Workshops
Day 1 - March 13th
WS1A: Ecosistema digitale urbano di Milano (ITA)
Place: Workshop Room A
Language: Italian
Chair: Sara Belli, Milano City Council
Co-chair: Layla Pavone, Milano City Council
Panelists: Laura Pezzoli, A2A; Laura Mancino, ATM; Anna Bruscia, ATM
Facilitators: Marcello Coppa, Feel; Mauro Tommasi, Feel
Abstract
Il progetto Ecosistema Digitale Urbano (EDU) di Milano ha l'obiettivo di creare un'infrastruttura digitale integrata per valorizzare i dati dei diversi attori della smart city per migliorare la qualità dei servizi urbani e favorire la partecipazione attiva di cittadini e stakeholder. In questo workshop ci concentreremo sulla mappatura degli use case, un'attività strategica volta a identificare e analizzare le principali applicazioni e scenari d'uso della piattaforma EDU, garantendo un allineamento con le esigenze della città e dei suoi utenti.Attraverso un approccio collaborativo, esploreremo le possibili aree di intervento del progetto, dalle soluzioni per la mobilità intelligente alla gestione efficiente delle risorse urbane, fino ai servizi per cittadini e imprese. Verranno costituiti dei gruppi di lavoro su 3 temi:
- Una Città inclusiva
- Una Città fiorente
- Una Città vivibile
I gruppi di lavoro saranno facilitati tramite metodologie di design thinking per generare e discutere possibili casi d’uso per applicazioni data-driven a servizio della Città e dei suoi stakeholder. Saranno esplorate le prospettive di diversi gruppi di cittadini e city user e saranno discussi gli impatti di diversi scenari futuri. Il workshop si rivolge a rappresentanti dell’amministrazione, della società civile, fornitori di servizi tecnologici, cittadini interessati ed esperti di innovazione digitale, con l'intento di raccogliere contributi, validare le proposte esistenti e favorire un ecosistema digitale urbano inclusivo e sostenibile.
Goals
L'obiettivo del workshop è costruire una visione condivisa sugli use case prioritari, identificare aree opportunità e relativi attori chiave e tracciare il percorso per la loro implementazione efficace.
WS1B: Designing Inclusive Public Services in the era of AI
Place: Workshop Room B
Language: English
Chair: Bruno Monteiro, OECD
Facilitators: Seong Ju Park, OECD; Francesca Carella, Feel; Daniele Pirozzi, Feel
Panelists:
- Patrizia Saroglia, Fondazione Brodolini
- Giacomo Grassi, INPS
Abstract
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to push the boundaries of automation, simulation and interaction in natural language, it opens new opportunities to increase efficiency, effectiveness and personalization in public service delivery. Hence, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility has become a critical challenge. This workshop aims to explore strategies for creating public services that are equitable, transparent, and responsive to the diverse needs of citizens.
Participants will take away a set of practical tools to design public services prioritize accessibility and inclusion as core principles:
- OECD’s Public Services Wind Tunnel toolkit: a hands-on package based on rapid prototyping methodology, rooted in human-rights approaches, that enables participants to rapidly iterate on service ideas, test assumptions, and ensure alignment with the needs of diverse user groups.
- An AI ethics checklist: a practical guidance tool to designing AI-driven public services that leave no one behind, ensuring compliance with evolving regulatory frameworks and ethical guidelines.
- Lessons learned from a case of adoption of AI at INPS.
