The Service Innovation Lab was an all-of-government neutral space enabling agencies to collaboratively innovate to make it easier for people to access government services. It worked to direct funding towards systemic improvements, horizontal efforts around shared goals, high-value reusable components and actionable innovation for participating public sector organisations.

While the lab closed on 30 June 2020, its tools, projects, and lessons are still available and serve as valuable resources for others working on improving government services.

OPSI is actively compiling an international catalogue of public sector innovation networks and recently held a meet-up of network conveners to share common experiences and insights, from which we have written up a summary of our findings. You can also view our growing catalogue and add your own network here. 
 

In partnership with the Danish National Centre for Public Sector Innovation (COI), we produced a scan of Denmark's public sector innovation system. This scan reflects on the innovation journey of Denmark and their future possibilities stewarding anticipatory and mission-oriented innovation.

Together with the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, we developed a mission-oriented innovation toolbox and mission design canvas, then invited organisations to a simulation to test mission-based approaches on the real cases.  See the toolbox and read our blog on the learnings and results.

• Design in Public Sector Webinar: How to build an innovation culture, 20 April 2021 at 2:00pm WET - Together with the Municipality of Oslo's Forum for Service Design, the International Design in Government Community is hosting a webinar addressing how to build a culture for innovation in the public sector.
• Government Capabilities for 21st Century Challenges: What Types of Innovations Do We Need?, 21 April 2021 at 10:00am in Paris - Join author Jaideep Prabhu, government innovators Ammaarah Martinus, Anir Chowdhury and Micco Gronholm and innovation activists Richa Shrivastava and Vaibhav Chhabra to discuss public sector challenges and innovation opportunities.  
• The EU Commission's Public Consultation on its future Interoperability Policy is taking place. This initiative has the potential to fundamentally improve the EU public sector. Have your say until 26 April 2021.
• Enhancement-Oriented Innovation Workshop on 11 May 2021 at 14:00-17:00 (GMT+1) - Hosted by OPSI and the Government of Austria and supported by the EU's Horizon 2020 program, this workshop will provide a theoretical overview of OPSI's Innovation Facets Model, showcase Austria's work on enhancement-oriented innovation, and address topics ranging from behavioural insights in last-mile service delivery to the contribution of digitalisation to public sector efficiency. 
• ANZSOG and Centre For Public Impact Series Webinar: Reimagining Government: Learning to Listen Again, 13 May 2021 at 5:00pm AEDT - Learn how governments can effectively listen to and build trust in all people experiencing complex challenges linked to the COVID-19 pandemic to develop responses and policies that work for everyone. 
• The Creative Bureaucracy Festival, 13 - 17 September 2021 - The Creative Bureaucracy Festival brings together bureaucrats and their allies to celebrate outstanding innovation in the public sector and its contribution to a better, more sustainable, and more just world.