating that the goal is to quickly achieve “noticeable improvements” for citizens.
In turn, Sirko Scheffler, head of Databund, described the agreement as a pivotal step for smaller IT businesses to be integrated into major public administration IT projects. He noted that the local level’s IT expertise can speed up the rollout process and lead to better outcomes for both citizens and the economy. A digital mechanism for others to sign onto the cooperation is expected to be created soon.
