In a recent GovTech4All Café session, experts from various countries gathered to discuss the integration of emerging technologies in civic participation. The meeting highlighted the potential of using technology to foster democratic values and improve public engagement.
The Project Overview
In the Café, colleagues from the OECD Observatory of Public Sector Innovation (OPSI) and Digicampus presented Improving civic participation through emerging technologies. The project, led by three national organizations from Portugal, Spain, and the Netherlands, aims to address the erosion of democratic values by leveraging technology to enhance civic participation. The initiative is funded by the European Commission's Technical Support Instrument, with the OECD acting as implementation partner. This project adopts a collaborative approach to identify civic participation challenges and co-create potential solutions, such as profs of concept or prototypes.
Key Insights from the Meeting
- Emerging technologies and civic participation: The meeting discussed ways these technologies offer (and demand) innovative ways to involve citizens in decision-making processes and enhance the overall democratic experience. The project has prepared a state-of-the-art report on the uses of emerging technologies, in particular artificial intelligence, blockchain, and VR/AR, to improve civic participation.
- Challenges and opportunities: The meeting underscored the complexities of integrating technology into civic participation, ranging from technical challenges to the difficulty of embedding novel engagement practices into traditional policy structures. However, on the ground experiences demonstrate that these technologies have huge potential to make citizens’ voices more heard and address the gaps existing between citizens and decision-makers.
- Action-oriented and collaborative approach: A significant aspect of the project is its emphasis on collaborative and action-oriented approaches. By engaging public sector organizations, civil society, academia, and tech developers, the initiative seeks to engage the innovation ecosystem that supports civic innovation.
Practical Applications
The project is not just theoretical; it involves practical applications and prototypes. The team has conducted extensive research and is now moving towards co-creating solutions with stakeholders. During an iterative process, challenge owners (i.e. public sector organisations) will be able to refine their challenges before a Call for Developers is open in December to invite tech developers to apply to bring their contributions. All the selected stakeholders are then going to get the opportunity to participate in Co-creation Bootcamp planned for February in Lisbon. The bootcamp will bring together developers, relevant stakeholders and challenge owners to develop demonstrative prototypes that can be piloted and implemented, effectively leveraging emerging technologies to address civic participation challenges.
Conclusion
The GovTech4all Café session provided valuable insights into the potential of emerging technologies to enhance civic participation. By fostering collaboration and innovation, the project aims to create sustainable solutions that strengthen democratic values and improve public engagement. If you want to learn more about this project, you can get additional details here.
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This blog post captures the core discussions from our latest session, highlighting the importance of citizen empowerment, data privacy, breaking silos, and the future of transparent digital governance. Together, we’re paving the way for a digital future that works for everyone.