Assessing Dutch ambitions: Towards large scale ICT uptake in public sectors

The Dutch government has introduced a new policy instrument to promote and disseminate societal relevant ICT-applications that have proven to be successful on a small scale. It has invited social actors to disseminate their successful innovations on a larger scale. To this end, an innovation programme called Societal Sectors and ICT, was launched five years ago. This paper presents the results of a study performed by TNO on the Dutch situation in large scale adoption of societal relevant ICT applications. The activities undertaken showed to have beneficial effects. Some issues need more consideration. For one, the concept of systems failures used by Dutch government needs revision. For another, a basic problem as institutional failure needs to be taking into account. And issues of collaboration, business models, and awareness raising remain relevant. Though the programme is a Dutch one, its lessons are of relevance for European policy making.