WS1C: Economie locali: turismo e made in Italy (ITA)
Place: Main Hall
Language: Italian
Chair: Maurizio Trezzi, IULM
Co-chair: Michele Pianetta, VP Anci Piemonte
Facilitator: Simone de Battisti, Feel
Panelists:
- Saverio Mucci, MasterCard
- Sara Coletti Moglia, Yes Milano
- Rocco Orefice, Historic Trademarks of Italy Association
- Giovanna Mavellia, Confcommercio Lombardia
- Michele Sebastiano Barca, Lombardy Region
- Barbara Foglia, MUMAC museimprese
- Bianca Bronzino, ARET - Pugliapromozione
- Adriana Defina, Geniux
- Alessio Pisa, Instilla
- Carlo Bianchessi, Lombardy Region
Abstract
Valorizzare una vocazione turistica è ambizione diffusa, perché corrisponde ad aspettative di molteplici stakeholder (sostenere l'economia locale, aumentare le risorse economiche a disposizione dell'amministrazione, intervenire su infrastrutture ed i servizi, ottenere visibilità esterna e mediatica).Una parte importante delle politiche per il turismo è l'attività di marketing territoriale e di comunicazione esterna che, se integrata in un orizzonte narrativo e di servizi coordinati riesce a trasformare il territorio in brand, un valore superiore alla somma delle sue parti. Alcuni elementi la hanno resa sempre più complessa:
- Il turismo, o meglio, i turismi sono diventati un mercato globale, sempre più sofisticato, ed articolato, competitivo ed soggetto alle dinamiche economiche generali;
- La digitalizzazione del marketing, il ruolo attivo e disintermediato di ogni tipo di operatore e dei clienti (turisti) stessi;
- L’influenza delle piattaforme e dei modelli di business a piattaforma oltre che delle scelte strategiche dei vettori aerei e degli altri mezzi di connessione;
Costruire un brand di territorio richiede l’allineamento di molti attori pubblici e privati, delle risorse, nuova professionalità per governance degli strumenti tecnologici.
Ovvero, è fondamentale una organizzazione strutturata per l'impostazione, la pianificazione, la gestione e il coordinamento: informazioni (dettagliate, tempestive su tutta la catena del valore), e tecnologie ne sono gli assi portanti.Negli ultimi anni si sono aggiunti altri fattori critici (over turismo, conflitti con gli interessi delle popolazioni residenti, diversi tipi di competizione e di rendite, i racconti delle esperienze di viaggio facilmente accessibili in rete), e trasformativi come i cambiamenti climatici che rendono più difficili le estati in città, trasformano i paesaggi montuosi o invernali, aprono opportunità nuove - estate al mare in Olanda?).
Oltre ad essere attrattivi i territori devono essere accoglienti. La qualità della esperienza in ogni sua componente è rilevante secondo gli standard del pubblico a cui ci si rivolge. Riguarda sia i servizi turistici in senso stretto (qualità della ospitalità, informazioni e proposte di esperienze, mobilità locale, collegamenti) che i servizi pubblici (sicurezza, sanità, gestione dei rifiuti, qualità dell’ambiente).
Una strategia di attrazione ed accoglienza turistica sostenibile - in tutte le accezioni - sia per località affermate che per quelle “wanna be” è una politica di sviluppo del territorio. Un elemento aggiuntivo riguarda gli asset del “Made in Italy”, ovvero l'integrazione della storia manifatturiera italiana negli asset di Public Branding. Primi riferimenti sono i marchi iconici e storici d'Italia, i Musei Aziendali, ma non solo.
Le medesime imprese possono essere parte di percorsi esperienziali, così come, in forme originali da creare, anche la presenza di prodotti o di know how in luoghi e tempi fuori dalle mura aziendali. Questa integrazione tra mondi diversi non solo può caratterizzare i territori in modo più specifico verso i turisti, ma anche valorizzare l'identità di questi turisti che possono essere consumatori, professionisti, clienti, talenti, investitori e quindi rafforzare il “Brand Italia”, e quello delle sue eccellenze e storie. Gli impatti possono essere i più sorprendenti.
Goals
In questo workshop multistakeholder analizzeremo, con una conversazione professionalmente moderata, la sfida dello sviluppo del territorio ancorato al turismo ed al made in Italy sulla base di informazioni qualificate, esperienze, casi, opportunità possibili grazie a nuove tecnologie.All’interno di uno schema strategico costruiremo linee guida per impostare e gestire al meglio una strategia di sviluppo del territorio orientata al turismo e le sue componenti operative, includendo esigenze e gli asset degli altri attori sociali, tra cui in particolare le vocazioni produttive del territorio (Made in Italy).Il workshop toccherà anche il tema degli impatti locali dei grandi eventi:
- Giubileo del 2025
- Olimpiadi e le Paralimpiadi invernali di Milano Cortina 2026
Il workshop affronterà i seguenti temi:
- Strategie e governance
Fattori critici di successo nella definizione delle strategie di valorizzazione degli asset turistici
Stakeholder chiave
Modelli di governance per la definizione e l’implementazione di strategie turistiche multi-livello
- Tecnologie disponibili ed utili
Pianificazione e attrazione: analisi dei flussi e dati per il turismo
Esperienza turistica: customer experience end to end
- Collegamenti con aree di policy abilitanti (sicurezza, mobilità, salute, ambiente,...)
