Democracy in The Digital Era
Democracy is undergoing a period of transformation. Political discussion is increasingly moving online, while governments integrate digital tools into decision-making. This brings new opportunities for participation but also serious risks – from misinformation and echo chambers to foreign interference and declining trust in institutions. How democracy adapts to these pressures will determine whether technology weakens or strengthens democratic life.
A Foundation for Research and Policy
The EU-funded INNOVADE project has addressed these questions with the Interdisciplinary Knowledge Base on Digital Democracy. Coordinated by Paderborn University and supported by Beyond the Horizon, Fundación Cibervoluntarios, Hybrid Core, and KU Leuven, this 300-page study provides a broad evidence base on the relationship between democracy and digitalisation.
It maps out the digital public sphere, online participation, open governance, digital activism, and e-voting, while analysing risks such as misinformation and manipulation of electoral processes. The study concludes with ten recommendations, emphasising stronger open governance, safeguards against foreign information manipulation, and a careful balance between participatory and constitutional protections.
Living Lab: From Debate to Recommendations
The launch was complemented by INNOVADE’s second Living Lab, held in Paderborn on 23–24 September 2025. Forty participants – researchers, experts, practitioners, and citizens – took part in collaborative workshops to envision what an "ideal digital democracy" might look like.
Through participatory design tools such as the Futures Wheel, participants explored challenges and solutions related to open governance, online participation, and digital activism. Their discussions led to concrete policy recommendations, including embedding citizen involvement in EU regulation, supporting hybrid participation models to reduce exclusion, and expanding investment in digital literacy. These outputs will contribute to the project’s Digital Democracy Grading Toolkit.
Trust-IT Services: Bridging Research and Practice
As communication partner of INNOVADE, Trust-IT Services ensures that the project engages communities and its outputs reach the right stakeholders. With long-standing expertise in digital technologies, dissemination, and policy, Trust-IT is leveraging its expertise in communication and dissemination to maximise impact and support policy dialogue around democratic resilience.
On the Horizon
The Knowledge Base will be presented at Digital Democracy The Hague (9–10 October 2025), where 500 practitioners and experts will debate how digital tools can support inclusive participation. INNOVADE will also host a free public webinar, "Shielding Democracy in the Digital Age", on 21 October 2025 at 15:00 CEST, which has already attracted strong interest weeks ahead of the event.
Through these well-rounded dissemination activities, INNOVADE is equipping policymakers, researchers, and civil society with tools needed to strengthen democracy in a rapidly evolving digital environment.
