Dataport x PUBLIC Germany

Dataport is the public IT service provider for six German federal states (Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Bremen and Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen), one IT association of local authorities, for both regional and local administration. In collaboration with local authorities and regional governments Dataport supports its clients to make digital transformation a success. This requires strategic engagement with new technological developments as well as close interactions with innovative suppliers - something that can be achieved by becoming an active player in the dynamically growing German GovTech ecosystem.

By entering a partnership with PUBLIC Germany, Dataport followed suit on its ambition to work more closely with administration-related startups and to significantly expand its network into the industry. "Startups represent inventiveness and often also user orientation. To be able to use this expertise in the transition toward a digital administration, we as a public IT service provider are approaching the industry in a targeted manner", said Dr. Johann Bizer, CEO of Dataport. “With PUBLIC, we have found a partner that supports us in finding the right companies..

Nils Hoffmann, Managing Director of PUBLIC Germany, emphasises: 

"Dataport is already one of the most innovative IT service providers for public administration in Germany. We are very pleased to support Dataport in its collaboration with the startup and technology scene." 

The joint agreement provides for Dataport to enter into strategic exchange with relevant startups via PUBLIC, for example through joint workshops and pitch events. In addition, PUBLIC is consulting Dataport in the implementation of innovation projects with startups. 

The partnership between PUBLIC Germany and Dataport is the first of its kind to be established in order to institutionalise and facilitate cooperation between public IT service providers and GovTech startups within Germany. Since the beginning of 2021 the following activities have taken place in the context of the partnership: 

• PUBLIC has provided Dataport with in-depth analyses of select startups 
• PUBLIC has connected Dataport with select GovTech startups

• An internal dedicated GovTech Week with keynote speeches, training sessions and startup pitch events has jointly been organised by PUBLIC and Dataport for all employees of Dataport
• PUBLIC has facilitated workshops with departments at Dataport to explore their interest and demand for co-operating with startups

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