Alle afleveringen
180 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
-
Building cyber defence from the ground up
28 oktober 2026 · 28 min
What does it take to build military cyber defence capacity from the ground up, and how can international assistance create capabilities that last? Lees meer
In this episode of the Digital Government Podcast, Merle Maigre, Head of Cybersecurity at the eGA, speaks with senior cybersecurity expert Pirit Pikker and senior technical cybersecurity expert Janis Janusjavics about their experience implementing European Peace Facility cyber defence projects in Ukraine and Moldova.
They explore the building blocks of effective cyber defence, from trained personnel and foundational cyber hygiene to infrastructure monitoring and rehearsed incident response. The conversation also examines why trust comes before planning, how equipment deliveries and training need to work together, and why assistance must adapt to an organisation’s readiness and the realities of war.
Tune in to discover how people, technology and lasting partnerships come together to strengthen cyber defence.
This podcast was produced as part of the project “European Peace Facility Assistance on cyber defence in Moldova”, with financial assistance from the European Union via the Technical Support Instrument. The information and views set out herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the European Union or its institutions.
-
National Cyber Resilience in the Age of AI
21 oktober 2026 · 32 min
As AI makes cyberattacks faster, cheaper and more widely accessible, how can governments keep essential services running and protect public trust? Lees meer
In this episode of the Digital Government Podcast, Merle Maigre, Head of Cybersecurity at the eGA, speaks with Madis Tapupere, former CTO of the Estonian Government and now a tech management consultant, about the white paper National Cyber Resilience in the Age of AI: A Doctrine for Asymmetric Cyber Defence.
They explore what a state cannot afford to lose, how AI can help defenders respond at machine speed, and why cyber resilience requires cooperation across government and the private sector. Drawing on Estonia’s experience, the conversation also examines why clear, timely communication during a crisis matters as much as technical recovery.
Tune in to discover what it takes to keep a digital state functioning and trusted in the age of AI.
-
The UN Global Mechanism and the next phase of cyber diplomacy
6 juli 2026 · 43 min
At this year's Tallinn Cyber Diplomacy Summer School, one question kept coming up: how can international cyber agreements move beyond diplomatic language and translate into real action? Lees meer
The question is particularly timely as the United Nations Global Mechanism prepares for its upcoming meeting in New York this July, an important milestone for the permanent UN process on responsible state behaviour in cyberspace.
In this episode of the Digital Government Podcast, recorded during the Summer School, Patryk Pawlak speaks with H.E. Ambassador Egriselda López, Chair of the UN Global Mechanism, about what comes next for cyber diplomacy at the United Nations.
Together, they discuss how implementation can become more action-oriented, why capacity building is essential for meaningful ownership, and how governments, experts, and technical communities can work together to make the mechanism effective in practice.
Listen to the episode to learn why turning commitments into action matters now more than ever.
-
What it takes to get AI working in government: Lessons from Estonia
27 mei 2026 · 45 min
The last time Ott Velsberg appeared on this podcast was early 2022. Popular LLMs had not yet been released. The conversation was about how AI could support data-driven decision-making in government – a topic that felt, at the time, more prospective than operational. Lees meer
Four years on, with Estonia counting over 220 public sector AI use cases and close to 60 million euros in estimated annual impact, the frame has shifted. So, it is now less about what AI in government could look like and more about what it has taken to get there.
In this episode of the Digital Government Podcast, Ott Velsberg, outgoing Chief Data Officer of the Estonian government and responsible for Estonia's AI policy, tells us about the path from strategy to working infrastructure. And the long institutional work that makes it possible to coexist with both consent-based data sharing and AI adoption at scale.
-
Supporting the EU Member States in advancing reforms and innovation
14 mei 2026 · 43 min
When governments across Europe try to modernise, the challenge is rarely that they lack ambition or resources. More often, what is missing is the space to think carefully before acting – to understand what the actual problem is, what has already been tried elsewhere, and who inside the administration will need to carry the change forward. Lees meer
The European Union’s Technical Support Instrument (TSI) was built around exactly that gap: not funding, but structured expert support, delivered at the moment when a reform is still being designed.
In this episode of the Digital Government Podcast, recorded around Europe Day, we speak with Florian Hauser, Deputy Head of Unit for Public Administration at SG REFORM – the European Commission’s Task Force for reforms and investment – and with Hannes Astok, Executive Director of the e-Governance Academy (eGA), which has been working closely with the TSI across a growing portfolio of themes in recent years.
Explore the European Union’s approach to reform support and what it actually takes to make them work. Tune in!
-
Ivo Visak: AI in education starts with a question, not an answer
15 april 2026 · 47 min
Thirty years ago, Estonia launched Tiger Leap, a programme that put computers and internet in every school and, in many ways, laid the groundwork for a digital society what we have known to call e-Estonia. Today, the country is attempting something just as ambitious with artificial intelligence (AI) in education. But the conditions are different this time. Lees meer
When Tiger Leap started in 1996, neither the schools nor the students had the technology – everybody had to learn together. Now, the asymmetry runs the other way: the students have leaped, while the education system is catching up.
