A Fresh Start for Digital Transformation: Germany's New Digital Ministry
Anticipate increased momentum for state modernisation in the digital realm, according to industry insiders.
Embrace the change! Germany has seen the creation of a snazzy new federal ministry, and the digital industry is thrilled. The shiny, new Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and State Modernization is all set to rock the nation. Ralf Wintergerst, the president of Bitkom, a stellar industry association, shared his thoughts, "The formation of this Digital Ministry sends a strong message: the government is putting digitalization at the forefront of future action." He's eagerly awaiting some game-changing moves to modernize the state.
Until now, the digital ball was juggled alongside transportation in one department. But, in the new government led by supreme leader Friedrich Merz, there's now an independent ministry dedicated to Digital Affairs and State Modernization. The digital maestro, Karsten Wildberger, will wield the authority.
The ministry isn't just a one-trick pony, my friend. It's got a stellar lineup of new responsibilities on its plate. Bye-bye Economics Ministry, it's now the ministry's primary mission to cut bureaucratic red tape and nurture the digital economy. Wildberger also inherits the topics of administration and security of federal IT infrastructure from the Interior Ministry. He'll also handle the implementation of the EU's artificial intelligence law, a responsibility previously held by the Justice Ministry.
The ministry isn't stopping there. It's also picking up duties from the Finance Ministry, like procuring IT materials, and claiming a "veto power over all major IT expenditures."
Germany's stirring things up, folks! The new ministry is here to accelerate the digital transformation of the nation, turning it into a "digitally sovereign" powerhouse. Let's see what this digital whirlwind brings!
[1] ntv.de[2] AFP[3] Wirtschaftswoche[4] Tagesspiegel[5] Computerworld
P.S: The new ministry will bundle together digital responsibilities from six different departments, create a market surveillance authority to ensure compliance with the EU's AI Act, manage cross-departmental data projects, work towards creating a data code to systematize data regulations, and take over cybersecurity responsibilities from the Ministry of the Interior while developing a new legal architecture for digital laws. It'll also boost the digital economy to support economic growth and set the stage for a more cohesive and coherent IT sector.
- The Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and State Modernization, a fresh addition to Germany's political landscape, is set to prioritize digitalization, making it a key component of the country's future action, as expressed by Ralf Wintergerst, president of Bitkom.
- The new ministry's responsibilities aren't confined to a single area; it aims to modernize the state by cutting bureaucratic red tape, nurturing the digital economy, and overseeing the administration and security of federal IT infrastructure, previously handled by the Interior Ministry.
- The ministry will also assume the responsibility for implementing the EU's artificial intelligence law, a task previously under the jurisdiction of the Justice Ministry.
- In addition, the ministry will take over duties from the Finance Ministry, including procurement of IT materials and having a "veto power over all major IT expenditures."
- With these policy areas under one roof, the digital ministry is poised to accelerate Germany's digital transformation, striving to create a "digitally sovereign" nation, and potentially bring significant impulses to the nation's politics, policy-and-legislation, and general news, particularly in areas like technology, artificial-intelligence, WhatsApp, and community and employment policies.
