SUMMARY:

On May 5, representatives from the Presidency, the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining (MIEM), Antel, Uruguay Innova, and Agesic presented the strategic priorities that will guide Uruguay's digital development toward a more integrated, secure, and citizen-centered State.

INFORMATION:

The presentation reflected a reality that has been taking shape in Uruguay for years: coordination among public institutions is the defining factor between a successful digital transformation and one that falls short.

Alejandro Sánchez, Secretary of the Presidency, highlighted Uruguay's digital policy, which has positioned the country as a regional leader. However, he emphasized that this leadership was not the result of chance, but rather of institutional decisions that prioritized collaboration. Building a sovereign and more innovative State requires institutions to work toward the same goals, Sánchez stated.

The strategy is structured around five key pillars: digital citizenship, artificial intelligence and data, digital public infrastructure, cybersecurity and trust, and priority projects. These initiatives will be implemented in a coordinated manner. Alejandro Paz, President of Antel, illustrated this approach by referring to the agreement with Agesic to strengthen the Government Cloud, relocating government data center operations to the state-owned telecommunications company's infrastructure.

STATUM has witnessed—and actively contributed to—this evolution. Over the years, the company has collaborated with the Uruguayan government on the digitalization of numerous online public services and the development of a wide range of electronic case management systems. This extensive experience in public sector digital transformation aligns directly with the objectives of the new strategy: strengthening the State's ability to integrate systems, data, and processes rather than allowing them to remain fragmented.

Cristina Zubillaga, Executive Director of Agesic, emphasized that this new stage "is characterized by interinstitutional coordination, regulation, and governance." Among the initiatives included in the strategy is the development of a public digital wallet incorporating the national identity document. However, she stressed that such a project is only feasible if the institutions involved coordinate their efforts from the very beginning.

Bruno Gili, Head of Uruguay Innova, also announced the creation of an Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence, to be jointly led by the National Secretariat for Science, Uruguay Innova, and Agesic.