Federal Government Boosts Digitalisation Support in Municipalities
Digitalisation plays an increasingly important role in various aspects of life, though not everyone is familiar with it. To address this, the federal government is expanding its efforts to provide information on digitalisation for citizens at the local level.
To involve all citizens in the digital transformation, a 120 million euro Digitalisation Community Package has been approved.
A key development is that, in the future, citizens will be able to register for ID Austria at numerous municipal offices.
Digitalisation Community Package
Starting in 2025, the funds will be distributed through the federal states, with allocations scheduled to continue until 2028. Each year, 30 million euros will be disbursed, with the amount for each municipality based on its population size.
For instance, a municipality with 750 residents will receive € 15,000, while the city of Vienna, which has a population of 1.95 million, will receive € 15.6 million. The following are examples of the disbursement:
Municipality size and amount of funds (Examples):
- 750 inhabitants € 15,000
- 1,500 inhabitants € 30,000
- 3,000 inhabitants € 60,000
- 6,000 inhabitants € 75,600
- 20,000 inhabitants € 160,000
- 80,000 inhabitants € 640,000
- 1.95 million inhabitants € 15,600,000
More Support for Citizens concerning Digitalisation
In order to receive the funds, municipalities must provide even greater support to the public.
One key requirement is that municipalities will serve as registration offices for ID Austria, a service previously available only through Tax Authority, district administrative authorities, or municipal offices.
The federal government is organizing 4,500 free "Digital Everywhere” workshops across municipalities to help citizens navigate digitalisation. These workshops, part of the “Digital Skills Initiative”, cover a wide range of topics, from basic smartphone skills and e-government services such as “Digitales Amt” to advanced sessions on artificial intelligence and online security.
Digital Interpreter as Point of Contact for Workshops and Guidance
Alternatively, municipalities can register Digi-Dolmetscher (the so called Digital Interpreters) as part of the "Digital Skills Initiative", who will organize trainings and provide advice for the public at the local level, serving as points of contact. The Digital Interpreters are nominated in cooperation with the Association of Municipalities through the mayors.
What Digital Interpreters stand for:
- They request extensive workshops for their municipalities (available starting June 19).
- They maintain close ties with the community and explain digitalisation in such a way that everyone understands it.
- They act as liaisons to the federal government, reporting challenges and digitalisation needs.
FROM ANALOG TO DIGITAL
“We have embarked on a joint journey from ANALOG to DIGITAL. We need everyone to do this. And we are at the START!”
Johannes Pressi, President of the Association of Municipalities and Mayors
USEFUL INITIATIVE
“This 120 million euro funding package is ONE and IMPORTANT practical implementation for a digital transition in which every citizen is included. But it is also clear that this can only be one measure and many more must follow so that no one is left behind, not today and not tomorrow.”
Ingrid Korosec , President of the Senior Citizens' Council and the Austrian Senior Citizens' Associa
LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND
"Our responsibility is to ensure everyone is included in the digitalisation process and to ease any concerns they may have. Expanding local support within municipalities is another step toward achieving this goal."
Claudia Plakolm, State Secretary for Digitalisation, Youth and Civilian Service
PA 11.6.2024: State Secretary Plakolm: “Ensuring No One Is Left Behind in Digitalisation” (German)
