Page content
Latest news, stories and trends of the SCCON world
Denmark is partner country of the Smart Country Convention
July 04, 2018
Be it digitally connected citizens’ service centres, electronic medical reports, internet tax declarations or gigabit networks, Denmark has become a pioneer in many areas of digitalisation. The EU’s Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) puts Denmark top of the list of 28 EU countries. At the Smart Country Convention 2018 this Scandinavian nation will be the official partner country of the fair, and at the CityCube Berlin will showcase innovative digital applications for administrations, public enterprises and for authorities at town, municipal and county level. Prime Minister of Denmark Lars Løkke Rasmussen will open the event.
“Denmark is showing how to manage the digital transformation and has already accomplished many digital projects which Germany has yet to confront. “We can learn a lot from Denmark, politically and in practical terms too“, said Bitkom president Achim Berg. Since 2001 traditional mail correspondence in Denmark has declined by more than two-thirds. At the same time, between 2006 and 2016, the number of electronic letters sent by the country’s mail service rose from 19 million to 368 million. “In Denmark hardly anyone sends conventional letters anymore. Big institutions such as public authorities and banks do so electronically. The OECD’s eGovernment ranking also lists Denmark in first place.“
The Kingdom of Denmark’s ambassador to Germany Friis Arne Petersen, said:
“We are living in a new age. The digital transformation is bringing profound change to our societies, placing new demands on citizens and businesses alike. Digitalisation opens up a world of opportunities and we need to ensure that all parts of society benefit. Technological progress is not without its challenges and addressing these requires courage, trust and political will. There is no way around it. Our experience shows that successful digitalisation creates growth and frees up public resources, which can be allocated to other important tasks. In Denmark we are striving for a progressive and citizen-centric digital culture. This is essential if we want to maintain our competitiveness, wealth and welfare. A modern and effective public administration and the active use of new technologies among citizens and corporations should lead the way. Not just in Denmark but throughout Europe. Together with our European partners, the Danish government is committed to pushing this agenda. That is why Denmark is participating in the Smart Country Convention. We want to share our experiences and solutions and hope to inspire the digital agenda in Germany.“