Global "Govtech" accelerator to drive public sector innovation

The Lightning Lab Govtech Accelerator is set to run in Wellington and will be open to national and international teams.

The challenges facing governments around the world have never been more significant.

Problems like global warming, cybersecurity and privacy are “big-picture” problems, but there are also the day-to- day challenges of digital transformation, citizen-centric government and participatory democracy that are faced by agencies in most countries. These challenges create a big market opportunity. During a recent visit to Wellington, Silicon Valley-based venture capitalists Steve Mellor and Larry Howell estimated the global “GovTech” market (technology and innovation for governments) at $400bn.

With a passion for civic engagement, innovation management and strong expertise in public sector innovation, Creative HQ will take “GovTech” to a new level in Wellington in 2018. With partners the Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency (WREDA), Victoria University and various government agencies, the Lightning Lab GovTech accelerator will launch in mid-2018 with a cohort of up to 10 local and international teams working on revolutionising the public sector.

Lightning Lab GovTech provides a structured and methodology-based experimentation environment for rapid innovation in the public sector with the aim to deliver seamless digital public services that delight consumers. Building on Creative HQ’s experience as a delivery partner for the R9 Accelerator within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Creative HQ will engage national and international agencies to put together teams for the GovTech accelerator next year.

The programme will be run in Wellington, giving national teams a strong connection to government and international teams will have the benefit of experiencing Wellington’s incredible mix of public sector and creative talents that have allowed us to become one of the most respected governments in the world.

David Jones, WREDA’s General Manager, Business Growth and Innovation says: “As New Zealand’s tech capital, home to both government and the country’s most innovative digital businesses, Wellington is the ideal centre for driving the leading edge of GovTech forwards. One of the newest and most wide-open fields of tech application, government represents a tremendous opportunity. In partnership with both national and local government, participants in the new Lightning Lab GovTech accelerator will gain from Creative HQ’s expertise as they create solutions to improve the frontline performance of government agencies around the world.”

“We’re building on a three-year legacy and experience with the R9 Accelerator where we worked with agencies like NZ Customs, Stats NZ, Ministry of Social Development and the Ministry of Education on solutions that make a difference to both NZ businesses and the lives of our citizens,” says Brett Holland, Creative HQ’s Head of Acceleration. “We will be working closely with government agencies to continue NZ’s GovTech success story and NZ’s digital government transformation”.

The Better for Business R9 Accelerator has been a strong advocate for bringing the public and private sectors together to improve interactions with government and develop new ways of working together. As one of the first GovTech Accelerators in the world, it has brought together entrepreneurs and public sector employees to test, prototype and develop solutions using LEAN and Agile principles.

“During the three R9 Accelerator programmes, over 25 teams have developed some innovative solutions to problems identified by government agencies. Creative HQ have been our delivery partner for the Accelerator programmes, bringing their deep experience with Lightning Lab into the GovTech space,” says Lisa Casagranda, Director of Better for Business.

“The Better for Business programme will continue to identify opportunities to improve the business customer experience with government further. It’s time for the next evolutionary step in New Zealand’s GovTech space, and we support Creative HQ’s launch of the Lightning Lab GovTech accelerator”.

From the R9 accelerator, Creative HQ was invited to speak at the World Bank’s Global Innovation Forum, after being called one of GovTech’s most innovative programmes. The World Bank recognised the R9 Accelerator as a great example of public/private collaboration with an effective procurement practice and scalable and repeatable model across sectors.

Lightning Lab GovTech will also be supported by Victoria, University of Wellington who will conduct several research studies wrapped around the Lightning Lab GovTech accelerator.

Professor Ian Williamson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Dean of Commerce at Victoria Business School says of the partnership: “Victoria is excited to partner with Creative HQ in this initiative, which has real potential to boost Wellington’s growing international reputation as a hotspot for innovation. Victoria Business School in particular, has proven expertise in building entrepreneurial talent and a focus on increasing the quality and impact of the entrepreneurial programmes. We’re looking forward to providing new research opportunities for our students and academics, and contribute to the success of local innovators in acceleration programmes.”

The programme will cement Wellington’s position as leaders of the GovTech space globally with a view to transforming the way government’s work digitally.