International experiences on Interoperability The Greek Interoperability Centre (GIC) aims to promote interoperability in eGovernment and eBusiness in Southeast Europe and the Mediterranean by demonstrating state of the art interoperability solutions, contributing to interoperability standardization and research, and acting as a dissemination point for other centers. The GIC works closely with interoperability centers in Germany and the UK.

1. International experiences on Interoperability
Yannis Charalabidis
University of the Aegean
Georgian Cyber Security and ICT Innovation Conference
November 28-29, Tbilisi, Georgia

2. The Greek Interoperability Centre (GIC)
A European Research Infrastructure, supported by the FP7
Programme, launched in 2008
The centre aims at:
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Promoting Interoperability in eGovernment and eBusiness in SouthEastern Europe and the Mediterranean
Demonstrating state of the art solutions for Interoperability in Digital
Public Services
Contributing to Interoperability Standardisation and Research
Acting as a dissemination and engagement point for research centres,
administrations and enterprises.
The Centre is already in close collaboration with FOKUS (DE), NCC (UK)
and other interoperability excellence centres

3. Motivation for Interoperability in
eGovernment
Too many public organizations that need to cooperate during service
provision (i.e. in Greece 20 ministries, 13 prefectures, 52 districts, 330
municipalities, 1800 public admin. organizations, 10000 Governmental
“Points of Service” in total)
Not manageable knowledge around the services. Sometimes even the
exact number of services cannot be estimated (in Greece: more than
2,000 governmental services)
Many large- and small-scale projects that have not been based on any
interoperability standards (need for retrofit)
Most approaches to finding solutions to the interoperability challenges
are targeting technical specifications of the proposed systems
We need approaches not stopping in paper-based specifications, but
providing a real system supporting interoperability in the public sector

4. EU initiatives on interoperability
Source: European Commission (2010), European Interoperability Framework (EIF)
for European public services Version 2

5. Interoperability Standardisarion Initiatives

6. How are public services to be provided
Source: European Commission (2010), European Interoperability Framework (EIF)
for European public services Version 2

7. The Greek National Interoperability
Framework
Service Portals Standards
Government Systems
Architecture
Electronic ID Standards
Interoperability Standards
(Legal, Organisational,
Semantic, Technical)
Service Registry
Training Material

8. A systems-supported NIF
Services &
Processes
Repository
Enterprise Architecture /
Organizational Interoperability
(Guidelines for Service Documentation,
Business Process Alignment & Re-engineering ,
Legal Issues)
XML Schemas &
Core Components
Repository
Information Architecture / Semantic Interoperability
(Guidelines for XML, Standard Schemas, Codelists,
Development Tools)
Web Services
Repository & UDDI
Computational Architecture /
Technical Interoperability
(System & Components Topology, Design guidelines)
Systems Reference
Repository
Access &
Collaboration Tools
Certification Tools
“Systems” Level
Web Portals &
Multi-channel
Access
Specifications
(Accessibility,
Ergonomics,
Structure, GCL)
Technical
Authentication
Interoperability
& Security
Specifications
Specifications
(Communication, (eID, Trust levels,
WS stack, storage
authentication
standards,
mechanisms,
vertical standards)
encryption)
Certification Framework
(For organisations, systems, data and people)
“Standards & Specifications” Level
Co-ordination Strategy
(Vision and Strategy for
Interoperability & e-Government,
Goals & Metrics,
Maturity Matrix & Roadmap for PA)
Co-ordination Activities
(Marketing & Comm. Plan,
Co-ordination & Acceptance
Mechanisms)
Training Activities
(Skills Management,
Training Process,
Training Material)
Maintenance Processes
(Update, Change Management,
Versioning Processes)
“Coordination” Level

9. The Contents of the Interoperability
Registry

10. Interoperability Registry Architecture
Services Registry
(Authorized
Access)
Interoperability
Framework
Web Site
(Free Access)
Registry UDDI
Interface
(Limited Access:
Systems)
Common Access Control and Application Engine
Process
Modeling
Tools
(incl. COTS
software)
Ontology
Management,
Population
& Reporting
Tools
XML
Management
Tools
(incl. COTS
software)
Relational Database Management System
BPMN Process
Models
Services,
Documents,
Systems &
Organizations
Metadata
Web Services
XML Schemas &
Core Components

11. The Interoperability Registry in service
composition and provision

12. How to develop an eGov
Interoperability Infrastructure
Phase Α
Phase Β
Phase C
Analysis of current
situation and of the
international
experience and
practices
Consultation with
enterprises and public
organisations
XML Schemas,
Codelists development
Consultation with
contractors of
eGovernment/Interop
erability projects
Draft Version of the
Framework
Interoperability registry
development (Metadata
templates and XML
schemas)
First Public Version of
the Framework
Training,dissemination
material
Incorporation of the
framework in IT
projects and systems
Framework
maintenance from
public organisations
Semi-annual versions
Training of PA staff

13. The Interoperability Registry in
Service Redesign

14. The Greek eGIF today
500 pages with standards for all levels
eGOV Ontology, XML Schemas for basic public documents
1 public web site
1 interoperability infrastructure (services registry), for administrations
Training Material (9 modules - 3 levels - 200 hrs)
One University Post-graduate course for Framework Experts
Certification Material (for administrations, industries, practitioners,
training centres)
10,000 pages supporting documentation
Best eGovernment Paper
Nominee, 42nd HICSS
Conference, 1/2009

15. Lessons Learnt
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Nation-wide initiatives for one-stop service provision have to combine content
syndicating portals, service registries and relevant standardisation in a
coordinated effort.
Service digitization has to be coupled with transformation, in order to ensure
service delivery to citizens but also long-term growth and sustainability.
Interoperability standardisation has to be supported by collaborative platforms,
than just be in paper format, in order to assist diffusion within the public
sector.
Training and dissemination has to get a significant amount of a large
eGovernment project effort and budget, as diffusion within the public sector
and citizens is of key importance.
Interoperability Infrastructures need to be supported by appropriate changes to
the legal framework at national level in order to be applied in e-Government
services.
The follow-the-service approach is a very valuable tool, greatly assisting
focusing on actual and measurable goals.

16. More ?
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ERMIS results have been effectively promoted towards standardization bodies,
such as CEN/ISSS, SEMIC.EU, IDABC EIF 2.0 and ETSI
Applications now ongoing in Lithuania, Thailand, Western Balkans, designed by
Greek Interoperability Centre
Interoperability Infrastructures in cross-country lighthouse projects (STORK,
PEPPOL, SPOCS)
Best eGovernment Paper
Nominee, 42nd HICSS
Conference, 1/2009
Best BPM Application, OMG/BP
Trends Competition 3/2009

17. The top-10 countries
in Western Asia
Georgia:
72nd in the world,
9th in the region

18. The top-10 countries
in the world
The European “model”

19. Conclusions and Next Steps
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Interoperability in digital public services cannot be achieved without process reorganization, legal system re-structuring and data re-work
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Interoperability Infrastructures can greatly assist in driving innovation in
eGovernment, rather than just providing the “standards”
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At European level, the coordinated management of pan-european services is
needed (Services Directive, SEMIC, CEN/ISSS). Interoperability Infrastructures
will have to be deployed at cross-country level.
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In Greece, more emphasis laid now on tools like:
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XSDGenerator: automated XSDs development and management
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Tools for Management of eGIF Standards and Specifications
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Tools for Assessment of public sites and administrations
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Advanced eParticipation functionalities for governmental committees
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Interoperability solution sourcing and deployment needs specialised centres of
excellence
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Go on – you can do it !