ICEGOV 2017 - New Delhi, India

Building Knowledge Societies: From Digital Government to Digital Empowerment

The conference "ICEGOV 2017 - New Delhi, India" aims to explore the transformative power of digital technology in empowering citizens and fostering Knowledge Societies. Knowledge Societies are those in which citizens leverage digital infrastructures to lead the lives they desire, free from constraints. Governments, civil societies, and private enterprises play crucial roles in enabling these societies by providing necessary services, support, and products.

Empowering Through Digital Innovations

Governments have increasingly adopted digital tools to drive empowerment. They use digital technology to innovate policies, streamline processes, and engage with citizens and non-state actors. This has led to four distinct waves of Digital Government innovations:

1. Digitization: Improving internal operations and enhancing public services.
2. Transformation: Facilitating administrative and institutional reforms within government.
3. Engagement: Encouraging citizen participation in policy-making.
4. Contextualization: Tailoring policies and development initiatives to specific sectors and localities.

The Contextualization stage is particularly relevant to Knowledge Societies, as it focuses on creating conditions for self-governance and self-development at various levels.

Challenges and Opportunities

Today's challenge lies in ensuring that digital advancements lead to meaningful transformations and empower individuals, ultimately contributing to sustainable development. Policymakers and decision-makers must address a myriad of issues related to building Knowledge Societies. The conference highlights these critical areas, aiming to explore how Digital Government can foster Digital Empowerment through locally-appropriate Knowledge Societies.

Bringing Together Diverse Stakeholders

The ICEGOV series serves as a unique platform for academia, governments, international organizations, civil societies, and the private sector to share insights and experiences in the realm of Digital Government. It encourages interaction among stakeholders, including policymakers, government officials, researchers, innovators, and educators from both developing and developed nations. These stakeholders collaborate to ensure that public investments in Digital Government advance public policy and development.

A Global Impact

Since its inception, the ICEGOV series has grown significantly, becoming a vital source of research and policy insights. The community encompasses 1,548 authors and reviewers from 102 countries, representing academia (69%), government (18%), industry (9%), and international organizations (4%). On average, each conference attracts 140 submissions from 49 countries and hosts over 400 participants from diverse backgrounds, including government (40%), academia (36%), industry and civil society (14%), and international organizations (10%).

By fostering collaboration and dialogue, ICEGOV 2017 aims to contribute to the global conversation on Digital Government and its potential to create more empowered and knowledgeable societies.