WS4B: Il ruolo del digitale nella sfida dell’integrity, dell’SDG16 e della governance per la PA: punti di vista e prospettive - invite only (ITA)
Place: Workshop Room B
Language: Italian
Chair: Enzo Argante, Forbes Italia
Facilitator: Elena Bellistracci, Res-Public
Introductory Speech: Mario Carlo Ferrario, Rule of Law & Society
Panelists and video messages:
- Eufemia Esposito, Ministero dell'Interno
- Elena Buscemi, Comune di Milano
- Luca Squeri, Deputato della Camera, Segretario Commissione Parlamentare Attività Produttive
- Elena Galimberti, Urbanista
- Paola Belloli, Italia Civile
- Giuliano Bastianello, Progetto ACTA
- Giovanni Barbara, Corporate Governance
- Nicola Bonucci, esperto internazionale, già OECD
- Flavio Burlizzi, esperto internazionale, già Unioncamere Europa
- Lorenzo Salazar, magistrato
- Antonio Naddeo, ARAN
- Nino de Masi, Premio Giorgio Ambrosoli
- Giovanna Ceribelli, Premio Giorgio Ambrosoli (TBC)
- Italo Borrello, UIF Unità Informativa Finanziaria (TBC)
Abstract
Come è noto, il contesto internazionale negli ultimi 15/20 anni ha dedicato una crescente attenzionestrutturale ai temi del contrasto alla criminalità economica internazionale. Ciò ha avuto luogo in particolarmodo in ambienti multilaterali (UNODC, Consiglio d’Europa, OECD, ma anche fora quali G7 e G20) e nellaUE. DG Home e DG Justice della Commissione Europea hanno varato specifiche linee di attività sul crimineorganizzato.I due trattati internazionali globali di riferimento sono UNCAC e UNTOC in ambito UNODC a Vienna, sucorruzione e crimine organizzato.In questa cornice, cruciale è il ruolo che la PA, l’insieme degli attori pubblici, è chiamato a svolgere inrelazione a SDG 16 e alla “G” di Governance degli standard ESG, sempre più in stretto dialogo con i corpiintermedi della società, ossia con la società civile intesa in senso ampio e articolato, ossia attraverso lediverse modalità con cui i cittadini si auto-organizzano liberamente, in particolare il sistema delle imprese,della finanza, delle professioni, dell’università e sistema della ricerca, della scuola, dei media, del Terzosettore professionalizzato). Si è in questo senso configurato un corpus di articoli di trattati, documenti diindirizzo, policy recommendations, alti principi, risoluzioni ONU che chiaramente auspica e invita apromuovere sinergie fra attori pubblici preposti ad assicurare il rispetto della legge e il mondo degli attoriprivati, la società civile così intesa (PPPs Private Public Partnerships). Particolare rilievo assumono a talefine il SDG 17 dell’Agenda 2030 e il concetto di “multistakeholder”.
Goals
L’incontro si prefigge di produrre una prima versione di un documento sulle linee di indirizzo per ilruolo della PA sui temi dell’integrity (Working Document) nell’ottica della successiva elaborazionedi un documento di Policy Recommendations.
Day 2 - March 14th
WS2A: Building the AI-Ready Government
Place: Workshop Room A
Language: English
Format: Roundtable
Abstract
As generative AI advances, governments worldwide must move beyond conversations, and into seizing the opportunity, operationalising AI effectively and ensuring AI capability is achieved. This roundtable event invites you to be part of a movement of forward-thinking government leaders ready to take action in harnessing AI’s power for outcomes and for good.Together, we’ll explore real-world strategies, leading global insights on AI readiness and lessons from international leaders on building AI capable governments. From fostering collaboration to embedding AI capabilities, this is your chance to learn how to make AI’s transformative potential more of a reality in your context.