In this episode of the Digital Government Podcast, Ivo Visak, CEO of AI Leap (TI-Hüpe), the national programme integrating artificial intelligence into Estonian high schools, Visak makes the case for why treating AI in schools as an intervention rather than an experiment is the only responsible path forward.
Tune in to explore the Estonian path in implementing AI in education!
-
Digital public infrastructure and the foundations of AI in government with Krisstina Rao
1 april 2026 · 41 min
Governments are racing to adopt AI in public services. EU-funded projects show the pace is only accelerating. But this push raises a deeper question: what lies beneath? Too often, the answer is the same – weak or uneven digital foundations. Lees meer
Digital public infrastructure (DPI) can help integrate and connect siloed systems into a coherent digital government platform. So, where does it stand globally, as an enabler of AI development? What makes it work? And why does it matter more than ever for AI adoption? We explored these questions on this episode of the Digital Government Podcast with Krisstina Rao, now at Co-Develop, and outgoing Research Fellow at the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose at University College London (UCL), where she led the work on the Digital Public Infrastructure Map.
Listen now and explore what’s really powering AI-enabled public services behind the scenes!
This podcast and podcast blog were produced within the project “EU Commission Project (24ES06/24DE33): Supporting regional entrepreneurship through the adoption of innovative technologies, including AI, in public services” with the financial assistance of the European Union via the Technical Support Instrument. The views expressed by the speakers in the project video are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the European Union.
-
What leadership through digital change actually looks like with Taimar Peterkop
25 februari 2026 · 38 min
Leadership in the public sector has always demanded resilience. This is best exemplified by three elements: 1) the ability to hold long-term vision steady while reacting to short-term pressures, 2) to build consensus across institutions that do not naturally cooperate, and 3) to keep an organisation moving when the ground shifts beneath it. Digital transformation has sharpened all of these demands. The leaders steering this process need more than technical knowledge. They need self-awareness, the capacity to build the team and trust it, and the judgment to know when a crisis is also an opportunity. Lees meer
In this episode of the Digital Government Podcast, hosted by Merle Maigre, Head of Cybersecurity at e-Governance Academy, we hear from Taimar Peterkop – former State Secretary of Estonia, former Director General of the Information System Authority, and now Senior Expert at the e-Governance Academy. Drawing on over two decades at some of Estonia's most consequential institutions, Peterkop shares practical wisdom on what it takes to lead through change and crisis – with honesty and without pretending to have all the answers.
Tune in!
-
Ukraine builds citizen control into its data infrastructure
27 januari 2026 · 31 min
Following Estonia’s example, Ukraine is launching a Personal Data Access Monitoring Subsystem embedded in Trembita, the government’s secure data exchange platform. The mechanism allows every Ukrainian to see who accessed their personal data stored in government registers. Lees meer
In this episode we host Yurii Kopytin, Senior Expert at the e-Governance Academy, and Hannes Astok, our Executive Director, about what transparency means in practice in Ukraine and, on the side, in Estonia too.
Tune in!
-
With the data tracker, visibility prevents misuse
14 januari 2026 · 33 min
The topic of data protection spans the entire spectrum of the internet, from when users surf the web to when they benefit from efficient online services as citizens. Lees meer
Cookie banners, privacy policies, GDPR compliance notices – all and more. And yet, for how practical the concept and its implications are, it still remains quite abstract for many. The rules exist, across the globe, actually, but the reality of what happens to your data most often stays invisible.
Estonia has taken a different approach. Through the Data Tracker, every Estonian citizen can log in and clearly see who has accessed their personal data in government registers, when it was accessed, and for what purpose.
In this episode of the Digital Government Podcast, we speak with Maarja Kirss, Head of Cooperation at the Estonian Data Protection Inspectorate (DPI), about what happens when transparency becomes a working system for the government.
Dive in!
-
How to rethink growth in the intangible economy? A Case from Finland
10 december 2025 · 29 min
We sit down with Eeva Hellström, Senior Lead in Foresight and Training at the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, to explore one of today’s most urgent questions: how do we value what we cannot see? Lees meer
Eeva explains why traditional economic models overlook the “invisible” factors that increasingly shape our economies. And why failing to recognise them leaves policymakers with critical blind spots.
We discuss:
✅ Why digital transformation shouldn’t be measured only by short-term ROI.
✅ The environmental and social costs of we rarely consider.
✅ What “post-growth” means for high-income countries.
✅ Why governments need new indicators of well-being and long-term public value.Tune in!
-
Reform calls for digitalisation, and the other way around with Margus Sarapuu
26 november 2025 · 31 min
In this episode, governance expert Margus Sarapuu cuts through one of the biggest myths in government transformation: that digitalisation and public administration reform can happen separately. Spoiler: they can’t. Lees meer
From Estonia and Ukraine to Moldova, Bangladesh, and Kosovo, Sarapuu shares why digital reforms often stall and how governments can avoid the trap of layering shiny tech on top of unreformed bureaucracy.
If you’re looking at how to build resilient, future-proof governance systems, this episode is a must-listen.
