On World Creativity and Innovation Day, the strartegic GOVERNANCE project offers a concrete answer to a widespread challenge: how can local administrations become more agile, transparent, and citizen-focused in an increasingly digital world?

In many areas of the South Adriatic, outdated procedures and fragmented systems still hold back public services. GOVERNANCE, co-financed by the Interreg IPA South Adriatic Programme 2021–2027, addresses this with a simple but ambitious goal: make public administration digital, simple, and human

Led by the Puglia Region, the project brings together partners from Italy, Albania, and Montenegro to co-create new models of governance:

• A cross-border Multifunctional Hub will support local administrations with consulting, digital tools, and a digital cooperation space for institutions across the three countries, encouraging knowledge exchange and innovative joint solutions.
• The “Upskilling for Governance” course has already been launched and is set to train Apulian officials in digital transition, EU funds, e-government and institutional communication.
• Pilot initiatives are planned: in Molise, an advanced digital archive will improve service speed and transparency; in Montenegro, new software will streamline IPA fund management.
• A shared strategic model for digital governance will be developed to establish common guidelines for a more transparent, results-oriented, and citizen-focused public administration

On this international day dedicated to innovation, GOVERNANCE demonstrates that creativity doesn’t only belong to startups and tech labs; it belongs to public institutions that dare to change, together.

Learn more on GOVERNANCE project HERE.

About the project

GOVERNANCE is co-financed by the Interreg IPA South Adriatic Programme 2021–2027 and brings together partners from Italy, Albania, and Montenegro to reinforce public sector capacity, promote digital innovation, and support cross-border cooperation at the local level.