A diverse consortium of eleven European organisations has joined forces in INNOVADE, an innovative project aimed at strengthening digital democracy through cutting-edge research and technology. The consortium brings together expertise from Belgium, Germany, Italy, and Spain, combining academic excellence with technical innovation and practical implementation.
Led by Brussels-based think tank Beyond the Horizon (BtH), the project unites leading academic institutions including Germany's Paderborn University, specialising in media and communication studies, and Belgium's KU Leuven, bringing expertise in public administration and management. The technological innovation is driven by the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) and Belgium-based Hybrid Core, who will collaborate on developing a state-of-the-art digital democracy application.
The project's legal and ethical compliance is ensured by Italy-based ICT Legal Consulting, while Spanish non-profit Cibervoluntarios leads efforts in digital inclusion and citizen engagement. Italy-based Trust-IT Services, supported by their affiliate COMMpla, drives the project's communication and stakeholder engagement strategy.
INNOVADE will be tested in two European municipalities: Geel (Belgium), a town of 40,000 inhabitants, and San MartÃn de la Vega (Spain), a community of 20,000 near Madrid. These pilot locations will provide valuable insights into how digital democracy tools can enhance civic participation at the local level.
"INNOVADE represents a unique collaboration between research, technology, and local government. By bringing together these diverse perspectives and expertise, we're creating practical solutions that will make digital democracy more accessible and effective for all Europeans."