Tune in now and join the conversation about what it really takes to make government work in the digital age.
-
The learning curve for effective AI in government
12 november 2025 · 45 min
Governments worldwide are eager to harness AI — yet many remain stronger on ambition than readiness. Lees meer
In this episode, “The Learning Curve for Effective AI in Government,” we talk with Piret Hirv, Head of the Data Management Competence Centre at the e-Governance Academy, about what it takes to turn AI pilots into lasting impact in public services.
We also speak with Oscar Del Campo Barxias, Deputy Director General for Entrepreneurship of the Community of Madrid, who shares the lessons learned for implementing AI in public services in the Madrid region.
Tune in!
-
Caring with data in a healthy digital society
29 oktober 2025 · 34 min
In this podcast episode with Dr. Lili Milani, Head of the Estonian Biobank and Professor of Pharmacogenomics at the University of Tartu, we discuss how Estonia’s national biobank has become a trusted platform where science, ethics, and personal agency meet. Lees meer
The Estonian Biobank began as a research initiative focused on the genetics of disease, but over time, its purpose has deepened and broadened.
“The original goal was to understand how genes relate to diseases so we could improve care,” Milani explains. As more participants joined and the scope of available data expanded, the Biobank grew into a national tool for real, tangible benefits to people’s personal lives.
Tune in!
-
Twenty years online: Lessons from internet voting in Estonia
15 oktober 2025 · 39 min
Two decades ago, Estonia made democratic history. In 2005, it became the first country to hold legally binding national elections using internet voting. Lees meer
At the time, it was a bold and technically complex initiative. But twenty years later, i-voting has not only endured – it has grown to become the preferred method for a majority of Estonian voters.
What can we learn from this story of digital continuity? In this podcast episode, Liia Hänni, digital democracy expert and former Estonian Minister, and Arne Koitmäe, Head of Estonia's State Electoral Office, take us through a journey in retrospect – without forgetting to look ahead.
Tune in!
-
Cyber safety as a public good in Moldova
1 oktober 2025 · 33 min
When cybersecurity becomes a national and societal priority, the challenge for governments is to ensure relevant messages resonate broadly, are easily understood, and are culturally meaningful. Lees meer
This means going beyond technical language or one-size-fits-all solutions, and instead working with local trends, social dynamics, and communication habits that shape how citizens engage with digital risks.
In this podcast episode, Rica Williams, Senior Expert at the e-Governance Academy, and Moldovan journalist Svetlana Gore share how Moldova is turning digital safety into a whole-of-society conversation.
Capitalising on all resources available, Moldova embraced creative and community-based strategies to embed cybersecurity into public life – with approaches ranging from digital street interviews to campaigns on public transport.
Tune in!
-
EuroStack is Europe’s bid for digital strategic autonomy
17 september 2025 · 38 min
Can Europe really reclaim control over its digital destiny, or dependency on foreign tech giants looms ahead? Lees meer
Global power structures, trade, and value chains are being reshaped – today. And with reliance on foreign digital infrastructure running deep, Europe is at a crossroads.
Paul Timmers, outgoing Chairman of e-Governance Academy and Visiting Professor at KU Leuven, joins us in this Podcast episode to discuss why EuroStack might just be the answer Europe needs.
At its core, EuroStack stands for a simple but powerful idea: Europe should be able to rely on itself when it matters most. But, as Timmers quickly points out, that doesn't mean shutting others out.
“It’s not protectionism. Rather, we need to address the critical dependencies we have, and ensure we keep a say in shaping our digital future.”
Tune in!
-
Training digital safety through cyber resilience in Montenegro
3 september 2025 · 36 min
Montenegro’s digital journey has been one of deliberate reconstruction and collaboration. In 2022, a major cyberattack exposed critical gaps in the country’s digital infrastructure. Lees meer
The experience sent shockwaves through Montenegro’s public administration and made it abundantly clear that preparedness on paper does not equal resilience in reality.
Instead of responding with short-term fixes, public institutions focused on long-term change. They initiated a wide-ranging transformation, strengthening cyber capabilities, forming new partnerships, and prioritising resilience not as an end goal, but as an everyday practice.
In this podcast episode, we take a privileged look at what that transformation felt like from the inside with Dušan Polović, Director General for Infrastructure, Information Security, Digitalisation and e-Services at the Ministry of Public Administration of Montenegro, and Milan Sekuloski, Senior Cybersecurity Expert at the e-Governance Academy.
Tune in!
-
Coping with bureaucracy takes continuous practice
20 augustus 2025 · 41 min
Bureaucracy – everybody’s favourite colleague. A structure that ensures governance, compliance, and stability, however, at the cost of efficiency and agility. Lees meer
Is bureaucracy a necessary evil? No need to wonder anymore, in this episode of the Podcast with Margus Sarapuu, Senior Expert at e-Governance Academy.
Seasoned in public sector innovation, he comes from the recent experience with Estonia's Zero Bureacracy initiative, within a wider framework of real-time economy plans taking place across the EU.
