Boosting Access to Public Services through a Modular Open-Source E-Government Platform
active 3 days, 1 hour agoThis is a project idea for a small project for Programme Objective 1.2
Project Idea: Boosting Access to Public Services through a Modular Open-Source E-Government Platform
This project proposes the development and piloting of a modular, open-source e-services platform that transforms how local governments deliver public services. The platform will integrate various permit and application procedures into a single, user-friendly digital system, enabling seamless service delivery for both residents and administrators. A central innovation is the inclusion of an automatic permit issuance feature—if an application meets pre-defined local criteria, the system can issue permits without human intervention, significantly reducing administrative workload and delays.
The project addresses a widespread challenge faced by municipalities across the Baltic Sea region: fragmented, inconsistent, and often paper-based service delivery. Today, residents must navigate multiple systems or submit physical applications for even simple services, creating inefficiencies and limiting access. At the same time, decision-makers are burdened by siloed data, lack of real-time insights, and complex back-end processes. This project offers a scalable, replicable solution to unify digital public services and improve overall governance responsiveness.
By moving towards a unified e-platform, the project will ensure services are available 24/7, simplify application procedures, and increase processing speed. At least five types of permits or e-services will be developed and tested in the first phase, including areas such as advertising, transport, logging, excavation, and grave site use. These will serve as a foundation for additional services to be added in future development phases.
Residents will directly benefit from improved accessibility and transparency. Issued permits will be published via an integrated map application, providing clear visual access to decisions that affect the community. Consolidating data into one environment not only supports faster decisions but also helps explain decisions more effectively to the public—building trust and fostering greater civic engagement.
The platform’s architecture will be based on free and open-source solutions to lower adoption barriers and ensure long-term sustainability. Cross-border cooperation is a key element of the project, with international partners engaged to exchange best practices, co-develop solutions, and adapt the platform for use in their own municipalities. This will ensure that the final product reflects diverse regional needs and regulatory contexts, while remaining technically and administratively feasible.
In line with the Interreg Baltic Sea Region programme’s focus on responsive public services, this project contributes to more innovative, inclusive, and future-ready local governments. It improves digital service access for local populations, reduces bureaucracy, and lays the groundwork for cross-border digital service models that other municipalities can adopt.
Project Idea Admins
Home
-
-
-
Siim created the project idea
Boosting Access to Public Services through a Modular Open-Source E-Government Platform 1 week, 4 days ago
