Event

Roundtable: Strengthening European civic tech for better digital citizen participation in the age of GenAI

Location

Side-event, Political Tech Summit, Berlin

Schedule

Friday 23.01.2026 10.30-12.30

Aino Aittasalo ja Topias Dean, Sitra

Across Europe, trust in government remains fragile, yet expectations for the role of digital technology are high. 68% of respondents in a recent Eurobarometer survey expect digital technology to be important in democratic life by 2030. Now is therefore a pivotal moment for civic tech to deliver better digital citizen participation: accessible, easy-to-use participation tools can narrow the gap between citizens and government. AI-enabled approaches can build new bridges, enhance deliberation, help citizens navigate information- and policy complexity, and expand the capacity of administrations to hear and use citizen input.

Hosted by Sitra and Bertelsmann Stiftung with the participation of OECD representatives, this session convenes civil servants and policymakers from regional, national and EU-level as well as participation practitioners and civil society. Together we will identify what it practically needs to strengthen the take-up, development, impactful use, and maintenance of civic tech for enhanced and more effective digital citizen participation across Europe.

The roundtable will be held as a pre-event to the Political Tech Summit taking place on 23–24 January in Berlin.

More information, please contact Sanna-Kaisa Saloranta.

Sanna-Kaisa Saloranta

Specialist, Democracy Team Lead, Sitra International Programmes

Kirsi Hantula

Senior Lead, Programmes

Hannu-Pekka Ikäheimo

Programme Director, Programmes