Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is opening new opportunities for public administrations across Europe to anticipate, prevent and respond to complex societal challenges. The European Union is increasingly investing in an enabling ecosystem for the responsible uptake of GenAI in the public sector, with a view to translating technological advances into tangible public value. 

Against this backdrop, the conference will explore how GenAI can contribute to strategic public goals, bringing together perspectives on European policy, digital infrastructure, public-sector innovation and concrete areas of societal need. Particular attention will be devoted to water resilience, a key EU priority in the face of floods, droughts and other water-related risks, and to initiatives aimed at strengthening Europe's capacity to address these challenges. 

The discussion will consider how digital and AI-enabled solutions can support public authorities in risk anticipation, decision-making and the management of critical events, while examining the conditions needed for their responsible and effective uptake. Interoperability, data, governance and the replication of successful solutions across administrations will be key themes. 

The conference will also provide an opportunity to reflect on the EU's added value in connecting technological innovation with policy objectives and local and regional needs. The emerging Floods and Droughts project will be illustrated as a concrete example of how GenAI can be applied to water- related challenges. The project is one of three GenAI pilots selected for co-funding by the European Commission under the GenAI for the Public Administrations call. 

The event will bring together European institutions, regions and other stakeholders to discuss how public administrations can build the capabilities, partnerships and enabling conditions required to make GenAI benefits scalable, sustainable and relevant to society. The discussion will be enriched by contributions from a range of representatives of the European Commission and the Committee of the Regions. 

The event will feature contributions from the following speakers: 

• Panagiotis Kikiras, Deputy Head of Unit Al 'Excellence in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics', DG CNECT 

• Cristina Cosma, Head of Unit B2 'Interoperability and Digital Government', DG DIGIT 

• Mariana Moronese, Policy Assistant to the Director, Directorate C 'Zero Pollution, Water Resilience & Green Urban Transition', DG ENV 

• Marie-Claire Neill-Cowper (tbc), Head of Unit, ECON Commission, Committee of the Regions

Please register for the event via the dedicated registration form here.

The event will take place on Tuesday 3 November, 10:00–12:00. It will be held at Emilia-Romagna Region's Delegation to the EU, rue Montoyer 21, 1000 Brussels.