Learning Objectives
At this event, you will:
1) Get access to leading global insights on AI-readiness and AI capability frameworks
2) Discuss your government or organisation’s readiness and strategic approaches for enhancing AI readiness within government institutions
3) Connect with peer to learn what’s being done elsewhere
WS2B: EU GovTech Single Market. Fostering a Pan-European GovTech sector through harmonisation, interoperability and governance of strategic initiatives.
Place: Workshop Room B
Language: English
Chair: Stefanos Kotoglou, EC DG-DIGIT
Facilitator: Mauro Tommasi, Feel
Panelists:
- Massimo Carnelos, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Office for Innovation, start-ups & space
- Giorgio Ciron, InnovUP
- Marcello Coppa, Feel
- Luca Tangi, EC Joint Research Centre
- Aistis Raudys, AAI Labs
- Giuseppe De Giorgi, PagoPA
Abstract
A Pan-European approach to GovTech is a key enabler of the European Strategic Agenda 2024-2029. The transformation of the public sector and a technology roadmap to leverage innovation in strategic policy areas constitute a backbone of a free, democratic, strong, secure, prosperous and competitive Europe.The first phase of GovTech initiatives at the European level has been a phase of “discovery and validation”. It has contributed to the creation of an active community of practice as well as creating fundamental coordination mechanisms on interoperability and preparing the ground for key European GovTech platforms.We are now entering a new phase, which we call “scaling GovTech”. Fostering a wider adoption of the building blocks of an European Govtech Ecosystem pushes for:
- harmonisation and reduction of frictions and boundaries to the realisation of an integrated European space for citizens and businesses (citizenship, identity, public services, public procurement, …);-
- interoperability of core government systems and scaling of the “once only principle” supported by a European data space;
- a whole-of-government, multi-level governance of GovTech initiatives.
Goals
In this multi stakeholder workshop we will capitalise the lessons learned from the previous “discovery and validation” phase of European Govtech, explore the constraints to the scaling of European GovTech and discuss the content and form of strategic policy initiatives to foster a GovTech Single Market.
Workshop agenda
GovTech “discovery & validation” phase: lessons learned
- Capitalizing the EU GovTech initiatives - Stefanos Kotoglou, EC DG-DIGIT
- Evidence from Italy - Marcello Coppa, Feel
- Towards the 28th regime: the need to scale EU tech companies - Giorgio Ciron, InnovUP
Open Discussion: barriers to scaling GovTech at European level
- Building ecosystems beyond borders - Massimo Carnelos, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Office for Innovation, start-ups & space
- Cross-boarder GovTech Practices in the EU- Marina Manzoni, EC Joint Research Centre
- Doing business across Europe: a startup perspective - Aistis Raudys, AAI Labs
Fostering a EU GovTech Single Market
- An integrated European space for business and citizens: the role of GovTech enabling systems - Giuseppe De Giorgi, PagoPA
- A multi-level governance of GovTech initiatives - Stefanos Kotoglou, EC DG-DIGIT
WS2C: Open Innovation in the public system
Place: Main Hall
Language: English
Chair: Chiara Carlini, PUBLIC
Panelists:
- Tamara Srzentić, (former) Minister of Public Administration, Digital Society and Media of Montenegro
- Ibrahim Köran, Heliad
- Marina Manzoni, EC Joint Research Centre
- András Hlács, OECD
- Paulo Kalkhake, GovTecHH, Hamburg’s Public Venture Client Unit
- Ludovica Scarfì, IBM
Abstract
In the last few years, EU governments have made headways into their GovTech journey, utilising new policies, tools and partnership models to integrate private sector innovation into public services and drive better procurement outcomes. New approaches to innovation procurement and open innovation are emerging: from SME spend targets, to digital tools such as innovation marketplaces; from open market engagement procedures such as challenge programmes and design contests, to venture models.
