In recent years, central and local governments all over the world have begun to finance and operate eGovernment initiatives using a range of new forms of collaboration. The underlying imperatives causing these changes have included tightened budgets, the need for increased accountability, and demands for efficiency. The models' potential benefits include growth and employment, faster learning and innovation, and more adaptive government. Indeed, different pricing models that are flexible and adaptable can help to create additional revenue and take-up.

The models themselves range from new models for public service delivery to eGovernment projects in the the public sector. They include public-private partnerships, franchising, and gains-sharing. The financial instruments used include the raising of bonds and loans. At a finer level of detail, among their mechanisms are advertising as a means of raising revenues for a particular service, and payments by citizens for premium services such as mobile Services. The kinds of partners involved in these new models have been private companies – both large corporations and small- and medium-sized companies; non-governmental organisations, professional associations and community organisations; and the public at large whose members have become engaged in crowd-sourcing activities.

This special issue of the ePractice journal focuses on possible new business models for eGovernment. Submissions – particularly those that are based on investigation and show evidence – are to be welcomed on:

• real-world eGovernment modifications to business models in both the European Union and internationally, including the necessary supporting legal and regulatory frameworks, and public accountability and reassurance (trust) mechanisms.

• examples of alternative eGovernment business models, such as gains-sharing – including benefits-funded models and shared savings models

• the enablers and barriers, and cost-benefit analysis of new business models in eGovernment.

The issue editors will be Diane Whitehouse and Patrick Wauters.

Papers should be submitted directly to vassilia.orfanou@eurodyn.com with a copy to epractice@eurodyn.com by 30 April 2012.