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Governments of UK and Canada announce plans to secure AI sovereignty
The governments of the UK and Canada have separately announced plans this month to invest in AI sovereignty to support national security and boost home-grown innovation and domestic economies. On 16 April, the UK’s technology secretary Liz Kendall launched UK Sovereign AI, a £500m (US$675m) fund aimed at “helping more British AI companies start up,…
Turning digital ambition into measurable outcomes: Five minutes with Hatim Abdulhussein, chief executive officer, Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex
In this series of ‘Five minutes with’ interviews, we share insights from the civil service and public sector leaders who will speak at our Innovation 2026 conference. Taking place in London on 24 and 25 March, attendees will hear leaders from around the world speak on a range of topics related to driving the transformation of…
PULSE: Helping civil servants accelerate policy delivery
It is crucial that government policymaking is informed by the best possible data – and a competition by Global Government Forum and Mastercard is set to provide public servants with unprecedented access to spending data to spark innovation on economic growth, urban resilience, financial inclusion, and improved public services. Rich detailed data insights on consumer…
US federal government launches action plan to ‘win AI race’
The US federal government has published its artificial intelligence action plan, building on an executive order signed by president Donald Trump in January to drive AI innovation across the country. Entitled ‘Winning the AI Race’, the action plan sets out more than 90 federal policy actions across three pillars: accelerating innovation, building American AI infrastructure,…
Investment in modern tools key enabler of digital innovation in government
Investment in modern tools and platforms and associated training are considered critical to enabling governments to capitalise on digital and data for innovation, according to civil servants surveyed by Global Government Forum. The findings are from GGF research based on presentations and discussions at its Innovation 2025 conference held in London in March, as well as a…
Trump signs stablecoin act into law in effort ‘to lead global digital currency revolution’
US president Donald Trump has signed a law to establish a federal regulatory regime for stablecoins in a move closely watched by public- and private-sector fintech and payments specialists worldwide. The law was signed after the House of Representatives passed the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins Act (GENIUS Act) on 17 July by 308…
Research identifies top skills that support innovation in government
When asked about the top skills for civil servants to develop so they can better drive innovation, adaptability to change is viewed as the most essential, with nearly 60% of respondents emphasising its importance. Collaboration and teamwork follow closely, as almost half of the participants deem these skills crucial. The findings are from Global Government…
Slick cities: How local authorities are using AI to tackle their most pressing problems
AI offers huge potential for local and city governments to improve services for residents and to make operations more efficient. These public service organisations also often have the agility to move faster than their national counterparts, offering early indicators of success and of challenges. To examine the potential for AI to deliver local services, Global…
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Discover independent research reports, surveys and in-depth studies from Global Government Forum and knowledge partners, exploring the most important issues facing governments and the public sector. Our research provides practical insights and evidence-based recommendations for senior civil servants, policymakers and public sector leaders. Our reports combine exclusive survey data, expert analysis and interviews with government leaders from around the world to help public sector organisations improve performance, inform policy and deliver better outcomes for citizens.
Empowering Public Servants to Make Confident, Informed Decisions with Data and AI
Governments around the world are working hard to extract – and act upon – the insights held in their vast data stores, and to embrace AI and the promise it holds for innovation and transformation. At the same time, economic pressures and constrained budgets are compelling public servants to do more with fewer resources, while governments are called to respond quickly and effectively to complex challenges.
Against this backdrop, data and AI can help those working in government both to streamline their workflows and make fast, informed decisions. This in turn drives efficiency and can unlock productivity gains – and ultimately lead to improved performance and better services for citizens.
Global Government Forum surveyed over 600 civil servants worldwide to understand how data and AI are being used in government decision-making and where there are further challenges and opportunities.
Read this report for insight into how governments are using data and AI in decision-making today and the potential for the future; the major challenges to using data and AI in decision-making and how to overcome them; and how AI agents can be used in decision-making.
The report includes examples of data and AI in decision-making from countries including the UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada, Singapore, the US, and more.
(Published September 2025)
Making Government Work: Five Pillars of a Modern, Effective Civil Service
Around the world, governments are dealing with substantial challenges – from economic stagnation to the transition to net zero, military conflicts and cyber threats. Governments are also grappling with shifting geopolitics and the rise of populism – and all of these factors are set against the emergence of new technologies, including generative AI, which have the potential to fundamentally transform every aspect of society, but which also pose huge ethical, security and regulatory questions for the public sector.
The Making Government Work: Five pillars of a modern, effective civil service report was undertaken to help identify the key characteristics needed in a modern public service, with priorities ranging across leadership, digital service delivery, workforce development, cross-departmental integration, and citizen trust.
This report has been covered by publications around the world including the Financial Times, BBC Radio 4’s PM programme, Ottawa Citizen, Fed Manager, the Mandarin and the i newspaper.
(Published August 2024)
The Future of the Finance Ministry
From setting tax rates and financial regulations that create the ground rules for national economies, to allocating – and tracking – spending for public services, finance ministries occupy an essential role at the centre of government. Geopolitical crises have reinforced the importance of finance ministries, as they tackle both immediate shocks and long-term trends such as ageing populations, the digital transition, and the impact of moves to net zero.
Against this backdrop, this global research explores what the future finance ministry looks like and how to prepare for it.
Based on interviews with 10 senior leaders from finance ministries – led by John McCarthy, chief economist in Ireland’s Department of Finance, working with Ian Hall, editor, Global Government Finance, and Richard Johnstone, executive editor, Global Government Forum – the study identifies four key themes: the evolving role of the finance ministry in response to uncertainty; the shift to more flexible finance systems that support outcomes; digital transformation and the growth of AI; and the battle for talent and trust.
(Published May 2026)
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