UNU-EGOV participated in the 12th International Summer School on Digital Government (OpenGov2025), held in Samos, Greece, from 30 June to 4 July 2025.
Bringing together researchers, practitioners, and postgraduate students from across Europe and beyond, the Summer School explored key challenges and opportunities in the field of digital governance. UNU-EGOV researcher Demetrios Sarantis contributed to the programme with a lecture on “Assessment Methodologies in Open Data Initiatives”, offering insights into how governments can evaluate the impact and effectiveness of open data strategies, an essential element of data-driven policymaking.
Organized by the Department of Information and Communication Systems Engineering at the University of the Aegean, this year’s edition focused on the intersection between digital technologies and democratic innovation. Topics included artificial intelligence and ethics, data-driven policymaking, smart cities, e-democracy, and the role of large language models (LLMs) in the public sector. Participants also examined critical challenges such as ensuring interoperability, protecting privacy, and safeguarding citizen rights in an increasingly digital society.
The overall goal of OpenGov2025 was to empower participants through hands-on workshops, interactive sessions, and applied research across these domains.
UNU-EGOV’s participation highlights its ongoing commitment to capacity development and international collaboration in support of digital transformation, evidence-based governance, and youth-led innovation.