The Ministry of Research, Innovation, and Digital Policy spearheads Cyprus’ digital reformation, aiming to provide all state services to citizens digitally. Stelios Himonas, the Director General of the Ministry, highlighted this aim during a conference held at the Philoxenia Conference Center in Nicosia.

The main conference’s objective was the presentation of the "Framework for the Digital Transformation of Government Services", which intends to foster cooperation between the public and private sectors in delivering high-quality and human-centered digital services to Cypriot citizens.  

Mr. Himonas stated that the conference “marks the beginning of a new era in regard to Cyprus’ digital transformation.” He described a new methodology that focuses on producing user-friendly digital services of superior quality. “Citizen participation remains a crucial aspect of this approach, and contractors are encouraged to engage in constructive dialogue and thorough consultation with the public and thus, gather valuable feedback. The ultimate objective is to make all services easily accessible to citizens,” Mr. Himonas explained.

Moreover, the Director General highlighted the comprehensive reform plan implemented since the Ministry was established in March 2020.

An important reform was the production and provision of multiple services to citizens and businesses. Within this context, the Ministry emphasized the Digital Services Factory (DSF), which was created in collaboration with the UK's EBS, known for its excellence in the field. The DSF project took approximately one and a half years to develop the appropriate methodology for service development and design the service delivery’s overall approach.

Specifically, the core DSF team will oversee the mini competitions for the upcoming public contracts. Thirty-two companies included in the marketplace will be given the opportunity to participate in these competitions related to the country’s digital reform initiatives. All services will run on the DSF platform and will be accessible through the unified portal, GOV.cy.

Furthermore, Adriana Achilleos, the Director of the Department of Information Technology Services, pointed out that the conference’s purpose was, apart from informing interested parties about the forthcoming conduct of the mini competitions, to announce an upcoming series of online seminars. Concerning the DSF, Adriana Achilleos noted that “its establishment by the Ministry aims to boost necessary changes in the provision of digital services to citizens, in order to better meet their needs.” In addition, Ms. Achilleos explained that the Department of Informatics serves as the Innovation Ministry’s executive arm and is responsible for promoting and implementing informatics and e-governance in the public sector through various applied systems. The goal is to improve public services, enhance productivity, and increase efficiency in the delivery of services to the public.

In conclusion, Cyprus’ Ministry of Research, Innovation, and Digital Policy is driving the government services’ digital transformation. Through the establishment of the DSF and the enhanced collaboration among the public and private sectors, the Ministry aims to provide high-quality digital services that meet the needs of citizens and businesses. The implementation of an easy and flexible methodology will contribute to improved productivity and efficiency in the public service sector, ultimately strengthening the overall services provided to the Cypriot people.