Niedersachsen relies on TU Braunschweig’s expertise in digital law Modernising administration requires digitally compatible laws

The Niedersachsen Ministry of the Interior and Sport has launched a research project in the context of administrative digitalisation together with the ‘Digital Innovation and Transformation Law Hub’ at Technische Universität Braunschweig. The aim of this cooperation is to redesign and adapt administrative law in order to create a future-proof administrative digital law.

Prof. Anne Paschke of the Digital Innovation and Transformation Law Hub (DigITL Hub) of the Institute of Legal Studies, which researches the intersection of law and digitalisation, with a particular focus on the digitalisation of public administration, is responsible for project management. The research centre will carry out both accompanying and basic research as part of the project. The cooperation will last for three years.

The head of the ‘Digital Innovation and Transformation Law Hub’, Prof. Anne Paschke, and the IT Commissioner of the Niedersachsen state government, Dr. Horst Baier, signed the cooperation agreement. Photo credits: Niedersachsen Ministry of the Interior and Sport

The collaboration with TU Braunschweig aims to develop and improve mechanisms to ensure that the modernisation of the register and the digitisation of administration are given due consideration in future legislative processes. In addition, public events are planned with regional administrations to share knowledge.

Prof. Paschke explains: “The dogma of existing administrative law comes from a time when paper-based work was the norm. However, current thinking on administrative digitalisation must take into account the technical possibilities and socio-economic realities. This re-adjustment is necessary in order to continue to meet the requirements of the Basic Law in terms of safeguarding civil liberties and to meet the constitutional prohibition of insufficient action.”

Dr. Horst Baier, IT Commissioner of the Niedersachsen state government (CIO), explains: “The research project aims to show how existing legal barriers to digitisation can be overcome in order to make our laws fit for the digital age. In this way, we will adapt the law to the digital needs of the future – and not the other way around.”

Excerpt from the press release of the Niedersachsen Ministry of the Interior and Sport.