Bridging the future – how digital competence development can accelerate innovation in the public sector

The PhD “Bridging the future – how digital competence development can accelerate innovation in the public sector” explores how to build digital competence development programs, including the specific knowledge, skills and abilities that areneeded to further the digital transformation and innovation of the public sector. With a focus on the public sector, the PhD sees digital transformation is seen as part of improving productivity, increasing efficiency as well as modernizing, innovating and transforming the way governments interact, administer and govern their countries. Additionally, there is an increasing expectation from citizens that the private sector and other non-governmental entities take part in finding solutions to support the diversification and speed of governance. Consequently, there is a growing demand for civil servants having a digital mindset as well as supporting the innovation and creation of new services utilizing new digital technologies. The amount of digital transformation competence programs for civil servants has thus also increased in recent years. Focusing on public organizations, the PhD aims to investigate organizational changes and to identify the key factors in digital competence development programs that support the public innovation agenda. The PhD further investigates the role of universities, especially how technical universities, with individuals having deep technological competences, can play an active role via continued education in forming sustainable solutions and transformations for the benefit of society and its citizens.