Join our academic events and be part of a vibrant community shaping the future of public sector digital transformation. In an era of rapid technological change, we need bold ideas and innovative thinking to harness the power of digitalisation.
About FreshMinds
As part of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) INNPULSE project, FreshMinds is a collaborative initiative that brings together early-career researchers, policymakers, and public administration practitioners. Our goal is to foster a dynamic exchange of cutting-edge ideas, theories, and perspectives in public sector digital transformation.
Key objectives
Attract innovative researchersWe invite fresh minds to share their research and push the boundaries of knowledge in public sector digital transformation.
Knowledge sharingThrough virtual and in-person activities, we facilitate the dissemination of the latest research findings, theoretical frameworks, and practical insights.
Interdisciplinary exchangeOur platform enables meaningful dialogue and collaboration between academia, policy experts, and public administration practitioners.
Our activities
Virtual seminar series
Our cornerstone activity is a series of virtual seminars, each focusing on a pertinent theme within the realm of public sector digital transformation.
During these seminars, leading researchers present their pioneering work, and their insights are complemented by the perspectives of policy experts and public sector practitioners.
This unique format allows for a rich exchange of ideas and fosters a deeper understanding of the complex issues surrounding digital transformation.
In-person engagement
We also actively participate in conferences, ensuring that our community members have a chance to engage in face-to-face discussions, reflect on seminar content, and exchange ideas with peers.
Upcoming seminars and events
31 August 2026 - EGOV-CeDEM-ePart 2026, Junior Faculty School, Science for Policy Session (onsite for invited participants only), Athens, Greece.
21 October 2026 - JRC FreshMinds seminar: Emerging technologies and citizen participation
Why participate?
By participating in our seminars, you'll have the chance to:
- Engage with leading researchers, policymakers and practitioners in the field
- Contribute to policy/practitioner-moderated discussions, ensuring a practical and relevant perspective
- Be part of a dynamic community that is shaping the future of digital transformation in the EU public sector
Relevant publications
Discussions, methods and reflections arising from FreshMinds events and cross-cutting insights on science-for-policy communication, interdisciplinary collaboration and the evolving needs of early-career researchers.
Proceedings from the workshop 'Boosting Digital Governments with Interoperability: Early-Career Researchers Paving the Way Ahead', held on 26 June 2024.
Should you have any questions, please contact us: JRC-Digital-Governance
ec [dot] europa [dot] eu (JRC-Digital-Governance[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)