Brașov, Romania / Martin, Slovakia, 9 June 2025 – The ITHACA Project has entered a pivotal phase with the launch of pilot testing for its innovative civic participation platform. Piloted in the cities of Brașov (Romania) and Martin (Slovakia), the platform is designed to empower citizens to actively shape local governance. Mainly by sharing ideas, providing feedback, and engaging in open dialogue with municipal authorities. The ITHACA initiative is funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme.
At the heart of ITHACA is a strong commitment to inclusivity. Especially for marginalised and vulnerable groups, and the belief that digital tools must be co-designed with—and for—the communities they serve. Developed over the past two years, the platform features a user-friendly, human-centred interface that makes democratic participation more accessible, transparent, and impactful.
“The testing phase is a crucial step in refining our platform. Citizen feedback will directly inform improvements, ensuring it genuinely meets the needs of diverse communities,” said Epameinondas Koutavelis, Project Coordinator.
During the testing sessions, participants will:
Testing will take place between 9–11 June in Martin and 16–20 June in Brașov. These activities form part of ITHACA’s user-centred development process. They aim to contribute to more inclusive, ethical, and transparent civic engagement practices across Europe.
The pilot phase is delivered through strong local partnerships—coordinated by the City of Brașov in Romania and the City of Martin in Slovakia, with support from PEDAL Consulting s.r.o. The broader ITHACA consortium includes academic, civic, and technical partners from across Europe.
About ITHACA initiative
ITHACA (Artificial Intelligence to Enhance Civic Participation) is a Horizon Europe-funded project coordinated by KonnektAble Technologies Limited, with 11 partners across Europe. The project develops and tests a human-centric, AI-supported platform for digital public deliberation. Its goal is to create ethical, inclusive civic tech solutions that reinforce democracy and human rights in the digital age.
Contact – Project Coordinator:
Epameinondas Koutavelis, Konnekt-able Technologies Ltd.
e-mail: ekoutavelis@konnektable.com
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Europe Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