We shed light on how digital transformation can help governments cut red tape, enhance efficiency, and drive economic growth by addressing the details that matter. However, this also highlights the differences across the globe in how this is done.
Tune in!
-
Digital against the tide. Tech and policy through the climate crisis
6 augustus 2025 · 42 min
When catastrophic floods struck Brazil’s state of Rio Grande do Sul in May 2024, the devastation was swift and far-reaching. Nearly 200 lives were lost, hundreds of thousands were displaced, and critical infrastructure - from roads to water systems - was brought to a standstill. Lees meer
But in the eye of the storm, something else emerged: a remarkable story of how digital governance can respond to climate disaster.
In this podcast episode, we feature Gabriel Souza, Vice Governor of Rio Grande do Sul, who recounts how the regional government responded with digital adaptation, coordinated leadership, and institutional learning in the face of unprecedented crisis.
“We really innovated a lot,” he notes, reflecting on the urgency and innovation that emerged from the chaos. “We created a myriad of tools that are now part of the legacy of the crisis,” resulting from on-the-ground creativity under pressure.
A vivid example of how data, public trust, and agile governance structures can converge in a time of disaster to deliver solutions and reshape the future.
Tune in!
-
Ukraine’s digital story: Turning challenges into change
23 juli 2025 · 43 min
Ukraine’s digital transformation is a masterclass in the power of purpose-driven leadership amidst adversity, where resilience and clarity of vision have turned crisis into opportunity. More than simply the evolution of services or infrastructure, the country’s experience is rooted in reimagining how a state serves its citizens under extraordinary circumstances. Lees meer
Facing systemic challenges, a full-scale military invasion by Russia, and economic strain, Ukraine pushed forward, proving that digital governance too can contribute to upholding the core values of protecting sovereignty and democracy.
In many ways and for many reasons, this is a special episode. Valeriya Ionan, Advisor to the Vice Prime Minister for Innovation, Education, Science and Technology Development – Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, and Hannes Astok, Executive Director of e-Governance Academy, dissect the remarkable trajectory that has seen Ukraine move from fragmented governance to championing digital resilience. All the while strengthening Ukraine's European aspirations, amplifying public trust, and much, much more through an era defined by uncertainty and rapid change.
Tune in!
-
Cyber diplomacy and the fight for values-based technology with Johanna Weaver
9 juli 2025 · 33 min
At the Tallinn Cyber Diplomacy Summer School this year, an idea resonated across sessions: our digital world is entwined into the fabric of society, influencing our security, values, and future prosperity. Lees meer
In this podcast episode, we sat down for a conversation on technology, diplomacy and values with Johanna Weaver, Executive Director of the Tech Policy Design Institute, Australia. She offers a perspective that breaks away from technicism and focuses on what matters down the line – how can we embed fairness, trust, and resilience into the technologies we create?
"Diplomacy in the digital age is no longer optional," Weaver says, making clear that our choices today will define the digital world of the future. The introduction of values into digital systems starts at the design stage and must be reinforced through policy, education, and diplomacy. What we decide today will shape the face and substance of technology tomorrow. T
une in!
-
Where states draw the line in cyber law, feat. Tallinn Cyber Diplomacy Summer School
25 juni 2025 · 42 min
In cyberspace, borders are invisible, but the consequences are very real. As states continue integrating digital tools into national defence, diplomacy, and daily governance, the question of how international law applies to this domain has become increasingly urgent. Lees meer
The Tallinn Cyber Diplomacy Summer School sharpens this conversation with sessions that this year include speakers Liis Vihul, CEO of Cyber Law International, and Agnes Kasper, Head of the Law Branch at the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE).
So, we brought them together. In this second instalment of our dedicated podcast mini-series to the Cyber Diplomacy fest taking place in Tallinn, we dug deep into what makes momentum grow among countries to shape and publish national positions on international law in cyberspace, with all the complexity, ambiguity, and realpolitik that surround this effort laid bare too.
-
The global conversation on AI governance feat Tallinn Cyber Diplomacy Summer School
11 juni 2025 · 36 min
AI governance is under pressure to match the speed and reach of artificial intelligence as it reshapes economies, political systems, and cultural norms. No longer a future concern, AI is a present force demanding immediate and coordinated responses. In this introductory episode to this year's Tallinn Cyber Diplomacy Summer School, we do just that with Lucia Velasco, AI Policy Lead at the UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies. Lees meer
Velasco says navigating geopolitical tensions and aligning regulatory practices requires a distinctive and urgent approach. And AI governance is about far more than legal frameworks. "Governance is not just regulation," she points out. "It's the framework that helps ensure AI is developed and used in fair, safe, and ultimately beneficial ways."
The call is for an anticipatory governance model that is not responsive. It should be capable of shaping AI's trajectory before its effects become unmanageable.
The podcast is hosted by Federico Plantera.
Tune in to find out more!
