The Norwegian Digitalisation Agency (Digdir) works with DIG to stay connected with research groups nationally and internationally. – We need access to the best researchers and a strong network in Norway and internationally in the fields of AI and transformation.
We have spoken to Petra M. Nilsson-Andersen and Bredo Erik Swanberg, both key figures in DigDir. They are Director Strategic Innovation and Business Development and Director Business and Strategy, respectively. As a government agency, Digdir's mission and purpose is to contribute to an efficient, user-oriented and coordinated digitalization of the public sector.
Nilsson-Andersen says Digdir approached DIG about four years ago. – We need more inspiration and research-based knowledge on how businesses succeed in a rapidly changing technological landscape and how they handle societal challenges. Our task is to deliver seamless, digital services covering all aspects of life, and need to work and cooperate with many stakeholders in many fields, she says. DIG has been a central community for contacts and for public-private dialogues.
Bredo Swanberg says that Digdir wants to engage and involve researchers more directly in their projects, with interactive research. – We want to see more of this. Researchers have a better opportunity to follow research trends and have an in-depth approach. We are working on groundbreaking projects in AI. We want to involve researchers in these projects, he says.
Petra Nilsson-Andersen adds that Digdir is eager to engage researchers in more interactive research because they need a more direct dialogue. – We are in touch with the public as well as businesses. We need to be operative, co-creative and work closely with business and startups as much as anyone else.
Bredo Swanberg says that Digdir has developed an AI-application as part of a Nordic cooperation. - Here we focus on how we can develop tools to help people in their specific circumstances. Rather than asking people to fill in forms, which can be difficult at the best of times, we ask people to describe in their own words how they are doing and what situation they are in, and then we help with the problem, he tells.
The challenge is to develop tools and technology that works across all sectors of society, businesses as well as public services. – We must develop and transform public administration, he says. Digdir is now inviting a selected number of local authorities in Norway to develop and test how AI can be implemented to digitalize services and make them both smarter and more accessible,
Digdir is also working on the changes that follows from demographic changes and an ageing society. In their own recruitment they are looking at skills and expertise when they hire. – We have people who have just left school, as well as many with a lot of experience. They have all been subjected to the same recruitment process, whether they are 25 or 60. We are looking for the right mindset, says Petra Nilsson-Andersson.
They also point to new digital service for how to deal with the formalities related to the death of a close relative. In addition, the agency is also providing grants to local authorities and others who offer classes and other means to make digital services available to all in an ageing society.
