The Rootcode Connect 2025: AI in e-Governance Forum was recently held at Fotografiska Tallinn, Estonia, gathering government leaders, policymakers, and decision-makers from across Europe to explore the transformative role of artificial intelligence in digital governance.
This year’s focus on “AI in e-Governance” highlighted the significant shift in how governments are reimagining public service delivery using AI technologies. Rootcode, which has ongoing collaborations with three EU governments and has secured several public sector contracts in Estonia, has played a vital role in developing essential national AI infrastructure. Notably, the company has contributed to the government’s model training platform, now utilized by state agencies, and is currently building the next generation of Bürokratt—Estonia’s citizen engagement platform designed to streamline public interaction with government services. These initiatives reflect Rootcode’s commitment to driving efficient, citizen-centric, and trustworthy digital transformation in the public sector.
“AI is no longer optional for public services; it’s becoming the backbone of citizen engagement, service delivery, and decision-making,” said Alagan Mahalingam, Founder & CEO of Rootcode.
The forum featured keynote presentations from leading industry figures. Merle Paula Videvik, Product Manager at the Estonian Information System Authority (RIA), spoke about developing resilient digital identity infrastructure for the future. Luukas Ilves, Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation and former CIO of the Estonian Government, led a session on “Agentic AI” and its implications for the next stage of digital governance.
Paulo Calçada, CEO and Board Member of Porto Digital, shared insights into how the city of Porto is leveraging AI to enable smarter governance, enhance public services, and advance its digital transformation goals. Liina Vahtras, Managing Director of e-Residency and Board Member of Enterprise Estonia, discussed Estonia’s e-Residency initiative as a global benchmark for borderless entrepreneurship and digital innovation. Mats Hultin, Board Director at Rootcode and former CIO at Ericsson and Saab, explored how principles of scalability, resilience, and security from the enterprise sector can be applied to reimagine governance in the digital era.
The event concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Thiru Dinesh, Head of AI at Rootcode. The panel featured Ville Sirviö (CEO, NIIS), Markko Liutkevičius (Head of AI, RIA), and Peeter Smitt (Managing Director, Nortal), who addressed the challenges and opportunities in building transparent, ethical, and citizen-centric AI systems for public services.
Rootcode is a global technology company specializing in software product engineering, with operations in Sri Lanka and Estonia. Through AI and advanced technology, Rootcode delivers impactful digital solutions that empower governments and enterprises worldwide. For more information about Rootcode and its services, visit www.rootcode.io.
Photo captions:
- Mats Hultin, Board Director at Rootcode and former CIO at Ericsson & Saab.
- From left to right: Thiru Dinesh – Head of AI, Rootcode; Ville Sirviö – CEO of the Nordic Institute for Interoperability Solutions (NIIS); Markko Liutkevičius – Head of AI at Information System Authority, Estonia; Peeter Smitt – Managing Director, Nortal.
- Liina Vahtras – Managing Director, e-Residency, Board Member, Enterprise Estonia.
- Alagan Mahalingam, Founder & CEO of Rootcode.
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