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Greece Digital Transformation plan

Overview
Greece is undergoing a digital transformation as part of a multifaceted plan to fully digitize the country by 2025. The Ministry of Digital Governance is the driving force behind this undergoing transformation to reduce bureaucracy, simplify procedures, and help the country converge with the European Union (EU) average Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI). 

The Digital Transformation plan for 2020-2025 is documented in the “Digital Transformation Bible”, a structured, actionable, and measurable strategy that outlines the principles and framework that the government will use to facilitate the digitization of Greek’s society and economy.  The plan consists of 450 projects supported by  €6.4 billion of EU Recovery Fund money, to speed up the digitization of the public and private sectors and boost Greece’s digital readiness.

Current Situation
The entire country has entered a digitization process and the Ministry of Digital Governance currently manages 89 signed, active public digitization programs, in various stages of maturity, amounting to €3.3 billion. In the next half-year the ministry plans to tender about 60 Information Technology and communications projects with a total budget of about €2 billion to critical sectors, which have been included in the Recovery Fund.
The Digital Transformation plan incorporates a series of actions and projects organized into six distinct strategic axes (Connectivity, Digital Skills and Abilities, Digital Business Transformation, Digital Public Services, Digital Innovation, Utilization of Advanced Technologies). Special emphasis is placed on the utilization of emerging technologies for the development of advanced solutions. 

Actions taken
The Digital Transformation is in the implementation stage, as the first Monitoring Committee of the program was successfully completed. The Digital Transformation program focuses on new and emerging technologies and is expected to contribute to the promotion of the digital and economic transformation of the country, but also more broadly to the building of “Digital Greece”. The first wave is budgeted at €943 million and is implemented within the framework of the new NSRF 2021-2027, as it was assessed as of key importance by the European Commission.
The first three strategic axes of the program focus on the utilization and integration of cutting-edge technologies, but also the strengthening of digital skills.
1.    The digital transformation of the public sector, with a total estimated budget of €513 million and the aim of providing new and upgraded digital services and applications to citizens and businesses, as well as ensuring interoperability.
2.    Strengthening digital connectivity with high-speed broadband access, where €303 million will be allocated.
3.    The development of digital skills with funding exceeding €113 million, with the aim that all citizens can participate equally in the new digital era, which is a key requirement for the proper functioning of the state, the well-being of society and the development of the economy.

Opportunities for U.S. firms
There are strong opportunities for U.S. firms providing Cloud, Database systems, Applications infrastructure and software systems, Communication systems, Developer tools, Business Analytics, Enterprise Management and Cybersecurity solutions to support the digitization of the country in both the public and private sectors.  Major approved ICT projects include:

•    Development of Ultra-Fast Broadband infrastructure (UFBB) to increase the availability of next generation broadband services across the country. It includes the development of an extensive network of high-end broadband infrastructure with the ability to provide internet connection of at least 100 Mbps and upgradeable to 1 Gbps with a target coverage of approximately 2,400,000 citizens (€700 million).
•    Improving equipment at the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (€12.2 million)
•    Reforming the fiscal system in central administration and the general government (Government ERP) (€36.1 million).
•    Expanding and supporting a National Telecom Network (€32.1 million).
•    Network upgrading with fiber optics for the Greek Research and Technology Network (GRNET) and all connected networks of academic and research groups in the country, schools, public hospitals, and education (€30.5 million).
•    Single Digital Infrastructure to offer digital services to citizens (€69.4 million).
•    Internet services to offer G2G Web services through the gov.gr platform (€27.9 million).
•    Upgrading open data provision through the data.gov.gr platform (€5.5 million).
•    Local city plans (€345.2 million).
•    Inclusion of a social digital program for students (€129.2 million).
•    Digitization of the archives of the Public Sector records (€726 million).

Resources
The Ministry of Digital Governance,  https://mindigital.gr/  
The Information Society S.A. https://www.ktpae.gr/en/home-en/ 
Greek Research and Technology Network (GRNET) https://grnet.gr/en/ 
European Commission, Greece in the Digital Economy, and Society Index,  https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/desi-greece 

To learn more about ICT opportunities please contact ICT Specialist Nikos Papachryssanthopoulos at Nikos.Papachrys@trade.gov