The workshop aims to shed light on current best practices in open innovation in government, and provide practical insights and tools for European public procurement teams and public sector leaders to drive more efficient procurement processes and better outcomes for citizens, whilst stimulating innovation markets and economic growth. Through an engaging panel discussion and short dynamic case study spotlights, the workshop will look to answer the following questions:
- How can procurement be used as a tool to stimulate new markets?
- What tools and processes have proved to be most effective in driving better open innovation outcomes? What open innovation models are emerging?
- How can we empower government teams to be the best client possible?
- What are some of the most successful examples of government/startup collaboration at local and national level? What are the emerging trends in the GovTech market?
WS3B: GovTech for the last billion: leveraging digital technologies to fight extreme poverty
Place: Workshop Room B
Language: English
Chair: Talla Kebe, United Nations System Task Force on Africa - Digital Transformation & Innovation
Facilitators: Marcello Coppa, Feel; Francesca Carella, Feel
Panelist:
- Teresa Talò, EC Joint Research Centre
- Andrea Censoni, StartUpAfrica
Abstract
Extreme poverty remains one of the most pressing global challenges, with nearly one billion people—primarily in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of South Asia—lacking access to essential services, formal employment, and economic opportunities.The "last billion" refers to the approximately one billion people worldwide who continue to live in extreme poverty, surviving on less than $2.15 per day (World Bank, 2023). These individuals are disproportionately concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of South Asia, where they face multidimensional challenges, including lack of access to healthcare, education, clean water, energy, and formal employment opportunities. According to the United Nations (UN, 2023), over 700 million people still experience severe food insecurity, while 759 million remain without electricity, exacerbating the cycle of poverty. Many of them are trapped in informal economies, lack official identification, and are excluded from basic civic services, further deepening their marginalization from social, political, and economic life.Digital transformation presents an unprecedented opportunity to bridge this gap, using disruptive technologies to enhance governance, expand financial inclusion, and improve access to healthcare, education, and basic utilities. This workshop will explore how GovTech can be leveraged to create inclusive, scalable solutions that empower the world’s most vulnerable populations.This session is designed for:
- Government officials and policymakers focused on digital transformation and poverty alleviation;
- International organizations and NGOs working on economic inclusion and social protection;
- Technology leaders and innovators developing GovTech solutions;
- Researchers and academics studying the intersection of governance, technology, and development.
Goals
This workshop aims to:
- Examine how digital technologies can address extreme poverty through innovative public service delivery;
- Showcase lessons learned from GovTech initiatives that have successfully facilitated civic inclusion, economic empowerment, and access to basic services;
- Discuss key challenges and future transition pathways for integrating technology into global poverty alleviation efforts;
- Foster collaboration among policymakers, technologists, and development practitioners to co-design actionable solutions.
Workshop agenda:
Part 1 - Framing the key challenges and the link with the UN Transition Pathways
This session will start framing the discussion around the six transitions outlined by the UN:
1) food systems
2) energy access and affordability
3) digital connectivity
4) education
5) jobs and social protection
6) climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution
While digital transformation offers immense potential, it also presents critical challenges that must be addressed to ensure sustainable impact. In particular, digital transformation can be leveraged to accelerate decent job creation and promoting social protection. The digital economy is a driver to wll increase job opportunities in digital-related industries, improve productivity and efficiency in productive sectors, promote capacity building in digital skills, and facilitate access to jobs for marginalized groups such as women, people with disabilities, and rural communities. Moreover, it can enhance social protection coverage and access to health and insurance, promote innovative financing for social protection, and formalize the informal sector.On the other hand, the AI revolution may widen the gap between high and low-income countries unless cooperative international action is taken.The overarching goals of leveraging GovTech for the last billion are threefold:
- unleash the digital economy's transformative potential to identify and implement scalable approaches for creating decent, sustainable jobs while integrating robust social protection measures, particularly in industries impacted by the Fourth Industrial Revolution;
- utilize digital innovations to modernize, scale, and strengthen social protection mechanisms, ensuring they are inclusive, equitable, accessible, and responsive to the needs of vulnerable populations;
- advocate for and implement policies, strategies, and technologies that position the digital economy as a catalyst for sustainable and inclusive growth while embedding comprehensive social protection measures to bridge economic and social gaps and foster long-term resilience.
