In recent days, the statements by Vittorio Colao, Minister for Technological Innovation and the Digital Transition, have been marked by a strong optimism.
In a recent article we have given you an account of the fact that Colao, in a press conference, said that within 5 years the 5G technology will even be available for 99% of the Italian population. And this despite palpable delays compared to other European countries, which required EU funding.
Now the minister has set another date, even closer to us: 2023. Next year, the minister said, we will have digital driving licenses on our smartphones. And it will only be the first step towards what for Vittorio Colao will be a digital wallet valid throughout Europe.
Let’s find out all the points of the digitization of our documents according to the minister for technological innovation and digital transition. And we also see their times and ways of implementation.
“A digital Schengen”
The digital Italy plan takes on a European dimension. And Minister Vittorio Colao, not new to high-sounding proclamations, said that “The goal is to create a real digital Schengen”.
Translated: the minister is thinking of an Italian digital license that can be exhibited via QR code in any country on the continent. Likewise, anyone in Europe will be able to show their driving license in any EU state directly from their smartphone. The digital license is a document already active in some American states.
The digital wallet
But the digital license will be only one aspect of that digital wallet that the Minister for Technological Innovation and Digital Transition spoke about at the headquarters of the Foreign Press Association.
The real goal is to create a complete digital wallet, with European validity. But how will it work, and what documents will it contain?
The enhancement of the IO app
Colao made it known that the digital wallet will be hosted by the IO app.
“It will take a year and a half. We will greatly enhance the app in the next 6-9 months. We will ensure that the next step is to make the digital wallet a European project. “
Il The result, which according to Vittorio Colao will therefore be full in the course of 2023, will allow us to exhibit a series of documents contained in a single app. Therefore, a digital license, but also an identity card. And not only.
The digital wallet will also contain the electoral card and the electronic health record, with all the information on a person’s state of health. In addition to personal certificates, tax code, health card and more.
The electronic identity card in post offices
In recent months, the release of the green pass via Qr has shown not only the virtues of digitizing documents. But also the possibility of greatly reducing waiting times.
For this reason, the ministry for technological innovation and that of the interior are working on the project that will also allow post offices to issue electronic identity cards.
Also because the numbers are growing strongly: between January 2021 and January 2022, citizens with Cie increased from 18.7 to 29 million.
The 20 billion from the Pnrr
This and other digitization initiatives are made possible by the 20 billion euros of funds from the NRP (National Recovery and Resilience Plan).
Of the 20 billion, 15 have already been allocated. There are 11 billion euros for fiber, 5G and other services. The 4 billion dedicated to Space will instead be used for Earth observation projects, with the aim of putting satellite data at the service of citizens.
The first results
The first data from digitization are positive.
From January 2021 to June 2022, the digital services of the Public Administration grew by more than 200%. 31 million Italians have obtained digital identity through Spid, and 30 million have downloaded the IO app. In addition, the transitions with PagoPa went from 185 to 528 million.
Thanks to a smart platform available online, 77% of Italian municipalities and 60% of schools have requested contributions for digital transformation projects.
These numbers have led Minister Vittorio Colao to say that “The path of the reforms has been mapped out, no future government will be able to dismantle it”.
Speaking specifically of the innovation and digital plan, the minister called it “taken off”. And he added that in 4-5 years “Italy will be a better place to live”.