The 3rd Workshop of Discontinued Civic Tech
Was wird aus digitalen Prototypen der Zivilgesellschaft?
The third Workshop of Discontinued Civic Tech will bring together researchers and practitioners in Berlin to exchange experiences and lessons from civic tech projects that have ended, are coming to an end, or have successfully continued beyond their original funding period.
The workshop is organized in cooperation with the Civic Data Lab and the Weizenbaum Institute.
Please note: The workshop will be held in German.
Event details
- Date: Friday, October 30, 2026
- Time: 10:00–14:00 (CET)
- Venue: Weizenbaum Institute, Flexraum
- Address: Hardenbergstraße 32, 10623 Berlin, Germany (near Bahnhof Zoo)
- Participation fee: Free of charge; a light lunch will be provided
- Registration deadline: September 30, 2026
- Working language: German
Information and registration (in German)
About the workshop
How can digital innovations from civil society make a lasting contribution to the common good? What remains when civic tech projects end? And what conditions are needed to preserve the experiences and results of projects using data and AI for the common good, so that they can inform the further development of social and civic infrastructures?
The Weizenbaum Institute and the Civic Data Lab invite researchers and practitioners from across Germany who have experience preserving the results of projects that are ending—or who have successfully established their projects on a longer-term basis.
Together, we will explore what can be learned from civic tech projects, regardless of whether they end or continue. We will discuss how these lessons can be made useful to society beyond the duration of individual projects, contribute to social change, and strengthen digital civic participation. In particular, we will identify measures and infrastructures that can support the sustainable impact of digital civic engagement.
The workshop results will feed into a joint whitepaper.
Workshop format
Part 1: Sharing experiences
Participants are invited to present their projects, prototypes, communities, and ideas, describe how their projects developed, and share their most important lessons.
Part 2: Developing shared recommendations
In group sessions, participants will build on these lessons, summarize the key societal contributions of the projects presented, and discuss how these contributions can be sustained over time. The groups will formulate propositions and recommendations for the whitepaper, with the aim of identifying supportive infrastructures for digital civic participation.
How to participate
Join the workshop
Please register as early as possible and no later than September 30, 2026. Participation is free of charge, and a light lunch will be provided.
If travel costs would prevent you from participating, please contact the organizers so that possible solutions can be discussed. The registration form also asks about accessibility requirements and possible childcare needs.
Present a project
The program includes space for approximately ten short presentations of seven minutes each. Participants are encouraged to share their project’s story, development, and lessons learned. Extensive preparation is not required.
Please indicate your interest in presenting when registering. Presenters will be asked to submit their slides a few days before the workshop so that the subsequent synthesis and group work can be prepared.
Contribute to the whitepaper
The planned three-to-eight-page whitepaper will place the workshop’s propositions and recommendations in context and communicate them particularly to stakeholders in politics and public administration. Workshop participants are invited to contribute sections as co-authors. The registration form asks about interest and availability for the writing process in November.
Organizing team
Dr. Andrea Hamm is a postdoctoral researcher in the research group “Digitalization, Sustainability and Participation” at the Weizenbaum Institute in Berlin. Her interdisciplinary research examines forms of participation in different contexts of digital societies in Europe and Asia, particularly civic tech design, journalism of things, and the twin transformation of municipalities.
Angela Berger works with the Civic Data Lab to support civil society organizations and initiatives in using technology for the common good and participating actively in innovation processes in society and the welfare state. Her work brings together organizational development, education and participation, and digitalization.
We look forward to welcoming you in Berlin!