Designing productive spaces for government innovation conversations

Imagine working on a project by all by yourself, where the results of which can affect thousands and even millions of people. Would you do it? 

As daunting as that sounds, digital transformation projects for governments often result with a similar scale of impact. 

Noting that a one-person approach is not the best way forward, City of Madrid’s Director General of the Digital Office, Fernando de Pablo, says collaboration is the most powerful tool we have to improve public services and respond to the challenges our societies face. 

Speaking to GovInsider, he adds: “The challenges governments face today are complex and interconnected. Digital transformation, climate transition, social inclusion, none of these can be addressed by a single institution working alone.” 

In this context, de Pablo notes that the  Govtech4Impact World Congress (G4I) 2026.  has been tailored toward the objective of fostering networks of collaboration, meaningful conversations, and mutual learning. 

He is part of the expert committee, who is responsible for curating practical and relevant sessions for public sector officials, policymakers, and industry experts across the three days of the event. 

The event will take place in Madrid, Spain from 3 to 5 May.  

De Pablo shares about his dual role as a community builder and practitioner in the host city government about the importance of holding conversations that move beyond theory into practical questions such as what works, what obstacles appear and how they are overcome. 

“Public administration evolves through that kind of dialogue, and that generates real impact,” he says.  

A collective learning process 

De Pablo notes that his dual role provides two perspectives that are “totally complementary” to design spaces of productive conversations for public sector innovation.  

“Working inside government gives you a very concrete understanding of the challenges involved: legal frameworks, organisational structures, legacy systems, procurement rules. Those realities shape how transformation actually happens. 

“At the same time, participating in international conversations allows you to see how other cities and countries are approaching similar challenges,” he says.  

His holistic perspectives have shaped how the sessions at G4I are curated, as most speakers are practitioners from different backgrounds and countries. 

This diversity is intentional, says de Pablo, noting that the expert committee brings together professionals from public administration, universities and companies to international organisations and institutions in social and environmental fields. 

“When we talk about digital transformation in government, we are not talking only about technology. We are talking about governance, social impact, sustainability, cybersecurity, regulation, organisational change. 

“The goal is to have a truly multidisciplinary conversation, because the challenges governments face today cannot be addressed from a single perspective.” 

According to him, forums like G4I can function as impactful spaces for knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and different perspectives when everyone stands together to share about their challenges, lessons, and ideas toward making innovation in government easier. 

The private sector can bring new ideas, universities contribute with research and long-term thinking, and public administrations provide operational perspective, for example. 

“Digital transformation in government is essentially a collective learning process.  

“The administration we have today is the result of decisions taken years ago. The conversations we have today will influence the decisions that shape the administration of tomorrow,” he says. 

Cultural change is fundamental 

According to de Pablo, digital transformation is more than just modernisation. 

He adds that while technology is necessary, it is not sufficient if there is no cultural change in the organisation.  

This is also reflected in the agenda for the event. He shares that the conversations will surround issues such as administrative simplification, capabilities inside government, cooperation between institutions and the cultural change required for digital transformation. 

“What matters to us is the change in mindset. Public employees [must] increasingly see technology as a tool to provide better services to citizens,” he says. 

De Pablo shares the example of his city, which now stands as a role model of successful digital transformation for more efficient and responsive citizen services.  

Madrid accelerated its digital transformation after the pandemic, replacing processes that were “effective but very dependent on paper and in-person interaction.” 

He shares that the use of electronic procedures has increased from around 14 per cent in 2018 to more than 83 per cent in 2025. 

Since more than 20 per cent of the city’s population is over 65 years old, these digital services must be accessible even to the less digitally-savvy.  

De Pablo notes that these efforts to modernise public services have been recognised by the United Nations Local Online Service Index in multiple occasions, alongside digitally mature cities like Singapore, Berlin, and Tallinn. 

The biennial assessment measures digital government maturity in 193 cities worldwide, ranking municipal portals based on institutional frameworks, content, services, participation, and technology. 

Madrid led the global ranking consecutively in the 2020, 2022, and 2024 editions. 

“It is also part of why we are proud to host G4I here. Madrid is not just a backdrop for the conversation, it is an active participant in it,” he says. 

Achieving real impact 

Reflecting on the success of the previous editions of the congress, de Pablo notes that the “real value” of the event often comes from the relationships that are built around the sessions.  

Beyond the formal panels, ideas and collaborations often emerge in informal discussions, for which networking spaces are important to let them flow naturally. 

“Many of the conversations that start at the congress continue afterwards through collaborations, projects or exchanges of experience,” he shares. 

For him, the success of the congress is therefore not only about the figures, but about the quality of the exchange.  

“If the congress manages to bring together the right people, people who are actually responsible for digital transformation in their organisations, and they have meaningful conversations, then the event has achieved its purpose,” he says.