(de-news.net) – Germany’s Federal Ministry for Digitalization is advancing administrative modernization through a citizen-focused hackathon initiative and expanded regulatory ‘real-world laboratories’ intended to foster innovation, reduce bureaucratic barriers, and strengthen public trust in state institutions.
To support the ongoing modernization of public administration, the Federal Ministry for Digitalization has launched a so-called ‘citizen hackathon’ designed to encourage broader public participation in administrative reform. Through the initiative ‘Deutschland, was geht?’, both businesses and private citizens are being invited to contribute practical proposals aimed at improving the efficiency and accessibility of governmental services. Until June 14, everyday administrative challenges, particularly in areas such as taxation and social benefits, are to be collected through a dedicated online platform as well as a public hotline.
Beginning in July, a nationwide voting phase is scheduled to determine which issues should receive the highest level of priority within the initiative. Following this selection process, teams will develop prototypes with the support of the public sector and participating stakeholders. The Federal government anticipates that the most promising and practically viable approaches will be incorporated into the structures of the federal administration beginning in 2027, with the broader objective of strengthening public confidence in state institutions and administrative effectiveness.
Federal Ministry seeks public input for administrative reform
Earlier this month, the Federal Government also initiated measures intended to simplify the establishment of regulatory ‘real-world laboratories’ across Germany. The initiative is intended to reinforce the country’s long-term position as a center for business activity, technological development, and innovation by expanding regulatory flexibility while simultaneously reducing bureaucratic barriers that can impede experimentation and implementation.
As part of proposed amendments to the Real-World Laboratories Act, the Federal Minister for Digitalization and State Modernization together with the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy submitted a drafting proposal that subsequently received cabinet approval. These real-world laboratories are designed to permit innovations to be tested temporarily under conditions that correspond as closely as possible to real-life operational environments. Policymakers and developers are expected to gain earlier insight into potential opportunities and risks while also facilitating the transfer of new technologies and processes into practical application. At the same time, the federal administration acknowledged that the implementation of such initiatives has frequently been complicated by existing administrative and regulatory obstacles that have slowed practical execution.
The Federal Ministry for Digitalization and State Modernization (BMDS) has now been in existence for one year. The ministry is headed by Federal Minister Dr. Karsten Wildberger.
Audio: TTSFree
