Digital technologies have radically changed everyone's life in recent years. From the way we communicate, to the way we live, work, meet our needs and carry out our obligations. Digital technologies include, among others, digital platforms, cloud computing, artificial intelligence and the internet of things.
Since 2014, the European Commission has been monitoring the digital progress of Member States and publishing annual reports on the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI). For the year 2022, among the 27 EU countries, Cyprus ranks 20th. Comparing our position with that of other Member States with small populations, we see that we rank the lowest as Malta is in 6th place, Luxembourg in 8th, Estonia in 9th, Slovenia in 11th and Lithuania in 14th.
Cyprus' transition to a fully digital era is a top priority for us and will be implemented through horizontal policies. The adoption of the digital transition, always focusing on people, will have multiple benefits for Cyprus, its citizens, the development of the economy, entrepreneurship and the environment itself.
The Digital Compass, presented by the European Commission in March 2021, will also be our compass for four key points: digital skills, digital infrastructure, digitalisation of business and digitalisation of governance.
Our objectives are:
- To improve the quality of life of citizens through access to simplified and digital services.
- The transformation of critical sectors, such as education and health.
- The creation of new quality jobs.
- The reduction of bureaucracy and the fight against corruption and corruption through the digitisation of public services and ensuring equal access to public services for all.
- Upgrading businesses and enhancing their competitiveness.
- Reducing the impact on the environment through energy neutrality, using digital technologies.
To achieve our objectives, we rely on six pillars. Digital governance[BR]
- Creating and institutionalising an electronic identity for citizens, with full protection of their personal data, to be used, as in all technologically advanced countries, as their primary means of identification for most of their functions and transactions with the state.
- Simplification and redesign of laws and procedures, across the whole range of services, so that citizens can carry out most of their transactions with the State electronically, from home, whenever they want, without the need to collect and submit a lot of documents and forms issued by the State itself.
- Operation of virtual/digital CCPs to serve citizens.
- Upgrading the central portal of the State's electronic transactions with the citizen, using modern tools, with a uniform "look and feel".
- Using existing computerised systems, such as the Central Information Warehouse (CAP), to keep the State's IT systems informed of each other and to manage electronic documents.
- Upgrading Public Sector IT systems and business continuity strategies and communication strategies for electronic systems and databases for all Ministries and Departments of the State.
- Providing incentives for citizens to use the digital services of the State.
- Extension of digital governance to local government and implementation of smart cities programmes.
- Safeguarding the personal data of every citizen and implementing all provisions of the relevant legislation.
2. Lifelong learning through the Recovery and Resilience Plan
- Promote academic studies in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), in cooperation with the relevant bodies (Ministry of Education, Curriculum Advisors, Universities).
- Reducing the gap between graduates of
Universities in ICT and the relevant market needs.
- Developing the culture of training human resources in basic digital skills.
- Developing the culture of training human resources in basic digital skills.
- Mandatory enhancement of digital skills of all Public Servants in order to be able to support the building of a digital society.
- Systematic information and actions to increase public confidence in electronic/online transactions and personal data security.
- Systematic information and actions to increase public confidence in electronic/online transactions and personal data security.
- Support to the Digital Security Authority (DSA) to enable the management of cyber-attack incidents.
- Support to the Ministry of Defence by the DSA.
3. Digital Infrastructure
- Ensuring universal access to Gigabit connectivity by promoting the provision of ultra-high speed connections at affordable prices to every household and business through the deployment of modern broadband networks (FTTH, 5G)
- Implementation of infrastructure projects for the interconnection of Cyprus with other countries through submarine cables
4. Digital Economy
- Encourage innovative activities and start-ups
- Create conditions for attracting technology companies
- Develop and exploit cutting-edge technologies such as blockchain and artificial intelligence.
- Introduction of grant schemes for digital upgrading of SMEs.
- Providing incentives for businesses to transition to the digital environment.
5. Digital Society[BR][/B] - Design and implementation of actions to continuously upgrade the digital skills of adults, the public and private sectors, as well as the general population.
- Design and implementation of specific actions for vulnerable population groups and residents of remote areas.
- Cooperation of the State with institutions such as the Human Resources Development Authority, the Cyprus Academy of Public Administration, the Productivity Centre, Universities, etc.
- Redesign of the education system, with the inclusion of the cultivation of digital skills from primary to secondary education and the gradual transformation of our education into digital education.
- Digital transformation of education, which, in addition to policy issues, must include upgrading the infrastructure and equipment of school units, enriching the curriculum, training teachers to integrate modern digital media in teaching.
- Promoting programmes for specialised digital skills, which are now a prerequisite for quality jobs and corresponding pay. Expertise is a critical driver of innovation in countries like Cyprus, increasing productivity and prosperity.
- Monitoring through technology and 5G of electricity and water consumption in premises, so that there is no need for the physical presence of competent officials every two months. This will also allow early detection of water leaks, which currently reach 20-25%.
6. Smart Cities
- Smart Environment
- Waste Management
- Enhancing citizens' sense of security through Smart Lighting
- Smart Parking
- Asset/Fleet Management
- Smart Parking
- Asset/Fleet Management
.
- Smart Traffic Management (Smart Mobility).
- Applications for citizens (Mobile App).
- Digital Operations Centres, through which it is possible to monitor real-time events within the city.
Our proposals for Digital Cyprus are posted at the link: https:/mavroyiannis.cy/programma-diakivernisis/psifiaki-kupros/
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Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
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