German Commission Calls for Better Research Policy Design
Germany’s Expert Commission on Research and Innovation is calling for more effective, outcome-driven research and innovation policy at the federal level. An annual report from the commission highlights the need for user-centered digital platforms and transparent administration. The analysis emphasizes the role of service design and journey mapping in complex policy environments.
- The German federal government's in-house software development unit, DigitalService, employs user-centered and agile methods to improve public services. One of their projects involved creating a simplified user flow for a new property tax system, which enabled nearly a million declarations to be filed online. - A key initiative to improve digital governance is the "Digitalcheck," a process developed by DigitalService and the Ministry of Interior to ensure new legislation is "digital-ready". This approach analyzes how laws will be implemented and executed from a user's perspective, employing service design methods like journey mapping during the legislative drafting process. - Germany's "Digital Strategy 2025" outlines the government's plan to improve digital infrastructure and services, with the goal of ranking among the top 10 countries in the EU's Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI). As of the 2022 report, Germany ranked 13th out of 27 EU member states. - To foster innovation, the German government founded GovTech Campus Germany, a non-profit platform to connect federal, state, and local governments with technology companies, civil society, and the open-source community. - At a European level, the Interoperable Europe Act, which entered into force in April 2024, mandates the creation of a network of interconnected digital public administrations. This is intended to improve cross-border public services and obliges public sector bodies to share digital solutions, such as open-source software, via a central portal. - All public sector websites and mobile apps in Germany must comply with the EU's Web Accessibility Directive (WAD). This directive requires adherence to specific technical standards, the provision of a formal accessibility statement for each site and app, and a feedback mechanism for users to report issues. - In line with the national AI strategy, German public administration is beginning to adopt artificial intelligence. For example, the statutory accident insurer BG BAU developed an AI-driven tool to help prioritize workplace safety inspections, moving from concept to nationwide deployment in under a year using agile development methods.
