Kista Borough Council in Stockholm is building the Sweden's first e-parliament with the help of Teamware Group. The interactive solution, enhancing local e-democracy and utilizing the Teamware Pl@za® technology, will offer Kista residents a virtual meeting place and an effective tool for participating local decision-making.

Kista Borough Council has for a long time been at the forefront when it comes to innovative IT solutions to increase empowerment among its residents. Already in 1997, a Kista Portal was started, which provided opportunities for two-way communication. Kista's e-parliament project, where all public, digitalized information and services can be linked together through Teamware Pl@za started in spring 2001 and will now be made accessible round-the-clock. With this, Kista meets the basic requirements for being a 24-hour public administration.

"After having thoroughly investigated the technology market for web community-building, we know that Teamware has the best tool for effective e-democracy. Teamware Pl@za is based on a single platform, with an open interface, so we can add all the functions and qualities that we want for deepening democracy. We've found a tool that has already been developed and is in line with our thinking - that all municipal residents should have access to our services 24-hours a day," states Gail Watt, IT specialist at Kista Borough Council and the driving force behind the project.

The interactive web solution makes it easier for residents to participate in the democratic decision-making process. Via www.kista.info the Kista-residents can participate in web-based discussions and various e-surveys, exchange opinions with local politicians, take initiatives and take part in different polls. With intelligent resident card, digital forms and an increased number of interactive services the Borough Council will be able to enhance its 'customer-service' and increase opportunities for democratic engagement. With the help of a personal signature services, information and knowledge can be tailored according to individual needs and requirements.

"We would not be able to achieve our goal - to meet with our residents on the web - without the new platform. Different interest groups will be able to communicate among and with each other and exert more influence in the making of decisions concerning local issues. Teamware Pl@za is a technically robust tool that helps the users of the web find what they are looking for simply and easily after they have logged in," continues Gail Watt.

Press contacts:
Erik Andersson, Teamware Group AB
Tel. +46 (0)8 441 54 00
e-mail: erik.andersson@teamware.com

Gail Watt, IT-specialist, Kista Borough Council
Tel. +46 (0)8 508 01 357
e-mail: gail.watt@kista.stockholm.se
www.kista.com/e-demokrati/