Part 2 - Lessons Learned: The Role of GovTech in Poverty Reduction
GovTech—the use of digital technologies to improve public sector services—has demonstrated its potential to address these systemic barriers and foster inclusive development. This workshop will explore key lessons learned from leveraging GovTech to combat extreme poverty, focusing on:
- civic inclusion
- economic empowerment
- basic services delivery
- food security
- energy access
By examining real-world case studies, participants will gain insights into how disruptive technologies can be effectively deployed to break the cycle of extreme poverty and support sustainable development.
Part 3 - Interactive Session: Co-Creating Solutions
The final segment of this workshop is designed to be highly interactive, encouraging participants to contribute innovative ideas and collaborate on actionable solutions around the following challenges of “GovTech for the last billion” can be identified:
- Poverty to Prosperity: how digital tools can create scalable, sustainable economic opportunities;
- Learning to Earning: bridging the education-to-employment gap through EdTech and digital skills training;
- Informal to Formal Economies: facilitating the transition from informal labor to structured economic participation via digital financial inclusion;
- Survival to Thriving: leveraging AI and data analytics to improve healthcare access and social protection systems
- Farming to Smart Agriculture: applying IoT and AI to enhance agricultural productivity and food security;
- Fragility to Resilience: strengthening governance and public service resilience through digital innovation.
Through guided discussions and breakout groups, attendees will:
- Share best practices and lessons from diverse regional contexts;
- Co-design digital interventions tailored to extreme poverty alleviation;
- Identify policy enablers and barriers to the adoption of GovTech solutions.
WS3C: A Mediterranean Agenda for GovTech: fostering a Mediterranean economic integration and sustainable growth through shared GovTech innovation programs
Place: Main hall
Language: English
Chair: Hon. Giulio Centemero, Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly
Co-chair: Simone De Battisti, Feel
Panelists:
- Mauro Tommasi, Feel
- Claudia Schettini, ISPI
- Octavi Quintana, Prima Foundation
- Kreshnik Skenderi, Municipality of Tirana
- Daniela Carrillo, ISMU Ets Foundation
- Leila Belhadj Mohamed, Privacy Network
- Tamara Srzentić, (former) Minister of Public Administration, Digital Society and Media of Montenegro
- Nayiri Shorjian, UNDP
Abstract
A Mediterranean approach to GovTech is a key enabler for a stronger partnership among the sides of the shared sea, particularly to enhance economic integration and pursue sustainable growth. GovTech and the public sector transformation are a policy area that is cross-cutting several verticals, from energy solutions to water services, to infrastructures, to core government systems - public registries, public finance management, identity, border management, payments, and transactions, security, with a great benefit for both citizens and businesses.GovTech leads to the creation of more and de-risked opportunities for investments, SME attraction, business growth, and good quality jobs. The public sector plays several relevant roles in this transformation, not only as a regulator but also acting as:
- market shaper as a buyer of innovation at central and local levels
- enabler of business and innovation ecosystems.
A greater integration entails not only national GovTech plans that are context-aware and coordinated, but also a common GovTech agenda to enable cooperation opportunities.Strategic planning cannot be done overnight and requires several conversations addressing different but interdependent issues. Learning from existing models, and international experiences is key to developing a Mediterranean GovTech roadmap with strong foundations to address all the challenges.A decentralized cooperation model needs operative coordination, and a shared well-organised set of objectives, economic strategies, and legal and tech framework (interoperability, data protection, cybersecurity…).
Goals
In this multistakeholder, multilateral workshop we will:
1) capitalize on the lessons learned from multilateral cooperation projects in the Mediterranean area, the local innovation ecosystems, public and private, operating in the countries - a report by Feel on the “State of GovTech in the Mediterranean area” will be presented;
2) share insights on key strategic areas of GovTech cooperation for Mediterranean countries, collected from the Feel GovTech Expert Network, composed of innovators, decision makers and key opinion leaders;
3) explore opportunities and constraints to create an operative model for cooperation in GovTech.