The pace of change confronting governments today is unlike anything seen before. Demographic pressures, artificial intelligence, shifting citizen expectations, and the growing complexity of public service delivery have created an inflection point that can no longer be managed through incremental reform. What is needed, and what Madrid will host this May, is a different kind of conversation entirely.

The GovTech 4 Impact World Congress (G4I 2026) takes place 5–7 May in Madrid, Spain, gathering heads of digital transformation, ministers, senior public officials, technology leaders, investors, and academics under one roof.

The GovTech 4 Impact (G4I) World Congress is a high-level, agenda-agnostic forum that serves as a global “working room” where government leaders move beyond “tech hype” to focus on the practical implementation and scaling of digital services. What distinguishes G4I from other global tech forums is its singular focus on “Impact”—shifting the dialogue from abstract vision and technology trends toward the difficult reality of translating innovation into organizational change and core governance.

G4I addresses the practical challenges of redesigning processes and building the trust necessary to move from ambition to implementation.

This unique ecosystem-based platform convenes public-sector practitioners and industry experts to co-create real-world governance models, transforming digital strategies into measurable public outcomes. It empowers institutions to redefine service delivery by learning directly from peers who have successfully navigated the shift from pilot experimentation to responsible, tangible impact. By focusing on evidenced methodologies like user-centered design and service design, the congress ensures that technology is always connected to meaningful improvements in citizen lives.

Image provided by G4I

The Sessions That Will Define the Conversation

The program moves beyond theory, anchoring every session in real-world case studies, frontline experience, and actionable takeaways. Among the headline sessions:

• Fireside Chat: Trustworthy Public Systems in an Age of Rapid Change — featuring Audrey Tang, Right Livelihood Award Winner and Taiwan’s first Digital Minister and the world’s first nonbinary cabinet minister.
• Keynote: Innovating Under Pressure — From Digital State to Agentic State — with Valeriya Ionan, Strategic Advisor to the Ministries of Defence and Digital Transformation of Ukraine.
• Study Presentation: The Agentic State Decoded: A Function-Based Assessment of Government Readiness — with Manuel Kilian, Managing Director of the Global Government Technology Centre (GGTC) in Berlin.
• Keynote: Estonia’s Data-Driven Government — featuring Ott Velsberg, Government Chief Data Officer of Estonia.
• Panel Session: Trust Reset: Winning Back Citizens – with Libby Maman, Founder and CEO, Luminata, Micaela Sánchez, Founder, Generas NGO, Tamara Srzentić, Former Minister of Public Administration, Digital Society and Media, Government of Montenegro, and Johannes Mikkonen, Senior Policy Expert, Demos Helsinki
• Panel Session: People Power: Reducing Investment Risk and Scaling GovTech Solutions – with Sofía Silva, Project Manager, GovTech4All, Igor Lys, Founder, Government Tomorrow Forum and Founder of Gambit Advisory, Pedro Tavares, Co-Founder and CEO, GovHorizon; Former Secretary of State for Justice, Portugal, and Marina Manzoni, EU Policy Officer, European Commission

Image provided by G4I

Something Big Is Being Announced at The Stage

Among the most significant moments on this year’s program is the official launch of the GovTech Compass during the panel session on 6 May ‘The GovTech Compass: From Digital Ambition to Public Value’.

Digital transformation is reshaping how governments operate, but without deliberate choices it can entrench exclusion, weaken accountability and erode public trust. Many of the most persistent challenges in GovTech and digital public infrastructure stem less from technology than from decisions across design, procurement, implementation, and oversight.

This session marks the launch of the GovTech Compass, a principles-based framework developed by members of the World Economic Forum Global Future Council on GovTech and Digital Public Infrastructure. It sets out ten practical principles to guide responsible and citizen-centered government digitalization.

The discussion will introduce the framework and explore real-world examples of how governments are applying these principles to strengthen public value, inclusion, accountability, and trust.

Panelists include:

• Gustavo Maia – Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Colab Brasil
• Idoia Ortiz de Artiñano – Chief Executive Officer, GOBE
• Carlos Santiso – Division Head, Digital, Innovative and Open Government, OECD

This session will be moderated by Kelly Ommundsen – Head, Digital Inclusion, Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum

Governing a City in 2026 Is Hard. This Room Was Built for That Conversation.

Among the delegates joining G4I this year are leaders from cities, international organisations, and European institutions. Some of their exchanges will also take place in smaller leadership settings we are introducing as part of this year’s Congress, including the Mayors Leadership Forum with:

• Jacek Jaśkowiak — Mayor of Poznań, Poland
• Mario de Mezzo — Mayor of Slatina, Romania
• Predrag Puharić — Deputy Mayor of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Rian Van Dam — Mayor of Hollands Kroon, the Netherlands
• Tony Dyer — Leader of Bristol City Council, UK
• Rannar Park — Head of Business Engagement, Ministry of Communication, Tallinn, Estonia
• Vito Episcopo — Deputy Mayor of Granada, Spain
• Shawyn Patterson-Howard — Mayor of Mount Vernon, New York, USA
• Matjaž Rakovec — Mayor of Kranj, Slovenia

Attend, Learn and Get Officially Recognized

G4I 2026 is officially accredited by The CPD Group, the UK’s largest and most trusted CPD accreditation service — meaning that what you learn in Madrid is formally recognized as qualifying professional development. Attendees can earn up to 20 CPD credits.

For public sector professionals, this is tangible evidence of continuous learning that can support annual performance reviews, fulfil institutional development requirements, and demonstrate a documented commitment to staying at the forefront of your field. It is professional development with proof — and it comes included with your attendance.

In line with G4I’s founding mission to drive meaningful public value, attendance for government participants is complimentary. Registration is required, and spaces are getting filled, so securing your place early is strongly recommended.

Register now at https://g4i-congress.com/register/ and join the global community of leaders shaping the future of governance.