Submissions closed on 31 August 2026 - Discover the winners with us at SEMIC 2026 in Dublin!
Through the Best Cases Award, the PSTW aims to foster a positive cycle of knowledge-sharing and recognition around impactful use cases of emerging technologies within the European public sector and to increase visibility to Europe’s most innovative public administrations.
Building on the success of its 2025 edition, the Public Sector Tech Watch (PSTW) Best Cases Award returned in 2026 to highlight how emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, and other innovative solutions, are reshaping public administration across Europe. This year’s Award showcases concrete examples of digital innovation that improve public service delivery, drive administrative transformation, and support more effective policy making, while encouraging the exchange of knowledge and good practices between public administrations.
Following the positive response to the 2025 edition, which attracted 57 submissions, the 2026 Award has also recorded a notable increase in participation, with 65 cases submitted by organisations from across Europe. This significant increase reflects the growing interest of public sector organisations in adopting emerging technologies to improve services and administrative processes, while also sharing innovative approaches and experiences with peers across European administrations.
Key highlights of the 2026 edition
Before we reveal the winners at the SEMIC Conference in Dublin on 30 November 2026, let's explore some insights from this year's submissions.
- ⚙️ Technology: Artificial Intelligence dominated this year's submissions, featuring in 40 cases (62%), followed by Digital Twins with 12 cases.
- 🌍 Geographic reach: 65 cases were submitted by organisations from 21 countries, with Italy and Spain accounting for almost half of all submissions.
- 💡 Award categories: Administrative Innovation was the most popular category, with 29 submissions, followed by Service Delivery Impact with 25 and Policy Making with 11.
- 🏛️ Administration levels: Sub-national administrations accounted for 54% of submissions, with local and regional authorities contributing 19 and 16 cases respectively.
- 🚆 Areas of innovation: Submissions covered a wide range of public-sector functions, with General Public Services leading the way, followed by Economic Affairs, Education and Environmental Protection.
All submitted cases
🏆The final winners will be presented at the SEMIC Conference, taking place on 30 November 2026 in Dublin.
Stay tuned to discover the winning cases and the innovative solutions shaping the future of public administration across Europe!
🔎 In the meantime, have a look at all submitted cases below and find them on the PSTW Cases Viewer!
