On the second day of UGoveRN’s international event, held on May 14th, 2025, the Digital Governance Workshop brought together a diverse group of scholars and practitioners to explore the intersection of urban transformation and digital systems. The day was structured around two main sessions. The morning focused on practical insights into digital tools and spatial governance, featuring contributions from Li Wan (University of Cambridge), Pauline McGuirk (University of Wollongong), Danielle Chevalier (UvA), and Sarah Barns (Western Sydney University, online). Tom van Arman (Tapp) also joined us, enriching the discussion with practical insights from civic technology and smart city innovation. In the afternoon, attention shifted to institutional change and the politics of digital transformation, with thought-provoking presentations by Tuna Taşan-Kok (University of Amsterdam), Alberto Bortolotti (Politecnico di Milano), and online speakers Rami Mandelbaum (Ben-Gurion University), Yesim Sungu-Eryilmaz (USA-based policy expert). The sessions were marked by lively group dialogues, critically addressing themes such as AI-driven governance, the reconfiguration of municipal roles, emerging regulatory landscapes, and role of AI in planning education.
