The EGPA 2024 Conference, held in Athens, Greece from September 3-6, brought together leading academics and practitioners to discuss “Strengthening Democratic Governance for Better Public Policies and Services.” The conference, organized in cooperation with Panteion University, featured a dedicated session focused on the PADST project (Public Administration Capabilities for Digital and Sustainability Transitions).
Our session, PSG XV – Public Administration, Technology and Innovation, was co-chaired by Rainer Kattel (University College London), Erkki Karo (Tallinn University of Technology), and Veiko Lember (Tallinn University of Technology & KU Leuven). It explored how digitalization and sustainability intersect with governance and public administration. Our study group showcased four key papers:
Dynamic Capabilities for Transformative Innovation Policies by Erkki Karo and Rainer Kattel, which examined how public administrations can foster innovation.
Twin Transition and City Governments: Strategies, Experimental Practices, and Capabilities in 10 European Cities by Veiko Lember, Peeter Vihma, Marc Kristerson, Erkki Karo, Emma Pullen, Erna Ruijer, and Albert Meijer, which highlighted emerging approaches to digital and green transitions at the city level.
Case of Twin Transitions in Two Estonian City Administrations by Marc Kristerson, a detailed look at how Estonian cities are navigating digital and sustainability challenges.
Twin Transition in Urban Public Administration: Conceptualizations and Theories of Change by Peeter Vihma, which focused on the theoretical frameworks shaping the transition processes in public administration.
The discussions were rich and provided deep insights into the future of public administration in the context of the digital and green transitions. The PADST project continues to push boundaries and contribute to the European conversation on how to best govern in an era of transformative change.