-
Digital growth beyond the middle-income trap
4 juni 2025 · 46 min
Indermit Gill is the Chief Economist of the World Bank and Senior Vice President for Development Economics. Let’s start from there, proud as we are to have hosted his keynote at this year’s e-Governance Conference. Lees meer
Known for his pioneering research and policy influence, Gill introduced the idea of the "middle-income trap" – a concept that continues to shape how nations approach economic transformation in the digital era. Something that strongly resonated with many of the conference participants, who felt it captured the challenges and hopes facing countries transitioning through digitalisation (as they made sure to let us know).
And just after his speech set the tone and the tempo for the entire event to follow, we sat down with him for a conversation about the hard realities of long-term reform and the public role in innovation. Throughout, Gill was clear: getting out of the middle-income trap isn’t about copying past models, but making digital transformation serve people. And enable institutions to keep pace with ambition.
Country representatives are grappling with how to turn digital transformation into genuine development. Their questions echo the message that digital tools alone are not enough. Dig in to find out, in this XL-sized episode, why meaningful change requires building the institutional capacity to integrate, govern, and innovate.
-
Cyber threat intelligence as public defence, privately informed
21 mei 2025 · 32 min
Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility that requires strong partnerships between governments and businesses. Governments, therefore, face the challenge of adapting to a world where – in the cyber domain – the state is not the sole provider of intelligence or security, and private sector emerges as a cyber intelligence actor. Lees meer
In this Podcast episode, eGA’s Head of Cybersecurity Merle Maigre speaks with Jack McCurley, a senior intelligence consultant at Recorded Future, about what it takes to build national resilience when the threats are global and decentralised. “Threat actors are networked. If defenders aren’t, we’re already behind,” he says.
A first look, here, into the tools and public-private cooperation in cyber threat intelligence sharing reshaping cybersecurity from the inside out. All in anticipation of the e-Governance Conference 2025 session on public-private partnerships on the matter, where today’s speakers will be joined by Liga Raita Rozentale and Nerses Yeritsyan to discuss how shared responsibility can be turned into shared defence.
-
From ecosystems to impact, digital and economic growth is collaborative
14 mei 2025 · 37 min
The EU’s Digital Decade 2030 agenda lays out an ambitious vision: a digitally skilled population, secure and sustainable infrastructure, modernised public services, and a thriving digital business environment. But how do we get there in a way that is concrete, practical, and scalable? Lees meer
In this Digital Government Podcast episode, we sat down with Federico Menna, CEO of EIT Digital and the keynote speaker of the e-Governance Conference 2025. With a background spanning both telecom innovation and pan-European tech investment, Menna brings a dual perspective. And his message is clear: Europe must lead through strategic digital investment rooted in public value, ecosystem cohesion, and global competitiveness.
-
What leaders must know about the game of AI governance
30 april 2025 · 42 min
Artificial intelligence is moving into the mainstream of government and industry, and with it comes new responsibilities. Mapping today’s AI landscape, then, means looking into the behavioural shifts it triggers, the governance frameworks it demands, and the global power dynamics it reshuffles. Lees meer
In this Digital Government Podcast episode we’re joined by Matthew Blakemore, CEO of AI Caramba! and a leading architect behind the ISO/IEC 8183 international AI standard. Known for bridging cutting-edge innovation with public value, Blakemore has helped shape global conversations on AI data governance, ethical deployment, and public sector readiness.
In preparation for his keynote at the e-Governance Conference 2025, we draw from practical frameworks and his experience advising governments and media networks to explore how to govern AI with clarity, caution, and intention. Well before algorithms outpace the institutions meant to oversee them.
-
Purposeful leadership drives real digital transformation
16 april 2025 · 35 min
What does it mean to lead digital transformation when the stakes are high, and the playbook is being written in real time? Statesmanship shines in this Digital Government Podcast episode with Taimar Peterkop, Estonia’s former State Secretary now with e-Governance Academy, and one of the architects behind the country’s acclaimed digital governance model. Lees meer
From navigating the 2017 ID-card crisis, to coordinating national responses during the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, Peterkop brings front-row insight into the real-world meaning of purposeful leadership.
-
Competence Centre Boosts Public Service Development in Ukraine
2 april 2025 · 39 min
While governments worldwide keep evolving and adapting to new ways of rolling out public services, Ukraine – even faced with a full-scale military aggression – offers a compelling example of how savvy transformation processes can bring services closer to people. Here is where the Digital Competence Centre (DCC)/ Центр цифрових компетенцій steps in, as a hub for the development, standardisation, and optimisation of Ukraine’s public digital services. Lees meer
Two guests join us in this episode to illustrate how it all comes together. Iryna Zabolotna, Head of the Department for the Implementation of Electronic Services at the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, and Mykhailo Kornieiev, Senior Expert on Information Technology at the e-Governance Academy (eGA).
Methodology, challenges, and impact of digital service development in Ukraine – get a hold of the progress made, and the valuable lessons that may help governments worldwide improve their service delivery.
