UK, US to strengthen digital government collaboration

The UK and US governments have agreed to work more closely together on digital initiatives including the development of digital government services.

During a visit by the UK government to the US White House last week, US CTO Megan Smith, UK Minister for the Cabinet Office Matthew Hancock and White House Office of Management and Budget Director Shaun Donovan pledged to strengthen ties between each nation’s technical teams.

The two governments aim to draw influence from the private sector, including companies at the forefront of the ‘sharing economy’, to help reinvent the way public services are delivered.

Work started in the UK to make government services digital by default will be used as the basis for the collaboration.

The US meanwhile has its own dedicated Digital Service team, tasked with upgrading the nation’s technology infrastructure and ability to compete in the digital economy.

“Without smart, energetic and connected talent, our digital program would fall apart. By sharing knowledge and exchanging skillsets we build digital teams that are the best they can be. I’m incredibly proud of all the UK Government Digital Service has achieved over the last few years,” Hancock commented.

“I look forward to leading the next phase of GDS — transatlantic cooperation will be important in helping the digital operations in both the UK and US governments scale up and succeed.”

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