The conference explored innovative methods and developments in current public administration practices and hosted a PhD symposium where the latest research in the field was discussed.

Professor Giovanni Azzone, organising committee representative and former Rector of Politecnico di Milano said, "We were really happy to host the 2017 EGPA Conference at Politecnico di Milano, a leading technical university in Italy. The link between technology and innovation and the efficiency and effectiveness of public services are subjects of ever-growing importance, especially in Europe.

"Innovation – through digitalisation of processes and big-data analytics – is changing the way we offer public services, allowing high standards even in times of financial resource shortages. At the same time, the quality of public services is a key driver of the competitiveness of the innovation ecosystem. The 2017 EGPA Conference was a fantastic opportunity to deepen this link and, more generally, to discuss how to achieve better public administration in Europe."

The European Group for Public Administration (EGPA) is the leading society for the study of public administration, public management, and administrative services in Europe.

Edoardo Ongaro, the EGPA President, said, "The 2017 EGPA conference explored innovations in areas of public administration and management. These include human-resources management, performance and strategic management, and disciplinary approaches to public administration in areas such as law, sociology, and public policy."

"The EGPA has a rich history of engaging and collaborating systematically with a wide range of institutions across Europe, from EU institutions and agencies to the network of Public Administration Departments (EUPAN), to OECD and other institutions. It supports the efforts of the International Institute of Administrative Sciences towards becoming the ‘global platform for public administration’ by bringing the European voice into the global debate."

To celebrate its fortieth anniversary, which was in 2015, EGPA has launched the publication of a book titled "Public Administration in Europe: The contribution of EGPA". It reflects on the contribution EGPA has provided to the development of the study and practice of public administration and management in Europe over the past forty years - and what it can contribute over the next four decades.