Call for Abstracts: FreshMinds Seminar October 2026

Introduction

The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), in collaboration with the Section of Governance and Technology for Sustainability (CSTM) at the University of Twente, invites early-career researchers to submit abstracts for the 2026 FreshMinds Seminar on Emerging Technologies and Citizen Participation.

Emerging technologies are reshaping how citizens engage with governments, public institutions, and democratic processes. Artificial intelligence (AI), generative AI, digital twins, virtual and augmented reality, blockchain, advanced data analytics, and other technologies are creating new opportunities for participation, consultation, deliberation, and co-creation. At the same time, they raise important questions regarding trust, transparency, accountability, inclusion, privacy, and democratic legitimacy.

As governments across Europe explore how to harness these technologies to strengthen public participation and improve policymaking, there is a growing need for rigorous research that examines both their potential benefits and associated risks. This JRC FreshMinds Seminar, co-hosted by the University of Twente, aims to showcase innovative research and foster dialogue between emerging scholars, policymakers, and practitioners working at the intersection of technology, governance, and society.

We welcome abstracts from a broad range of disciplines, including public policy, political science, public administration, sociology, communication studies, law, economics, computer science, data science, human-computer interaction, and related fields.

About the seminar

Selected authors will be invited to participate in the 21 October 2026 JRC FreshMinds Seminar, co-hosted by the University of Twente, where they will present and discuss their work with JRC researchers and invited policymakers and practitioners from European and national institutions.

Their proposals will also be discussed with policymakers and practitioners during the seminar, providing authors with insights into the practical applicability and policy relevance of their research. The seminar is intended to provide a constructive environment for interdisciplinary exchange, feedback, and networking.

Following the seminar, selected contributions will be featured in the 2026 JRC FreshMinds Report, which will highlight emerging research perspectives on the opportunities and challenges that new technologies present for citizen participation and democratic governance.

Submissions will be evaluated based on their relevance to the theme, originality, methodological robustness, and policy significance.

Who can apply

The call is open to PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and researchers within approximately eight years of completing their PhD. Submissions may present completed research, ongoing work, or novel conceptual contributions.

Themes

We welcome abstracts from a broad range of disciplines, including public policy, political science, public administration, sociology, communication studies, law, economics, computer science, data science, human-computer interaction, and related fields.

Topics may include, but are not limited to:

• AI and generative AI in citizen engagement, consultation, and deliberation
• Digital democracy and technology-enabled participation
• Civic technology and innovation in the public sector
• Digital twins, virtual worlds, and immersive technologies for public engagement
• Blockchain, decentralised governance, and new participation models
• Public trust, transparency, and explainability in participatory technologies
• Inclusion, accessibility, and digital divides
• Ethical, legal, and governance implications of emerging technologies
• Misinformation, manipulation, and democratic resilience
• Measuring the effectiveness and impact of technology-enabled participation
• Citizen-centred design and co-creation of public services
• Comparative studies, case studies, and evaluation frameworks