Portugal is facing a historic opportunity, enabled by the scale of current investments and the reformist momentum we are experiencing. But digitalizing the State is more than modernizing services: it is about transforming the way the country operates, decides, grows, and relates to its citizens.
The digital modernization of the Portuguese Public Administration has taken on a structural character in recent years. Integrated into the government’s agenda and supported by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), this transformation aims to permanently change how the State engages with citizens and businesses.
The goals are clear: faster processes, simpler services, greater transparency, and a more capable public administration, prepared to respond to the demands of an increasingly digital society. Portugal has taken important steps in this direction. The application of the “digital by default” principle—which requires that any new public service be conceived primarily in digital format—has driven this change, promoting deeper system integration and more direct access to services. Likewise, the creation of cross-cutting platforms such as gov.pt supports this logic of unification and rationalization of the State’s digital presence.
Digitalization has generated internal efficiency gains, reducing operational costs, eliminating redundancies, and freeing human resources for higher‑value tasks. At the same time, it contributes to stronger public scrutiny and reinforces trust in institutions by making processes and decisions more transparent and traceable.
As the PRR enters its final phase, the focus is increasingly shifting toward consolidating the results already achieved and ensuring the long‑term sustainability of the solutions implemented. The challenge now lies in guaranteeing that the digital transformation of the Public Administration does not end with the funding cycle, but instead becomes a permanent capability of the State to respond to the demands of an increasingly digital society.
The digital transition requires deep cultural change within institutions. Technology can only reach its full potential when accompanied by a revision of internal processes and the willingness to abandon outdated practices.
There are still significant technical and social obstacles. Digital security, for instance, is crucial: a more digital State is inevitably more exposed to risks, making consistent investment in data protection, secure infrastructure, and advanced prevention systems indispensable. Otherwise, any failure could compromise essential services and undermine citizens’ trust.
Equally important, digitalization must not exclude individuals who lack technological skills or adequate internet access. Ensuring digital inclusion means creating alternatives and support mechanisms that allow all citizens to fully benefit from public services. Finally, interoperability between legacy systems and new platforms remains a structural challenge. As it integrates systems that were previously dispersed and poorly coordinated, the public sector increasingly requires highly specialized technical expertise.
Portugal stands before a historic opportunity, thanks to the scale of the investments underway and the reformist drive we are witnessing. But digitalizing the State is more than modernizing services: it is transforming the way the country functions, decides, grows, and connects with its citizens. Seizing this opportunity requires technical capacity, but above all, a collective commitment to a truly digital future.
Source: Jornal Económico
