The rapid evolution of digital democracy calls for robust governance frameworks to safeguard transparency, inclusivity, and citizen participation. Initiatives like the European Democracy Shield, the European Democracy Action Plan and the Digital Services Act highlight the need for secure, accessible and policy-driven digital solutions. As a key member of the INNOVADE project, Trust-IT Services plays a pivotal role in ensuring digital democracy flourishes through structured policy engagement, stakeholder involvement and strategic communication.
A key challenge in digital democracy is bridging the gap between policy, technology and public understanding. Trust-IT leads INNOVADE’s communication efforts, ensuring research findings, policy recommendations and technological advancements are accessible to stakeholders. Through webinars, policy briefs and day-to-day communication, Trust-IT facilitates knowledge transfer and policy adoption, ensuring digital democracy innovations reach and benefit the right audiences.
Policy-Driven Digital Governance
While digital platforms have broadened access to civic engagement, significant barriers persist, including misinformation, privacy concerns, digital monopolies and the exclusion of marginalised communities. Without clear policies and secure digital tools, online participation risks becoming fragmented and unequal. INNOVADE aims to equip governments, policymakers and civil society with evidence-based strategies to strengthen digital democracy. The project will analyse global trends, identify emerging risks and map best practices while developing a governance toolkit to support inclusive participation policies. A key outcome will be a GDPR-compliant, AI-powered Digital Democracy App designed to facilitate secure, meaningful and accessible public decision-making.
Effective digital democracy requires more than just technological tools; it demands robust policies that protect citizen rights, counter misinformation and foster trust in digital participation. Trust-IT Services is instrumental in these efforts, facilitating effective dialogue among INNOVADE stakeholders to ensure that diverse voices are heard, communities are engaged, and solutions address real-world challenges. The INNOVADE consortium is dedicated to understanding and promoting digital democracy while translating complex policy frameworks into actionable strategies that empower governments, policymakers and civil society organisations.
Building Engaged Communities
"Digital democracy must be inclusive, ethical, and practical," said Fatih Yilmaz, project coordinator from Beyond the Horizon. "With INNOVADE, we are ensuring that governments have state-of-the-art tools to make online participation not only functional but effective for all citizens — not just the digitally savvy."
To ensure solutions are practical, scalable, and responsive to citizen needs, INNOVADE adopts a Living Labs approach, engaging citizens, policymakers and technology experts in real-world testing environments. Pilots in Geel (Belgium) and San Martín de la Vega (Spain) will evaluate how digital tools enhance citizen engagement, promote digital inclusion and strengthen government accountability. The Digital Democracy App will support transparent decision-making, preventing misinformation and overcoming barriers to participation.
In an era of rapid technological transformation, democracy itself is evolving. Digital democracy is not a top-down initiative but an organic response to shifting citizen interactions and communication needs. However, this transition presents challenges, as not all governments are equally prepared and digital access remains unequal. Digital democracy must be inclusive, ensuring that all citizens — regardless of digital literacy or socioeconomic background — can participate meaningfully. Trust-IT leads community engagement within INNOVADE, fostering direct collaboration between citizens, policymakers and technology experts. By facilitating real-world testing in pilot locations, INNOVADE helps create a continuous feedback loop that refines digital democracy tools based on user needs.
Building the Community Together
INNOVADE is part of a broader European effort to make digital democracy more secure, inclusive, and impactful. Working alongside sister projects AI4Deliberation and Perycles — funded under the same call — the project fosters collaboration to ensure complementary research and maximise real-world impact. As part of this effort, this Q1 of 2025, INNOVADE will co-host its first webinar, where stakeholders, researchers, policymakers, and citizens will discuss the pressing challenges and needs of digital democracy. We invite all those passionate about shaping the future of online civic participation to express their interest in joining us at this form and follow us here for regular updates!
