Nordic and Baltic countries are jointly examining the potential for machine translation to facilitate cross-border daily life

In 2022, the focus in the project ‘World’s smoothest cross-border mobility and daily life through digitalisation’, pursued in conjunction with the Finnish Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers, will be on examining the potential for machine translation, drafting of a data exchange model and preparation of a cost-benefit analysis. The aim of the project is to streamline the daily life and mobility of citizens and companies across borders by facilitating the exchange of data between the authorities in the Nordic countries. A baseline study report on the current state of cross-border daily life was published at the end of 2021 as part of the project. The feasibility of the development proposals presented in the report will be assessed in the project during 2022.

One of the challenges highlighted in the baseline study report concerned the fact that legislative data and details of study record are inadequately available in languages other than the official languages of the countries concerned. This makes cross-border daily life more difficult in many ways. For this reason, the feasibility of machine translation will be studied in 2022, and it will also be examined which machine translation tools could be useful in the translation of study record data and statute information. With machine translation tools, information could be translated into several languages in a cost-effective manner.

Making more extensive use of Electronic data exchange solution EMREX in the Nordic and Baltic countries, and the benefits of making electronic prescriptions (e-prescriptions) available across borders between all Nordic and Baltic countries will also be examined during 2022. A preliminary survey to create a common legislative information search for the Nordic and Baltic countries is also under way.

A common data exchange model will also be prepared as part of the project. It will create a framework for a solution model, which can be used in situations where the aim is to develop the exchange of data between the countries. The model will provide solutions for how interoperability challenges can be solved and prevented, irrespective of whether they concern technical, legal, semantic or organisational issues. The work on the model is scheduled to be completed in 2023.

Inquiries

Digital and Population Data Services Agency, Torbjörn Sandell, Chief Specialist, tel. +358 295 53 5299, firstname.lastname[at]dvv.fi

Mobility of study record data:

• Finnish National Agency for Education, Riikka Rissanen, Project Manager, tel. +358 295 33 1059, firstname.lastname[at]oph.fi

Mobility of health data:

• Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Minna Sinkkonen, Development Manager, tel. +358 295 24 7032, firstname.lastname[at]thl.fi

Mobility of legislative data:

• Ministry of Justice, Tiina Husso, Project Coordinator, tel. +358 295 15 0287, firstname.lastname[at]gov.fi

​​​​​​​What is the project about?

Finland served as the President of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2021. The Presidency project ‘World’s smoothest cross-border mobility and daily life through digitalisation’ was launched at the start of 2021. The aim of the project, which will continue until 2023, is to streamline the daily life and mobility of citizens and companies across borders by enhancing the exchange of information between the authorities in Nordic and Baltic countries. The project will create an operating model and good practices to strengthen and enhance cross-border exchange of data. The project will be carried out between 2021 and 2023.

The Digital and Population Data Services Agency will play a key role in the implementation of the project. It will be in charge of the Presidency project and coordinate the work of the project’s working groups. At the start of the project, a report on the current state of citizens’ daily life across borders will be prepared. A common operating model to strengthen and enhance cross-border exchange of data will be the main outcome of the project.

The project is owned by the Ministry of Finance, which also steers its implementation. The administrative branches of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Ministry of Education and Culture, and the Ministry of Justice are also involved in the project implementation process.