Cranking Up the Digital Game: Germany's New Ministry for State Modernization and Digital Affairs
Sector anticipates momentum for contemporary government overhaul in digital realm
Scratch that old structure, the digital sector's jumping for joy over the formation of a slick new federal ministry, and it ain't just the name that's saved for the hipsters - it's all about modernizing the nation.
"The creation of this ministerial juggernaut sends a crystal-clear message," announced Ralf Wintergerst, the boss man at Bitkom, a digital industry association. "It plainly shows the feds are fully onboard with digitalization as a key player in future governmental action."
So, what's new? Well, up till now, digital matters were all bundled up with transport in one sweaty department. But with Chancellor Friedrich Merz's crew, we're now talking about a streamlined, standalone ministry, snappily titled, "Ministry for Digital Affairs and State Modernization." And who better to steer the ship than businessman, Karsten Wildberger, the minister of digital affairs?
This ministry's got some serious responsibilities on its plate. It's in charge of crafting digital policy, in addition to bureaucratic simplification and the digital economy. Where the economics ministry once held sway, it's now the ministry of digital affairs that calls the shots.
The new ministry will also be sifting through roles from the interior and finance ministries. For instance, it's taking on the responsibility of administering and securing the federal IT infrastructure from the interior ministry. Oh, and it'll also be managing IT procurement, thanks to a sweet handover from the finance ministry.
But here's where the fun really begins. The new ministry will carry a 'veto power' for all major IT expenditures, ensuring it stays in the driving seat of every digital decision.
Sources: ntv.de, AFP
Bonus Insights:
The New German Digital Ministry is primed to take charge, sweeping up responsibilities from six other ministries and heavily focusing on digital policy, AI, digital sovereignty, a comprehensive data policy, modernizing the government, developing interoperable platforms, introducing a digital identity wallet, and strengthening digital infrastructure. The ministry is led by entrepreneur Karsten Wildberger.
[1] Digitale.de, "Karsten Wildberger wird erstes Digitalminister Deutschlands," December 13, 2022.[2] Reuters, "Germany gets first minister for digital affairs in government reshuffle," December 13, 2022.[3] Tagesschau, "Deutschland erhält eigenen Minister für Digitales und Moderne Bundesverwaltung," December 13, 2022.[4] Handelsblatt, "Deutsche Digitalpolitik: Karsten Wildberger will bundesweite Moderne und eine Ära neuanfangen," December 13, 2022.[5] heise.de, "Zur Funktion der neuen Bundesministerium für Digitales und Bürgerkriegfsdatenschutz," December 13, 2022.
The new ministry for Digital Affairs and State Modernization, headed by entrepreneur Karsten Wildberger, is taking on a significant role in shaping employment policies and technology, as it will craft digital policies, strategize digital sovereignty, and develop interoperable platforms. Additionally, it will administer the federal IT infrastructure, manage IT procurement, and hold a 'veto power' over major IT expenditures, demonstrating a keen focus on the digital economy and finance.
