The Ministry of Digital Transformation announced the launch of Diia.Cards: what you need to know

The Ministry of Digital Transformation announced the launch of Diia.Cards: what you need to know

Mykhailo Fedorov announced the launch of Diia.Card, which will transfer all government benefit programs. The card will be used to receive salaries, scholarships, social benefits, and personal funds. Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine for Innovation, Development of Education, Science and Technology – Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov announced the launch of Diia.Kartki, where all government programs will soon move, UNN reports. "We are launching Diia.card. It should become a single place for all state payments. The first payment there will be eKniga. But I hope that all current programs will soon move there as well," Fedorov said. In addition, according to him, it will be possible to receive salaries, scholarships, social benefits, and even personal funds on Diya.Karta. "Finally, each new payment from the state will not create a +1 card in your wallet. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that everything will work as planned. Even if you don’t have any government payments now, I advise you to open a Diia.Card in advance," Fedorov added. He also urged to update the app. "The iOS version is on review at Apple. We are waiting for it in the near future," summarized Fedorov. eBook program launched in Ukraine: who can […]

Forging a career through digital transformation and mindset change

Forging a career through digital transformation and mindset change

Satoko Shisai | Courtesy of Satoko Shisai This series explores topics surrounding women who began their careers in Japan around the time of the implementation of equal opportunities employment legislation in the mid-1980s. With many now reaching the age of retirement, it is hoped that their stories can provide insight and lessons for women in Japan’s professional world today. It is no secret that foreign-owned employers, gaishikei in Japanese, have long attracted and benefited from ambitious top female Japanese graduates joining their ranks. These women have long been frustrated by the implicit and explicit gender bias that stubbornly plagues traditional Japanese companies. Typically more meritocratic than seniority- or gender-driven firms, the gaishikei work environment, often requiring English communication between headquarters and global offices, also aligned well with these women’s penchant for better language skills. IBM, which entered Japan in 1937, is a large-scale employer — over 305,300 strong as of 2023, according to IBM’s annual report — whose investment in local female talent from the early days deserves particular credit. Many women eventually graduated from IBM Japan to build prominent careers and serve as role models for younger generations; many are still active. One of these pioneers is Yukako […]

Tripura’s IT Directorate Wins National Award for Digital Transformation in Governance

Tripura’s IT Directorate Wins National Award for Digital Transformation in Governance

Tripura’s IT Directorate has achieved a significant milestone by winning the prestigious National Award at the Digital Transformation Awards 2024. The award recognizes the state’s innovative Beneficiary Management System, a groundbreaking initiative that has set new standards for digital governance and public service delivery. This recognition highlights Tripura’s unwavering commitment to leveraging technology to improve the lives of its citizens and promote transparency in governance. The Beneficiary Management System is a key initiative under the state’s broader digital transformation agenda. The system was developed to streamline the management and delivery of government benefits and services to eligible citizens. By integrating multiple departments and programs into a unified digital platform, the system ensures efficiency, accuracy, and reduced redundancy in beneficiary identification and fund disbursement. Officials from the IT Directorate expressed pride in receiving the award, emphasizing that it reflects the collective effort of the state government and its commitment to innovation. The system, they said, was designed with a citizen-centric approach, ensuring that every eligible beneficiary could access services without delays or bureaucratic hurdles. One of the standout features of the Beneficiary Management System is its ability to eliminate duplication of beneficiaries. Using advanced algorithms and Aadhaar-based verification, the system […]

Dr. Emilija Stojmenova Duh, former Minister of Digital Transformation, Slovenia

Dr. Emilija Stojmenova Duh, former Minister of Digital Transformation, Slovenia

Meet the Women in GovTech 2024. Dr. Emilija Stojmenova Duh, former Minister of Digital Transformation, Slovenia, shares her journey. Image: Emilija Stojmenova Duh 1. How do you use technology/policy to improve citizens’ lives? Tell us about your role or organisation. Until October, I served as the Minister of Digital Transformation of Slovenia. The Ministry for Digital Transformation oversees and analyzes the state of digital transformation and the information society at the national level. As a minister, my responsibilities encompassed various domains, including the information society, electronic communications, digital inclusion, digital competencies, data economy, the management of information and communication systems, and the provision of electronic public administration services. In October, I returned to the University of Ljubljana, where I am an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering. While my role as a minister was largely focused on policy-making, I remain actively involved in shaping policy. However, my current position allows me the valuable opportunity to engage in research and integrate these insights into policy recommendations. One of the aspects I deeply appreciate about my role at the university is working with and teaching young people who are developing the technologies of the future. It is particularly important […]

Inno Holdings Inc. Announces Expansion into Electronic Product Trading and Digital Transformation Initiatives

Inno Holdings Inc. Announces Expansion into Electronic Product Trading and Digital Transformation Initiatives

INNO Holdings (NASDAQ: INHD), a building technology company known for cold-formed steel framing technology and AI-driven design, announced its expansion into electronic products trading and digital transformation initiatives. Starting December 2024, the company is undergoing digital transformation in marketing, distribution, and sales, focusing on expanding into electronic products including cell phones, computers, and tablets. The company aims to enhance its sales and distribution network across Asia while implementing a comprehensive digital marketing plan for global sales growth. CEO Ding Wei emphasized plans to collaborate with more partners to explore new business opportunities. However, the company noted there is no assurance these efforts will lead to anticipated sales growth or increased enterprise value. Positive Expansion into new electronic products trading business Implementation of digital transformation initiatives Geographic expansion of sales network across Asia Negative No assurance of achieving anticipated sales growth Uncertainty in realizing increased enterprise value Potential risks associated with entering new market segment Insights The company’s expansion into electronic product trading represents a significant strategic pivot that raises concerns about focus dilution. While diversification can be beneficial, moving from construction technology to electronic product trading appears to be a dramatic shift without clear synergies. The digital transformation initiative, […]

