AI adoption in the public sector: a new study on key influencing factors and two frameworks for competencies and governance

A first report analyses a survey conducted among 574 public managers across seven EU countries, identifying what are currently the main drivers of AI adoption and providing 3 key recommendations to practitioners.

Strong expertise and various organisational factors emerge as key contributors for AI adoptions, and a second study sheds light on the essential competences and governance practices required for the effective adoption and usage of AI in the public sector across Europe.

What factors influence perceived artificial intelligence adoption by public managers?

The study finds that AI adoption is no longer a promise for public administration, but a reality, particularly in service delivery and internal operations and to a lesser extent in policy decision-making. It also highlights the importance of organisational factors such as leadership support, innovative culture, clear AI strategy, and in-house expertise in fostering AI adoption. Anticipated citizen needs are also identified as a key external factor driving AI adoption.

Based on these findings, the report offers three policy recommendations. First, it suggests paying attention to AI and digitalisation in leadership programmes, organisational development and strategy building. Second, it recommends broadening in-house expertise on AI, which should include not only technical expertise, but also expertise on ethics, governance, and law. Third, the report advises monitoring (for instance through focus groups and surveys) and exchanging on citizen needs and levels of readiness for digital improvements in government service delivery.

Check out the full report: JRC Publications Repository - What factors influence perceived artificial intelligence adoption by public managers?

Competences and governance practices for artificial intelligence in the public sector

If we want to determine at what pace AI is being adopted and the value that can be derived from these emerging technologies, it is crucial to look at both competences required by public managers and at governance practices necessary for leveraging AI effectively.

Another recent study looks precisely at the essential competences and governance practices required for the effective adoption and usage of artificial intelligence (AI) in the public sector across Europe.

Drawing on three empirical sources, including a systematic review of academic research literature and policy and grey literature, feedback from an online expert workshop, and 19 interviews across seven selected case studies, the study elaborated two frameworks for AI in the public sector:

• A competences framework that encompasses technical, managerial, and policy legal and ethical competences, as well attitudinal, operational, and literacy one:

• The governance practices framework includes procedural, structural, and relational practices, and strategic, tactical, and operational governance levels:

Additionally, the report provides six recommendations, three for each framework, consisting of 18 actions for the development of competences and governance practices for AI in the public sector in Europe.

A full, detailed list of both the competencies and governance practices identified is available in the report: JRC Publications Repository - Competences and governance practices for artificial intelligence in the public sector

Related and Future Work

These studies are part of the scope of the Public Sector Tech Watch, a specialized observatory that tracks and shares information on the adoption of emerging technologies in the public sector across Europe. This observatory is under the joint administration of the Directorate-General for Digital Services and JRC, with the JRC serving as the observatory's scientific partner.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.