Digitalisation key in addressing global challenges
News story | Date: 21/09/2022 | Office of the Prime Minister
‘Many countries are unable to keep up with the global technological revolution. Norway is leading the way in the collaborative effort to develop and share digital solutions,’ said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre at the meeting in New York on building resilience through safe, trusted, and inclusive digital public infrastructure.
The summit on digital public infrastructure held in connection with the UN General Assembly high-level week highlighted the high degree of interest in the topic of digital public goods. Norway was one of the hosts of the event, and other speakers in addition to Mr Støre included Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands; President of the Republic of Estonia, Alar Karis; UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres; Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz; Co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates; and the heads of the United National Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
‘Digital public goods can help us find joint solutions to shared challenges. We must work to build safe, trusted and inclusive digital public infrastructure for use in all countries,’ said Mr Støre.
More than 70 countries are now using a health information system developed by the University of Oslo together with international partners. Other examples of Norwegian technology made available as digital public goods include the Altinn portal for public reporting and weather forecasts and information from the Norwegian Meteorological Institute.
‘It is more important than ever that we come together, co-create and share the best solutions. Norway is doing its part. We have allocated NOK 500 million over the next four years to support digital public goods and build digital public infrastructure,’ said Mr Støre.
Facts about the Digital Public Goods Alliance:
- Since 2018, Norway has played a leading role in the efforts to promote the sharing of safe digital solutions through the Digital Public Goods Alliance.
- Norway is part of the governing board of the Alliance together with UNICEF and the Government of Sierra Leone. Other members include UNDP, Estonia, Germany and India, and private actors such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
- The Alliance works to facilitate coordination, cooperation and the development and sharing of digital solutions.
- The Alliance is an innovative digital partnership model in which developing and middle-income countries have access to and apply shared technologies and knowledge.