-
Interoperability as a Digital Twin of People’s Mobility in the Caribbean
19 maart 2025 · 34 min
There’s motion in the Caribbean region. The area is known for its constant movement of people, businesses, and services across national borders. Whether for work, trade, or social reasons, citizens routinely engage in cross-border exchanges. Interoperability, as a consequence, becomes a prerequisite and enabler of these (and further) exchanges. Lees meer
Rodney Taylor, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), and Heiko Vainsalu, Senior Expert at the e-Governance Academy, join us in this podcast episode to explore how facilitating such exchange extends beyond matters of technology. Rather, it is a natural step to translate existing patterns of movement and collaboration into the digital space.
-
Digital Skills Build Stronger, Supportive Communities
5 maart 2025 · 28 min
Once past the first point of emergency, integration into a new society is not limited to finding – as basic as the need is – only a safe place to live. It’s also about access to services, employment, and a sense of community, too. For many Ukrainians who relocated to Estonia following the full-scale war launched by Russia, digital skills can be the key to more easily addressing the needs of this new reality. Lees meer
The DEUCE project, led by the e-Governance Academy and funded by the U.S. Department of State, has done great in supporting this transition by empowering Ukrainian refugees with digital skills, strengthening their self-sufficiency, and training community resilience.
At the heart of the initiative are “digital envoys” – volunteers, trained to help fellow community members better engage with Estonia’s digital society. Through targeted mini-projects, including tools to prevent scams, improve access to local services, and enhance job market readiness, we explore what digital inclusion encompasses with Dmytro Khutkyy, Expert in Governance & Engagement at e-Governance Academy, and DEUCE digital envoy Olena Denysenko, also Analyst in Political Studies at Tartu University.
-
From Digital Transformation to Economic Value
19 februari 2025 · 39 min
Digital transformation has long by now been a cornerstone of modern governance, reshaping how societies function and how services are delivered. How often, though, does the conversation evolve beyond efficiency gains and automation? Lees meer
In this special episode, Kristina Mänd, Programme Director of the e-Governance Conference 2025, joins us to explore:
🔹 How digital investments can contribute to long-term economic development
🔹 Why governments must shift their focus from efficiency to impact
🔹 The role of public-private partnerships in building sustainable digital solutions
🔹 How to measure the true success of digital transformationUnder the theme “From Bytes to Benefits: Raising Prosperity Through Digital Transformation”, e-Governance Conference 2025 (May 28–29) challenges policymakers and digital leaders to think bigger, ensuring that technology creates real value for citizens, businesses, and governments alike.
Tune in now for an exclusive preview of the big conversations shaping the future of digital governance! And after listening, be sure to join us for dynamic discussions, and hands-on workshops at the e-Governance Conference!
Explore at egovconference.ee
-
How to motivate IT talent in the public sector
5 februari 2025 · 30 min
It is no mystery that the search for IT professionals to join the public sector’s ranks has come to be a full-fledged quest. Yet, next to being a challenge to address, it opens up opportunities for organisational growth, and also – perhaps – a few ways to rethink work. Lees meer
On the table, there should be a real understanding of people’s wishes and expectations from work. Next to that, public administrations should considerately present potential prospects of all value that comes from working in the public sector. Which means, for the community at large.
In this podcast episode, Kadi Kanarbik, Senior Expert at e-Governance Academy outlines what makes recruiting and retaining IT talent effective, and the value propositions that the public administration should never forget to highlight.
-
Security Operations Centres Are a Boon to Cybersecurity
22 januari 2025 · 28 min
With cyber threats growing in sophistication and scale, organisations must rethink their strategies to safeguard digital assets and operational continuity. Security Operations Centers (SOCs) stand at the forefront of this effort, acting as centralised hubs where cybersecurity professionals monitor, manage, and mitigate threats. Lees meer
The rise in cyber threats – estimated to have grown by 25% annually over the past half-decade – has amplified the importance of SOCs. In this podcast hosted by Merle Maigre, Head of Cybersecurity at e-Governance Academy, Margus Vaino and Martin Paas from Telia discuss the evolution, challenges, and opportunities surrounding SOCs – from the point of view of a major telecommunications player.
Acknowledging the rising importance of SOCs is only the beginning: the increasing complexity of cyber threats, and the essential steps required to build and sustain effective cybersecurity infrastructures, are all part of the roadmap to effective cyber defence.
-
AI in Government to Drive Prosperity and Innovation
8 januari 2025 · 39 min
The AI reckoning is here, and that’s not just based on announcements and latest releases from top corporate actors in the field. Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how governments serve their citizens, making processes more efficient, policies more targeted, and economies more dynamic. Lees meer
Among experts, few understand this transformation better than Luukas Ilves, former Chief Information Officer of Estonia, and now Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine. You may find him where innovation is.
Drawing from his experience in two nations that are widely acknowledged as digitally advanced, he presents a compelling view of AI's transformative potential in governance. The challenges it brings, the practical steps needed to realise its promise – in this episode of the Digital Government Podcast, we do a deep dive into what the future holds for governments approaching AI.
