Strategic Objective 2 – Innovative and Effective Government
As part of the National Initiative, the government has set a goal to advance governance in Israel, so it is a pioneer in innovative technology regarding the operation of the government itself (procurement and contracting with suppliers, communication between government offices, etc.) and with respect to its place in the entrepreneurship ecosystem.
The aim is that the government of Israel will foster the development of innovative technological solutions, will take an active role in their implementation as beta sites (an “experimental arena” for new tools in the digital and technological world), and in effect lead the innovation industry along with the private sector.
In the context of government work, the digital revolution symbolizes innovation, accessibility and efficiency. Making government innovative and effective means using advanced technological applications to streamline internal government work, alongside the development of advanced digital tools for supporting information-based decision making processes and fostering information sharing in government.
These elements must be supported by high-level digital and technological capabilities of human capital which make up government in Israel. Accordingly, the way information is used, the digital literacy level of workers and the variety of the human capital in the public sector, underscoring integration of digital and ICT experts, are at the core of the efforts to advance innovation and to encourage efficiency in the operation of government in Israel.
Therefore, the steps to make the government innovative and effective will address four key areas:
- Increasing digitization in internal government work
- Promoting information-based policy and cross-governmental information sharing
- Developing the digital competencies of human capital in government
- Expanding innovation and entrepreneurship in government
| Launch a Fund to Promote Innovation in the Public Sector (in cooperation with the Government ICT Authority and the Innovation Authority) | The Government of Israel Joined the D5 Forum (headed by the Prime Minister’s office) | |
A program promoting digital innovation, that awards grants to entrepreneurs from the local high-tech industry who offer a response to public sector challenges and needs by developing innovative technologies. The program awards R&D grants (up to four million NIS per project) and post-R&D grants (up to 300,000 NIS per project) to Israeli companies and entrepreneurs who provide a response to challenges in a range of social areas. | Israel joined the forum of leading digital countries in 2014 alongside Britain, South Korea, Estonia and New Zealand. The forum was established with the aim of promoting a digital policy in the member countries, user-oriented services, open standards, open code, open markets, open government, connectivity, fostering programming studies in the education system, digital literacy and a commitment to information sharing.  |