2025 vision: leading a future-ready data strategy

2025 vision: leading a future-ready data strategy

This year, data strategy has been front and centre, thanks to the explosion of AI and the growing awareness of the challenges that come with it. In a recent panel discussion, three data experts shared their insights on the trends shaping the ways businesses approach data. The two sides of AI AI has become an undeniable force in business and is now on every boardroom’s agenda. As Dane Buchanan, chief data and analytics officer at M&C Saatchi Performance, puts it: “AI is in every conversation, whether you want it to be or not, in good ways and bad ways. One of the biggest impacts AI has had over the last year is the speed at which you can test things.” The ability to test and prototype faster has unlocked exciting possibilities for many businesses. But the flip side of this rapid adoption? It has exposed long-standing issues with how companies manage their data. Adrian Kunzle, chief technology officer at Own Company, cautions that this rush to embrace AI has also “exposed the fact that, for years, many companies have not looked after their data properly”. He explains that many organisations lack a clear understanding of where their data resides, […]

Govt prepares cybersecurity system to support digital transformation

Govt prepares cybersecurity system to support digital transformation

Minister of Communications and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid (second from left) visits Gadjah Mada University (UGM) in Yogyakarta on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, where she discussed digital literacy and digital transformation. ANTARA FOTO/Andreas Fitri Atmoko/agr/rwa Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs is currently preparing a cybersecurity system to support the implementation of digital transformation in Indonesia. In the ministry’s statement here on Saturday, Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid underlined that cybersecurity is the main foundation for ensuring the sustainability of digital transformation in the country. "Cybersecurity is key to protecting our strategic infrastructure. We are currently developing the National Digital Firewall and pushing for the formation of CSIRT (Computer Security Incident Response Team) in every government institution to mitigate cyber threats," she remarked. To support digital transformation, the ministry will also carry out training and certification programs to prepare digital talents in accordance with the needs of industries. "The programs do not only cover certification but also bolster relations between participants and the professional world, ensuring a real impact on the community," she said. The minister noted that digital literacy improvement programs have reached more than 5.6 million people, and the participants include […]

Mélanie Copeland, Director, Digital Transformation CIRNAC, Canada

Mélanie Copeland, Director, Digital Transformation CIRNAC, Canada

Meet the Women in GovTech 2024. Mélanie Copeland, Director, Digital Transformation CIRNAC, Canada. Image: Mélanie Copeland 1. How do you use technology/policy to improve citizens’ lives? Tell us about your role or organisation. My passion for digital transformation began in 2018 with the introduction of the Government of Canada Digital Standards which serve to help public servants build user-centric services for people, businesses and communities. Most recently, I joined the Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada as Director for Digital Transformation (CIRNAC). My focus here is to enhance the efficiency, accessibility, and effectiveness of our operations and services through the adoption of digital technologies and a service mindset. In the work I lead, I always look to answer two questions. One is how can we make it easier and simpler for Indigenous peoples of Canada to interact with government services, and the other is how can we support our internal staff in delivering better client experiences. To do this, I advocate for going digital and adopting modern ways of working to drive forward new capabilities and results – inviting colleagues to experiment with the technology available to them and to put themselves in the user’s shoes. 2. […]

Julia Vieira de Andrade Dias Emendabili, Digital Innovation Specialist, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), United States

Julia Vieira de Andrade Dias Emendabili, Digital Innovation Specialist, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), United States

Bookmark Oleh Si Ying Thian Meet the Women in GovTech 2024. Julia Vieira de Andrade Dias Emendabili, Digital Innovation Specialist, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), shares her journey. Image: Julia Vieira de Andrade Dias Emendabili 1. How do you use technology/policy to improve citizens’ lives? Tell us about your role or organisation. I lead the Inter-American Development Bank ’s (IDB) Code for Development initiative, the first open-source program office at a multilateral development bank. We empower governments in Latin America and the Caribbean to adopt open-source solutions that drive innovation and improve public services. Code for Development has curated a repository of over 200 open-source tools, including 65 developed by the IDB , and built a network of over 2,000 government developers called Code4Dev. This network facilitates knowledge sharing, hosts implementation workshops, and connects governments with strategic partners. A recent example of our work is the implementation of UrbanPy in Brazil, an open-source tool developed by the IDB that we are reusing to optimize school infrastructure planning. This tool enables governments to identify the best locations for new schools and assess expansions based on data-driven metrics such as demand, travel times, and current capacities. By leveraging this solution, governments can […]

Innovative Path to NATO: Ukraine's Digital Transformation

Innovative Path to NATO: Ukraine’s Digital Transformation

Ukraine has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative aimed at curbing corruption and facilitating progress towards NATO membership. The newly established State Logistics Operator, known locally as DOT, has shown promising results by streamlining the procurement of nonlethal military supplies. DOT’s CEO, Arsen Zhumadilov, highlighted the agency’s achievements in securing 95% of requested supplies while saving 25% in the process. This initiative is part of Ukraine’s broader efforts to reform its defense sector, plagued by corruption scandals under previous leadership. Despite facing resistance from traditional bureaucratic practices, DOT continues to prioritize transparency through its digital system, DOT-Chain. Western officials are monitoring these reforms closely, as Kyiv strives to meet NATO’s anti-corruption standards. (With inputs from agencies.)