-
Latin America’s Digital Future in Keywords, Needs, Priorities
19 december 2024 · 30 min
Awareness of the benefits of digital transformation is increasing in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), as it is collaboration with international entities to drive projects forward. Year by year, this is laying down pathways for a more connected and inclusive digital government, with tangible benefits for the population and the economic area as a whole. Lees meer
Miguel Porrúa, Lead Specialist on Digital Government at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), sat down with us to share some valuable insight into the evolution of digital government across LAC. Picking up on the post-pandemic momentum is essential to keep the ball rolling in the region. But all development projects and new initiatives must be tailored to local, national needs, and the key topics in governments’ focus across the area.
-
Launch of uResidency welcomes the world to digital Ukraine
11 december 2024 · 30 min
It is a major step towards global digital integration, the one coming from Ukraine. The country recently launched its uResidency programme in September 2024. With that, the country aims to open up to international entrepreneurs who seek to establish and operate businesses in a vibrant digital economy. Without the need for physical presence – sound familiar? Lees meer
Don’t call it an Estonian spin-off, though. Ukraine’s uResidency has its own winning features on considerably decreasing bureaucracy, taxation, and benefitting from all the country’s recent advancements in online services.
Oleksandr Bornyakov, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, and Andrii Piskun, Head of e-Services at e-Governance Academy in Ukraine, share insights on an initiative that welcomes the world into Ukraine’s digital sphere.
-
Impact, evolution, and growth in 10 years of Estonia’s e-Residency
27 november 2024 · 37 min
Estonia’s e-Residency program turns ten years old, and we join in the celebrations with a deep dive into what’s been, so far, a very exciting path. As one of the international golden children of Estonia’s digital and global economic policy, the e-Residency program has changed, evolved, and grown. In the digital space, ten years are no short time. Lees meer
From government start-up, to world-known solution for digital entrepreneurs and location-independent workers. To explore the program’s journey, we sat down with Katrin Vaga, Head of Global Communication for e-Residency. Speaking milestones, tangible benefits of the initiative, and navigating as much global trends and cultural shifts.
-
Back in Tallinn for the fifth Cyber Diplomacy Summer School
13 november 2024 · 32 min
As the fifth Tallinn Cyber Diplomacy Summer School currently taking place in Tallinn, attendees reflect on a year of diplomacy in cybersecurity. Some of them, too, having gone from participants to speakers. The program, organised annually, is designed to bridge theoretical understanding and hands-on experience in cyber diplomacy, and for Claudio Peguero and Alban Andreu, the Summer School has turned out to be a point of growth and community-building. Lees meer
Claudio Peguero is Ambassador and Advisor on Cyber Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic. Alban Andreu, instead, Policy Officer in the Strategic Affairs and Cybersecurity Department of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
In this podcast episode, the two alumni-turned-speakers share their experience during and after the coursework, and how the previous year’s learnings played a role in their diplomatic work. Yet a testament to the Summer School’s role in shaping effective and adaptive cyber diplomacy leaders.
-
Podcast 🎧 & blog: Turks and Caicos have big plans on digitalisation
30 oktober 2024 · 35 min
Can a group of Caribbean islands become the Estonia of the region, looked up to on digital transformation and service delivery? E. Jay Saunders thinks so – for both citizens and businesses. He is the former Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance, Investment, and Trade of the Turks and Caicos Islands. And at the 10th e-Governance Conference, by all rights took part in a panel on enlightened digital leadership. Lees meer
In this episode, Saunders takes us through what digitalisation means for small countries in the area. Between breaking down barriers to better access digital markets, and providing citizens with a 24/7 experience of government that has nothing to envy from what they see in countries – on paper and volume of state revenue – with larger availability of resources and capital.
-
Securing the Vote: Building Trust in Election Results
16 oktober 2024 · 34 min
"2024 is the biggest election year in human history. Half of the world’s population – some 3.7 billion people – have the opportunity to vote this year across 72 countries.” So notes Merle Maigre, Head of Cybersecurity at e-Governance Academy, on host duties for this podcast episode on securing elections.“Voting is at the very heart of democracy, making it vital that we safeguard the integrity of elections.” October, being Cybersecurity Awareness Month, provides the perfect backdrop to discuss these issues. Maigre is joined in the conversation by Priit Vinkel, Senior Expert at e-Governance Academy and former head of the State Electoral Office, and Tonu Tammer, former head of Estonia's CERT and Associated Expert of e-Governance Academy.
Elections are no longer solely about paper ballots and polling stations with sliding curtains. So what to look out for, in order to safeguard them in the digital era? Lees meer -
In Kyrgyzstan, all services are under one ‘roof’
2 oktober 2024 · 30 min
In Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan is advancing fast in digital development. A series of initiatives in the last ten years significantly brought the country forward in increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery. However, the transformation does not stop there. Lees meer
With support from both the population and high-level decision-makers, digital leaders in the country have the opportunity (and full legitimacy) to look further ahead. Nuria Kutnaeva, Minister of Digital Development of Kyrgyzstan, tells us in this podcast episode where the country is at – and where it is headed next.
