This global iTalk explores how GovTech can transform the way governments serve their citizens and unlock trillions in public value. With mounting pressure on public institutions to improve efficiency, transparency, and sustainability, GovTech is emerging as a vital tool for systemic reform.

Speakers: 

Manuel Kilian, Managing Director of the Global Government Technology Centre Berlin   

Kelly Ommundsen, Head of Digital Inclusion, Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum

Governments worldwide are seeking new ways to deliver more with less. The goal is to boost performance while rebuilding citizen trust. As presented in this iTalk, GovTech is not just a set of digital tools, but a strategic enabler of better governance outcomes. Drawing on the Global State of GovTech Report, which forecasts up to $9.8 trillion in public value by 2034, the discussion focused on three key drivers: efficiency, transparency, and sustainability.

From AI-powered decision-making in Brazil to citizen-centred platforms in Rwanda and Ukraine and foundational digital infrastructure in India, this session showcases the measurable impact of real-world GovTech applications. It also highlights how the strategic deployment of AI, digital platforms, and data infrastructure can modernise public services, reduce operational costs, and make governments more agile, inclusive, and trustworthy.

The speakers emphasise that meaningful transformation depends on robust implementation, transparent regulatory frameworks, and intelligent, inclusive ecosystems that bring together governments, businesses, and civil society.

This iTalk session is co-organised by the Digital Innovation Lab at the European Commission, the World Economic Forum, and the Global Government Technology Centre Berlin.