“Monaco is the Singapore of Europe”
The subject of digitization is as vast as the technologies that compose it. It is also, undeniably and perhaps even more in a post-health crisis phase, an element that can be different.
While we often talk about the digital transition of companies, we talk much less about that of States. And yet, it is also strategic and intrinsically linked to a lever which is no less so: attractiveness.
This vision is the one that Frédéric Genta has been promoting since his arrival – and his return since he is a native of the country – in the Principality of Monaco. Appointed Interministerial Delegate in charge of digital in 2018, it is he who writes the specific roadmap, the one that makes Monaco, a smart state, a smart Principauty.
The dedicated program is called Extended Monaco. An ambitious program because it is transversal and which aims to place the country among those which are the most attractive.
A program that concerns education – the tablets provided to high school and college students lighten the satchels, educational monitoring is thus done instantaneously – health, mobility … and of course businesses and the economy.
The Principality’s recovery plan is therefore based on this digital brick. This is particularly the meaning of the Blue Fund, operational since last September, endowed with 20 million euros and which cofinances 30% to 70% of transformation projects, whether these concern an innovative company or a VSE SME. “Classic”.
IN Groupe and its civic tech expertise
For a few days now, there has been digital identity. An identity which is associated with the sovereign identity and which aims to facilitate access and the administrative relationship with the public and private services of the Principality. And which concerns Monegasque citizens as well as residents, since we know that Monaco is a place of residence for nationals who do not have Monegasque nationality. It is IN Groupe that develops and disseminates this digital identity. IN Groupe which won the call for tenders two years ago and which brings here all its civic tech expertise. ” This digital identity was designed digitally native », Underlines Didier Trutt, CEO of the former Imprimerie Nationale, which gave shape to MConnect, the platform which allows the security of identities and rights. ” The interest of this device is to protect data. Only those which are necessary are communicated to the service concerned. MConnect is robust, secure and features a well-thought-out UX “.
Sovereignty assured, security too
But of course, digital identity is a brick that clearly serves the attractiveness of the country. What Frédéric Genta demonstrates. ” The promise of Monegasque digital identity is threefold: it is secure, sovereign and easy. It is given at the same time as a physical ticket, it is unique, and does not require you to connect to Facebook or Google to communicate with public or private Monegasque services – Monaco Telecom already uses it, SMEG, uses … others will use it … It is a security and a sovereignty that is. In a post-Covid world where sovereignty and security have become cardinal values, especially in the digital world, Monaco is honoring its promise of sovereignty and security as a State “.
It is also a brick that will be added another brick, a one-stop shop that will be operational from September. ” We launched the signature for businesses in January, we are launching digital identity now, the counter in September and the cloud for businesses in October ”.
Create attractiveness on the world map
Extended Monaco, a lever of attractiveness? Clearly for Frédéric Genta. Who repeats that connectivity – we recall that Monaco has deployed 5G since 2019 – is a not insignificant, even major part of attractiveness, whether it concerns companies or individuals who set up their family office in the Principality, for example. ” On the economy, on an ambitious recovery plan, on attractiveness there is infra-telecom, the cloud, on quality of life, there is education, the administration which is being transformed. Yes, clearly, we are the major axis of attractiveness in this post-covid world and we are a model state, a kind of Singapore of Europe. “.
Of course, Monaco is not going to stop there. And Frédéric Genta to say that from 2022, a real acceleration phase will begin. ” We will continue the recovery plan, we will continue training, we will continue to support businesses, we will continue to attract investment funds in technology. We are going to have a strong acceleration deal on the economy ”.
All that builds attraction. “What makes you choose a country? This is if this country is modern. It is a composite dimension but is this country in its time, embodies a power, a force? Digital is an essential asset. It is a major axis “.