GovTech and Public Sector Innovation Global Forum

The World Bank's Institutions Global Department and the Innovation for Development Impact Department are set to host the second iteration of the GovTech and Public Sector Innovation Global Forum on May 27-28, 2025.

The Forum will convene global experts from government, academia, industry, and civil society to explore how technology can transform public sector institutions and foster collaborations that accelerate the implementation of innovative public sector solutions.

This edition of the Global Forum is co-hosted by the governments of Austria, Estonia, Korea, and Switzerland, in collaboration with OECD, UNDP, Mastercard, Microsoft and Visa. MIT GOV/LAB, and Harvard CID will provide academic insights.

Participants will have numerous opportunities to engage in interactive sessions, including world cafés and deep dives, to share ideas and best practices, and co-create solutions to pressing governance challenges.

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Day 1 Agenda: Tuesday, May 27, 2025

08:30

Breakfast and Registration

09:00

Opening Remarks

09:15

KEYNOTE

(To be announced soon)

10:00

Plenary 1 – Citizen-Centric Public Services in the Age of AI

The session will explore how AI is transforming public service delivery, making government operations more efficient, responsive, and community-focused. It will examine how AI-driven solutions are enhancing the quality of services and processes, but can also strengthen citizen engagement, empower communities, and foster inclusive participation through transparent and participatory processes.

11:00

Coffee Break

11:15

World Cafés - GovTech in Action: Lessons from Experience

Interactive sessions on innovative GovTech initiatives lead by Governments, the World Bank, and partner organizations across the World.

12:30

Lunch

13:30

Breakouts and Discovery Sprint

1: Enhancing a Data-Driven Public Sector

This breakout session will show how governments can build a data-driven public sector to strengthen institutional capacity and enhance service delivery, focusing on the roles of data governance, open government and interoperability, and the application of advanced data analytics.

2: Greening GovTech for a Sustainable Digital Transition

The breakout session will discuss how to reduce the carbon footprint of the digital transition in the public sector, namely through green procurement practices, green datacenters and multichannel service delivery.

3: Skills to sustain Public Sector Transformation

The breakout will emphasize enhancing workforce digital readiness, reskilling and upskilling employees for the digital era, and fostering public sector leadership in GovTech to ensure sustainable public sector transformation.

Discovery Sprint 1 - Ensuring Government Business Continuity

This session will focus on leveraging AI to ensure government business continuity by addressing critical operational challenges and constraints, exploring innovative solutions to enhance resilience and maintain seamless government operations.

15:00

Coffee Break

15:15

Plenary 2 – Preparing the Public Sector for the AI Revolution: Institutional Key Enablers and Building Blocks

This session will explore the problems being solved with AI and outline the fundamental key enablers and building blocks for AI adoption in government, including data governance, digital infrastructure, and workforce capabilities. It will share country experiences in integrating AI into public administration, highlighting key challenges such as algorithmic bias, cybersecurity, and ethical AI implementation.

16:15

Breakouts and Discovery Sprint

4: CivicTech for Government Responsiveness and Accountability

The breakout will discuss how CivicTech can enhance links and trust between citizens and governments, exploring the benefits of disruptive technologies for improved responsiveness, productivity, and the co-creation of sound services and policies.

5: The Future of Cloud Computing in Public Sector Institutions

This breakout will explore the future of cloud computing, focusing on data sovereignty, AI, greening GovTech, and quantum computing, and their impact on institutional efficiency, security, and sustainability.

6: GovTech for Transforming Service Delivery

This session will focus on the potential of disruptive technologies for bridging the digital divide, enhancing service delivery, improving accessibility, and enabling more usable and convenient public services aligned with increasing citizens expectations.

Discovery Sprint 2 – GovTech in Public Financial Management: Tackling Interoperability and Data Silos

Fragmented government systems hinder effective public financial management, leading to inefficiencies, limited transparency, and data silos. This sprint challenges participants to explore how better integration—through improved interoperability, data sharing, and innovative approaches—can enhance budgeting, spending, and financial oversight while strengthening accountability and reducing inefficiencies.

17:45

Networking Cocktail

19:30

End of Day 1

Day 2 Agenda: Wednesday, May 28, 2025

08:00

Breakfast

08:30

Recap of Day 1

08:45

Plenary 3 –Leveraging Technology to Reimagine Core Government Systems

The session will explore how emerging technologies can be leveraged to reimagine and enhance core government systems, improving efficiency and service delivery. It will highlight the role of policy frameworks, legal structures, and governance models in ensuring responsible AI adoption and addressing emerging risks in AI-enabled decision-making.

09:45

Breakouts and Discovery Sprint

7: Public-Private Collaboration: Partnering for Innovation

This session will explore strategies and practices to strengthen GovTech partnerships that can drive transformative change and improve public sector outcomes.  

8: Tackling Corruption with Technology

This breakout will explore innovative approaches—whether through transparency, data-driven oversight, or frontier technologies—to strengthen integrity and reduce corruption risks in government operations.

9: Fostering Digital Public Infrastructure

The session will focus on how to enhance government services through robust digital public infrastructure such as digital identity, digital payments, and data management.

Discovery Sprint 3 - Customizing Public Services on the Basis of Life Events

Public services often operate in silos, making it difficult to deliver seamless support at key life moments for citizens. This sprint challenges participants to explore new ways—whether through better coordination, data sharing, or innovative tools and new technologies—to break down agency barriers and create more responsive, user-centered services.

11:15

Coffee Break

11:30

Plenary 4 – GovTech & Impact in Government Operations

This session will explore how GovTech and AI can be utilized to enhance operational efficiency in government services and processes. Participants will discuss innovative solutions and real-world applications to address key government challenges based on experiences from the different regions of the world.

12:30

Lunch & Innovation

13:30

Innovation Challenge

The Innovation Nexus: Public and Private Sectors Uniting for Impact

14:00

Breakout and Discovery Sprint

10: Digital Procurement for Efficient and Accountable Governments

This session will explore how digital procurement enhances transparency and accountability, focusing on fraud detection and data-driven supplier performance evaluation.

11: Cybersecurity in Core Government Systems

The session will delve into the evolving landscape of cyber threats in the public sector and the role of artificial intelligence in enhancing security measures, discussing  solutions to protect sensitive data and ensure robust cybersecurity.

12: GovTech to Enhance Tax Administrations

This session will highlight the importance of data governance and data quality for the use of AI to support internal processes and improve taxpayer services.

Discovery Sprint 4 – GovTech for Optimizing Public Investments and Securing Assets

Governments must optimize public investment and asset management, yet outdated processes limit efficiency and adaptability. This sprint challenges participants to identify key bottlenecks and explore how emerging technologies could enhance decision-making, transparency, and long-term value.

15:30

Plenary 5 - GovTech Global Partnership for a Future-Ready Public Administration

The session will discuss the expanding network of global partners involved in the GovTech Global Partnership, engaging attendees on how to further enhance collective efforts towards a coherent, inclusive, and sustainable digital transformation of public sectors worldwide.

16:15

Closing Remarks

16:30

End of Forum