-
Safeguarding civic spaces, with Doug Rutzen
18 september 2024 · 31 min
Digital advancements present us with numerous opportunities to move forward on the path toward more inclusive and democratic societies. That has been the case when tech-enabled social movements and civil society organisations to sprout, regroup, and act. However, the opposite holds true too – technology is agnostic, and supported by authoritarian or malicious intents, it can be used to threaten, surveil, and cancel out opposition. Lees meer
Doug Rutzen, President and CEO of the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) and professor at Georgetown University, saw how this dualism unfolded throughout the past three decades. In this podcast episode, we discuss where we were and where we’re at. A wide-ranging conversation on including the Global South, safeguarding civic spaces, and advocating for the rule of justice (not just that of law).
-
Interoperability is next in the plan for Costa Rica
4 september 2024 · 33 min
Costa Rica has one Minister for four domains – science, innovation, technology, and telecommunications. It is Paula Bogantes Zamora, who joined us on stage at the latest e-Governance Conference 2024 for a panel on leadership in driving digital transformation. Lees meer
Very fittingly so, as Costa Rica keeps advancing on its path towards effective and all-encompassing digital transformation. From healthcare to education, through digital identity and interoperability, a lot has been done already in the country.
Bogantes joins us for a chat on achievements, challenges, and future plans – during and beyond her term as Minister – in a small Central American country that keeps digitalisation at heart.
-
Industry and regulation are assets of digital governance in a changing world
28 augustus 2024 · 35 min
Digital governance, done right, calls for leaders and changemakers to be versed in a variety of spheres and domains. Cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, diplomacy, relations with societal stakeholders. In a way, that was to be expected – digital development and technological advancements accelerated global and international integration, of both markets and general trends, in the past thirty years. Lees meer
All themes Paul Timmers, Research Fellow at Oxford University and Chairman of the Board at e-Governance Academy, has enthusiastically dived in in this podcast episode. An argued review of what awaits, how is Europe equipped to face the implications of technological dependence, and competition with other major international blocs.
-
The digital Africa briefing, with Lacina Koné
12 juni 2024 · 25 min
Putting digital transformation to work for the benefit of society means taking an extra step, to Lacina Koné. The CEO of Smart Africa supports the idea that on the way from digital buzz to business success, efficient digital government can be key in attracting and retaining top talent and investments. On the path towards a digital Africa, though, a mix of deep-rooted challenges and bold steps to take awaits. Dive in this briefing on the state of digital transformation for business and society in Africa, with Lacina Koné, the CEO of Smart Africa. Lees meer
-
Enhancing cybersecurity in Moldova is a matter of survival
29 mei 2024 · 29 min
Since years already, the Republic of Moldova has had to take measures to safeguard the integrity of its national cyberspace in the face of russian interference and aggression. In doing so, it has been supported by international partners and the European Union. But little would have been possible, without the effort and dedication of its civil servants. Lees meer
It was our pleasure, then, to award the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalisation of Moldova as Partner of the Year 2024, at the latest e-Governance Conference and to speak to Alexandru Corețchi, Director of the IT and Cyber Security Service of the country, during the Conference days in Tartu.
In a heartfelt interview on our Podcast, he removes the lid on what national cybersecurity agencies did to keep Moldova’s online ecosystem safe and secure, and the necessity for continuing support to ensure the country’s independence – online too.
-
Open innovation is steering digital public goods
15 mei 2024 · 27 min
Digital frontiers are constantly reshaping the world, making digital diplomacy and public digital infrastructure critical areas of innovation and policy. Naturally, as governments navigate the complexities of fast-paced technological advancements that actively impact society, the need for a robust digital public infrastructure (DPI) and the effective use of digital public goods (DPG) becomes crucial. Lees meer
In this last instalment of our Podcast before the upcoming e-Governance Conference 2024, we spoke to Nele Leosk, Ambassador-at-Large for Digital Affairs in the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The paths of digital progress and civic empowerment are tied and bound together, so how nations can benefit from sharing and re-using digital tools to enhance governance?
Digital public goods, digital public infrastructure and commons are shaping the digital societies of tomorrow. So the question is how can policymakers navigate the challenges of reusing, adopting, and scaling existing digital solutions and create synergies across national, European, and international digitalization initiatives to deliver effective digital public goods. The panel session at the upcoming e-Governance Conference 2024 will give the floor to Mr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Federal Republic of Nigeria and Tiago Carneiro Peixoto, Coordinator for Digital Government Services at the World Bank to hear some examples and lessons. Join us at the e-Governance Conference on 22 May for discussion on “Uncovering the potential of digital public infrastructure”.
-
Who is in charge of our cyber resilience?
30 april 2024 · 32 min
Digital landscapes, by default, evolve and expand beyond the borders of national cyberspaces. So it is natural that the paths of cybersecurity and geopolitics become increasingly intertwined. What countries cannot afford in this context, though, is to overlook roles and modes of countering effectively cyber threats. Lees meer
On cybersecurity, the e-Governance Conference 2024 features a fireside chat between Andrew Grotto, seasoned expert and professor from Stanford University, and former White House advisor, and Merle Maigre, Head of Cybersecurity at eGA. In this podcast episode, the two introduce the upcoming session on protecting critical infrastructure, making sure responsibilities are clear, and deploying public-private partnerships for better strategies.