An unprecedented in size package of projects is currently being managed by Information Society, and Stavros Asthenidis, CEO, characteristically reported to “Naftemporiki” that “we have to put the pedal to the metal”.

Information Society, as the executive “arm” of the Ministry of Digital Governance, is the protagonist in the project for the digital transformation of the public administration. It currently manages 240 projects in various stages of maturity, with a total budget of 4.5 billion euro, and in the next six months it is planning to tender approximately 65 ICT projects with a total budget of approximately 1.5 billion euro.

However, is it possible to proceed with such a large volume of projects and what are the problems that have arisen? These are the questions we asked Mr Asthenidis, who has undertaken to lead Information Society at this critical juncture.

“For our part, as we have been doing for the past three years, we are “putting the pedal to the metal” in order to get aboard the digital transformation train, which is moving at a breakneck speed”, the CEO of Information Society pointed out, adding: “We are pressing on when it comes to the contracting of the projects. It is a unique opportunity for our country in order to transition into the digital revolution that is taking place. However, the market must also live up to the expectations and the companies need to work towards the common direction of project implementation. The Recovery Fund provides an ideal circumstance for the entire market, as the available funding is significant and the package of projects particularly demanding. Until 2026, projects with a budget of up to 6 billion euro can be funded by the “Greece 2.0” plan. Therefore, both for us as well as the companies, it is a question of mobilizing all these resources that we will need, so that we can deliver all these projects on time and with the required quality”.

“The truth is that the whole market is looking for employees”, the head of Information Society pointed out to “Naftemporiki”, and he added, regarding the issues that have arisen:

“This is a more general problem. However, companies are constantly recruiting employees in order to cope with the tight schedules and the high demands of the projects they undertake. Just like we did through specialized partnerships and agreements with consultants from the market. We proceeded to strengthen our human resources and now we have reached 220 employees, together with our partners.

The main problem we are facing are the tight project schedules, which must be strictly adhered to, while the institutional framework and awarding procedures are specific and time-consuming. Thus, we are trying to exhaust every possibility available to us in order to speed up the corresponding times, such as by accelerating evaluation procedures and using public procurement options such as framework agreements.

It is also a fact that we have acknowledged the need for the formation of a new institutional framework that will speed up the completion of IT projects. Procedures and mechanisms must be simplified in a fair and transparent manner. It is necessary to proceed to the simplification of public contracts and of the payment process, to the necessary interventions in order to reduce the multi-month procedures required for the recruitment of employees in Public Administration, as well as to the improvement of the existing salaries and the establishment of other financial incentives, so as to once again make the Public Sector into an attractive employer for highly-qualified staff.”

In addition to the flagship Syzefxis project, which is being implemented after over 10 years and which is in the roll-out phase, there is a “chain” of complex projects that Information Society has undertaken to implement, such as the Human Resources Management System (HRMS) , Transparency III (“Diavgeia”), the modernization of the Integrated Information System of the Legal Council of the State, the interoperability between the information systems of the Public Administration, the Teleconferencing services in courts and penitentiary establishments (“Tele-trial”) and many others.

The large chain of digital projects also includes interventions, which are going to further improve the relationship of the Public Sector with citizens and businesses, such as: Smart Cities, the Single digital service platform for citizens and businesses CRMS, the Reform of the Financial System in the Central Administration and the rest of the General Government (gov-ERP), the Digital Registries (eRegistries), the new public procurement system and the Centralized Business Intelligence.

The Recovery Fund has provided for a wide range of important digital interventions in critical sectors of society and the economy, with projects that relate to the following:

Health, by digitizing the Public Health System and strengthening telemedicine.

Justice, by creating the National Integrated Electronic Justice System (e-justice).

Agriculture, by digitally transforming the agri-food sector, as well as extroverted agriculture.

Tourism, through the single register for tourist businesses and the digital transformation of the Greek National Tourism Organization.

Shipping, through the project of digitizing the archives of the Ministry of Shipping.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its support system for strategic and operational planning, the digitization of its Diplomatic and Historical Archives, the modernization of cryptographic ICT security infrastructure and the Global Digital Information Centre platform.

Businesses, by digitally transforming approximately 100,000 SMEs with vouchers, financially supporting 1,000 industrial SMEs to transition to the Cloud, and upgrading or replacing 500,000 cash registers and 100,000 old POS systems.

Telecommunications and technology, by creating a network of microsatellites, developing 5G networks on 2,400 km long highways, creating submarine fiber-optic cables in Greek islands, installing fiber optics in 120,000 buildings, developing broadband networks with speeds up to 100Mbps in areas where there is no sufficient network and developing public wireless broadband Internet access (WiFi) hotspots.