Federico Plantera
The e-Governance Conference returns! Set to take place on May 28–29, in Tallinn and online, this 2025 edition will explore the links between digitalisation and economic growth.
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?
Practitioners and experts must ensure that digitalisation translates into tangible economic value, prosperity, and resilience for citizens, businesses, and governments alike. Under the theme ‘From Bytes to Benefits: Raising Prosperity Through Digital Transformation’, representatives from governments, international organisations, and the private sector will dive deep into the forecasted, long-term economic and social impact of digital transformation efforts across the world.
Kristina Mänd, Programme Director of the e-Governance Conference, joins us this year again to introduce all we are working on to make it – yet one more time – a happening not to miss.
Digital transformation is often, and certainly has been, measured in terms of efficiency – reducing bureaucracy, saving hours of work, cutting costs. All valuable benefits that stay relevant. However, they do not fully capture the economic potential of digitalisation. This year, the Conference challenges policymakers and digital leaders to think bigger: how does digital investment contribute to long-term economic growth?
According to Kristina Mänd, we shall move away from digitalisation for the sake of digitalisation and toward a more deliberate, goal-oriented approach. “It’s not about doing more,” she notes, “but about doing better – about ensuring that digital investments are relevant, sustainable, and truly beneficial for people, businesses, and economies.”
Governments should start by asking ‘why’, before they ask ‘what’ and ‘how’, when designing digital strategies. The goal should not just be implementing more digital services, but creating an ecosystem where digitalisation supports national economic growth, job creation, and innovation. This requires long-term planning, cross-sector collaboration, and the prioritisation of simplicity and relevance over sheer scale and complexity.
To ensure that digital initiatives create real value for governments, businesses, and society, a clear measurement model is essential. It all starts with knowing where we stand and being aware of an organisation’s own digital maturity, as it presents governments with distinct challenges and opportunities. Then comes the core question of how to measure long-term sustainability, the return on investment (ROI) of digital transformation is often complex and challenging. Notably, research shows that traditional economic models struggle to quantify the impact of digitalisation beyond simple efficiency gains. So, how should policymakers assess whether their digital investments are truly benefiting society?
Researching as we are into the topic, Mänd relays five potential lenses for evaluating the success of digital transformation:
“At the end of the day, digital transformation is about people,” Mänd concludes. “If we are not improving people’s lives, creating new economic opportunities, or making societies more resilient while considering the natural resources, then we are not doing it right.”
Such prosperity through digitalisation, however, cannot be led by governments alone. Strong partnerships with the private sector become essential for sustaining and expanding ambitious digital transformation efforts.
“I don’t think governments should be the sole providers of digital solutions,” says Mänd. “Their role is to create the right framework. One that encourages businesses to innovate, invest, and develop solutions that benefit society as a whole.” But they should fruitfully engage, then, with the same actors the aim to enable, to collaborate with them towards creating a vibrant and inclusive digital society.
Public-private partnerships (PPPs), of course, become a key theme at this year’s Conference. Successful digital economies are built on cooperation between governments, businesses, and civil society, so that digital solutions can also be financially sustainable, and widely adopted.
In fact, as Mänd points out, PPPs must be built on trust, transparency, and a shared understanding of national priorities. Simply digitising government services without engaging civil society or private sector stakeholders can lead to isolated, underutilised solutions. “If businesses and people are not part of the conversation from the start, digital transformation will never reach its full potential.”
We truly are looking at this year’s Conference as a journey. With sessions and workshops, of course, but also as a structured experience that guides participants through key insights, case studies, and interactive discussions. Beyond the sessions, the conference also offers so many opportunities for networking, peer learning, and hands-on engagement with real-world digital transformation cases.
Some of the topics participants will explore see:
The global conversation on digitalisation moves forward with pace. And everyone is invited to think beyond digitalisation as a tool, see it as a driver of economic transformation.
Make the most of the e-Governance Conference 2025, and join conversations that matter with policymakers, innovators, and leaders. On May 28–29, 2025, in Tallinn, Estonia, and online. Prepare for dynamic discussions, hands-on workshops, and inspiring expo, all set against the stunning coastal charm of Tallinn’s Noblessner district.
Come curious, leave with plenty of ideas. And be part of the future of digital governance with us.
Explore at egovconference.ee
Tickets >>> https://2025.egovconference.ee/#tickets
The e-Governance Conference is co-organised by eGA, Estonia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and ESTDEV. In May 2025, Estonia will host the prestigious Conference for the 11th time.
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