The ITHACA project (Artificial Intelligence To Enhance Civic Participation) is a Horizon Europe initiative dedicated to strengthening democratic engagement through responsible and trustworthy Artificial Intelligence.

At the heart of the project is the development of the ITHACA civic participation platform, a human-centric digital space designed to support inclusive, transparent and structured dialogue between citizens and public authorities. The platform enables users to engage in discussions, share perspectives and contribute to decision-making processes, while leveraging AI tools to enhance understanding, accessibility and fairness.

Running from 2023 to 2025, the project brings together a multidisciplinary consortium to explore how such AI-supported solutions can foster more participatory and accountable governance at local level.

On 4 December 2025, the Democracy Beyond Algorithm: From Research to Action final cluster event took place in Brussels, bringing together policymakers, researchers, civil society representatives and practitioners to explore the role of Artificial Intelligence in strengthening democratic processes.

At the Democracy Alive 2025 summit in Brussels, policymakers, researchers, civil society leaders, and citizens gathered to debate one key question: How can AI strengthen democracy?

Europe’s digital transformation must be fair, inclusive, and safe. This is the vision set out in the EU Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles, which emphasises universal internet access, digital skills, and the right to participate in public life online.

On 4 December 2025 in Brussels, the KT4D Final Event brings together four Horizon Europe projects — AI4GOV, KT4D, ITHACA, and ORBIS — for one powerful closing act. This grand finale celebrates years of collaboration exploring how Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data can make democracy stronger, more transparent, and more inclusive. Be there with us!

As part of the ITHACA project, we are excited to announce the start of Phase-2 testing, which takes place between 20th October and 5th November 2025 in two pilot cities: Brașov (Romania) and Martin (Slovakia). This phase is crucial for the ongoing development and refinement of our online public participation platform, which aims to empower citizens to engage more effectively in local governance.

On September 25, 2025, at the 20th Conference on Quality and Social Responsibility, held by Úrad pre normalizáciu, metrológiu a skúšobníctvo SR (ÚNMS SR) in Bratislava, Ing. Stanislav Thomka, the Deputy Mayor of the City of Martin, presented the ITHACA project as part of the city’s ongoing efforts to enhance civic participation through Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The digital sphere has become the new town square of democracy. But while online platforms enable millions of people to connect and debate, they also carry risks: disinformation, hate speech, and manipulative algorithms that can distort public opinion.

Artificial Intelligence promises to improve many areas of society, but trust remains a challenge. According to a recent EU survey, 84% of Europeans believe that AI must be carefully managed to protect privacy and ensure transparency.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly shaping decisions that affect our daily lives – from the services we use online to the way public institutions operate. To ensure that this technology remains safe, transparent, and accountable, the European Union has introduced the world’s first comprehensive law on AI: the AI Act, adopted in 2024.