14 Impacts
To address the challenges the public sector is facing, this white paper emphasises creating new solutions by mobilising society’s combined resources in new ways, utilising new technology and new work methods, ensuring good framework conditions and supporting research, innovation and development work.
Many of the measures described in this white paper are ongoing initiatives or measures that will result in benefits in the form of better quality, reduced costs and time savings.
New measures discussed in this white paper that require allocations will be covered within the budgetary framework that applies at all times or come with a proviso as regards when they can be implemented.
The white paper’s contribution to attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Norway has a responsibility for helping to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, and innovation is a prerequisite for this. The purpose of this white paper is to increase public sector innovation. It can therefore contribute indirectly to better achievement of all the SDGs.
Several of the SDGs emphasise the importance of technological development and research to achieving sustainable development, including SDG 11 on sustainable cities and societies. The white paper emphasises the public sector’s role as a driver of such innovative and sustainable solutions.
SDG 17 Target 17 is about stimulating and promoting well-functioning partnerships in the public sector, and between the public and private sectors and civil society. The significance of such partnerships is emphasised in this report, particularly in the chapters about cooperation with citizens, the business sector and research environments. The importance of developing effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels (Target 16.6) and ensuring responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels (Target 16.7) is emphasised in the chapters on framework conditions, a culture of innovation and innovation collaboration.