On November 14 and 15, 2018, high-ranking IT decision-makers at federal and state level met at Wartburg Castle for the "11th eGovernment Summit" at the invitation of the CIO of the Free State of Thuringia, State Secretary Dr. Hartmut Schubert. Under the congress motto "From eGovernment to digital statecraft", the Vogel IT Academy invited an exclusive circle of eGovernment and administration experts from the federal and state governments to exchange information. The event was characterized by intensive talks and discussions, for example on the implementation of the Online Access Act. In addition, "eGovernment Awards" were presented in the categories "Innovation", "Municipal" and "eGovernment CIO of the Year" as well as the "eGovernment Leadership Award":

- "eGovernment Innovation Award": Martin Hagen
- "eGovernment CIO of the Year 2018": Thomas Popp
- "eGovernment Municipal Award": Stefan Schostok
- "eGovernment Leadership Award": Helge Braun

All of the awards went to individuals who have made a decisive contribution to the implementation and development of eGovernment in Germany. This year, the "eGovernment Innovation Award" was presented by the editorial advisory board of "eGovernment Computing" to Martin Hagen from Bremen. Martin Hagen received the "Innovation Award 2018" for his tireless commitment to the development of eGovernment and the design of pioneering digital services. "In recent years, Martin Hagen has initiated and driven forward many eGovernment topics of nationwide importance. Not least through the implementation of ELFE, the application-free child benefit, Martin Hagen has made it clear which requirements future eGovernment services must meet in terms of user-friendliness and reducing bureaucracy," says Manfred Klein, Editor-in-Chief of the specialist medium "eGovernment Computing".

The award for the "eGovernment CIO of the Year 2018" was presented to the CIO of the state of Saxony, Thomas Popp. Thomas Popp said at the award ceremony: "I will do everything in my power to provide the right framework for the continued successful modernization of the administration. As the Commissioner for Information Technology (CIO) in the federal states, we have the task of strengthening the digital sovereignty of the state. This involves offering a fast, reliable service for citizens and companies online, organizing more efficient administrative processes and creating modern workplaces for employees so that they can ultimately benefit from the advantages of technological change."

This year's "eGovernment Kommunal Award" went to Stefan Schostok, the Lord Mayor of Hanover. The laudatory speech for Schostok was held by Dr. Ariane Berger from the German County Association. In her award speech, Berger particularly emphasized the rapid development of a comprehensive digitalization strategy in the state capital, which not only focuses on improving Hanover as a business location, but also on strengthening the quality of life and can also serve as a role model for rural municipalities beyond the urban area.

Stefan Schostok, said at the award ceremony: "I am delighted that our public interest-oriented approach has been so well received and has been honored this year with the eGovernment Computing Municipal Award. In addition to implementing our administrative strategy for the digitalization of the state capital of Hanover, we want to work with stakeholders from business, science, politics and society on a "Digital Agenda" for the entire state capital."

This year's "eGovernment Leadership Award" went to Minister of State Helge Braun for his efforts to make digitalization the basis of a new economic miracle.

The patron of the eGovernment Summit, the Federal Commissioner for Information Technology, State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of the Interior Klaus Vitt, is certain that the focus of administrative digitization will change. The goal is no longer just the electronically supported fulfillment of administrative tasks, but also intelligently networked administrative action at a high level nationwide. The eGovernment Congress therefore focused on the question of how this goal can be achieved together in a federal network. The aim of the series of events is also to intensify the exchange of information between administration and politics, business and science in connection with eGovernment and administrative reform.

Further information on the "11th eGovernment Summit" and the "eGovernment Awards" can be found here.

Caption: (from left) Henning Lühr (State Councillor in Bremen), winner of the Innovation Award Martin Hagen, Manfred Klein (Editor-in-Chief of "eGovernment Computing") and "eGovernment CIO of the Year" Thomas Popp (CIO Free State of Saxony). (Photo: Vera Nicolic)

eGovernment Computing is the publication for the digitalization of administration and public security. It informs IT decision-makers at federal, state and local level and in public institutions about all relevant areas of digital information processing in the public sector. Further information can be found at www.eGovernment-Computing.de. Vogel IT-Medien, Augsburg, is a subsidiary of the Vogel Communications Group, Würzburg. Since 1989, the publishing house has been publishing specialist media for decision-makers who are professionally involved in the production, procurement or use of information technology. In addition to print and online media, it also offers a broad portfolio of events. The publisher's most important publications are IT-BUSINESS, eGovernment Computing, BigData-Insider.de, CloudComputing-Insider.de, DataCenter-Insider.de, Dev-Insider.de, IP-Insider.de, Security-Insider.de, Storage-Insider.de.