The European Commission is organising a series of GovTech webinars to take place in April-May 2026, designed to strengthen the European GovTech ecosystem and foster closer collaboration between innovative technology providers and public administrations across the EU.
The series will feature four online sessions: one introductory webinar presenting the latest findings from dedicated studies on key factors influencing GovTech practices, followed by three interactive ad hoc sessions shaped by the interests of GovTech innovators, public administrations, and stakeholders.
These webinars will address key themes identified through stakeholder engagement, structured around four main domains: Regulatory and Policy Frameworks, Public Procurement and Market Access, Implementation, Scaling and Operations, and Ecosystem Development and Citizen-Centric Services. Across these areas, discussions will focus on real-world GovTech implementation and lessons learned, operational and organisational challenges, best practices in collaboration between startups and public administrations, and the role of emerging technologies—including AI—in the delivery of public services.
Discover more about each session below!
GovTech Unpacked: Cross-border practices and their influencing factors from the Public and Private Sector in Europe
Public Procurement is the most common way for public administrations to acquire innovative digital solutions if not developed in-house. In this important area that accounts for 14% of the GDP in Europe, there is a need to identify and understand the influencing factors affecting the uptake of innovative digital solutions by public administrations specifically through GovTech practices to support a successful digital transition and modernisation of the public sector in Europe.
Building on previous research in the area, the Joint Research Centre and Directorate-General DIGIT of the European Commission have recently carried out 2 studies analysing GovTech practices focusing respectively on the Start-ups and SMEs, and on the Public Administrations procuring cross-border interoperable innovative public services.
The studies identified key factors influencing GovTech practices for both, the suppliers and the procurer side, related policy and operational implications. The studies provide guidelines and outline recommendations articulated in a number of actions addressing relevant stakeholders at different operational level of public governance in Europe.
Discover the studies at the following links https://interoperable-europe.ec.europa.eu/collection/public-sector-tech-watch/document/govtech-influencing-factors-common-requirements-and-recommendations and https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC145627
🔹🔹🔹
The webinar will summarise the results from both studies and their interconnections, present related policy implications, and outline recommendations addressing GovTech actors and their ecosystems on both side and different level of the value chain.
The policy implications and recommendations identified extend beyond the GovTech area and procurement. The event will provide an opportunity to appreciate the importance that policy coherence and regulatory coordination at all levels, strategic behaviour and administrative capability, market knowledge and institutional trust, as necessary preconditions for an integrated European GovTech market and for fostering technological and digital sovereignty.
The webinar will take place on 16 April, h.16:00-17:00
It will be opened, moderated and closed by representatives of the JRC/DIGIT
Prof. Dr Björn Niehaves and Dr Gerhard Klassen from University Bremen will present the studies
Implementation, scaling, and operations
The webinar seeks to examine how GovTech pilots transition into fully operational public services at scale. Envisaged topics include change management within public administrations, collaborative approaches between governments and GovTech providers, methods for assessing impact, and strategies for extending solutions across agencies and EU Member States.
The webinar will take place on 23 April, h. 10-11.30
Ecosystem development and Citizen-centric services
The webinar aims to investigate how GovTech ecosystems can foster innovation while keeping public services centred on citizens. It intends to cover ecosystem partnerships, citizen involvement in service design, and the importance of transparency, accessibility, and inclusion in cultivating trust in digital government.
The webinar will take place on 13 May, h. 14.30-16.00
Public procurement and Market access
The webinar intends to explore how governments are engaging with innovative GovTech solutions through contemporary procurement practices. It aims considering ways to enhance access for start-ups and SMEs, including new procurement models, standardised proof-of-concept frameworks, streamlined tendering processes, and cross-border initiatives such as a prospective European GovTech Seal.
The webinar will take place on 28 May, h. 10-11.30