The priority theme of the Scheme 2018:

• Digital Government Innovations

Sub-themes included, but were not limited to, the following:

• Digital Civil Service
• Disruptive Technologies and Civil Service
• Digital Citizenship and Participatory Government
• Government Management in Fostering Public Sector Innovation
• Open Government Data and the New Frontier of Innovative Service Delivery
• Data-Driven Smart Government
• Incentivizing Staff and Building Capacity for Digital Innovation
• Creating a Working, Learning and Innovative Environment
• Public Governance: Digital Competencies.

Overall, 46 representatives from 17 countries have submitted applications: Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Montenegro, Pakistan, Russia, South Africa, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Ukraine, UK, USA, and Zambia. 

15 proposals out of 46 were received from individual applicants/groups of individual applicants. 18 proposals were received from NGOs and international organizations, 6 – from state bodies, 5 – from academic entities, and 4 – from private companies.

As a result of evaluation by the International selection panel that included representatives of the Hub’s participating countries in the region and partners, the following bidders have been identified as winners:

• IMD (Switzerland), Project: “Blockchain: an innovative solution for smart governments”
• Digital Solutions Ltd. (Kazakhstan), Project: “E-Practicum: online platform for practical knowledge”

The winners will be provided the opportunity to develop case studies and manuals for replication of the innovative solutions to be disseminated among the Hub’s participating countries.