Advancing Democratic Resilience: HDRI at the European Commission’s High-Level Engagements in Brussels

The Human Development Research Initiative (HDRI) is pleased to announce our active participation in a series of landmark events hosted by the European Commission in Brussels this week. Represented by our President, Gurgen Petrosyan, HDRI joined a distinguished multidisciplinary cohort for the inaugural EU Civic Tech Hackathon and the High-Level Event on Democracy.

As a key contributor to the dialogue on the European Democracy Shield, HDRI engaged in intensive collaborative sessions during the EU Civic Tech Hackathon (June 22–23). Our participation focused on co-designing innovative digital tools to strengthen democratic participation and civic engagement across the Union. We explored critical challenge areas, including the interoperability of civic tech infrastructure, making participation more attractive and inclusive, and ensuring that citizen input leads to tangible policy impact.

The mission continued on June 24 at the High-Level Event on Democracy at the Charlemagne building. Following a keynote by Commissioner Michael McGrath, HDRI participated in strategic discussions regarding Pillar III of the Democracy Shield, which prioritizes boosting societal resilience and empowering citizens through technological innovation.

At HDRI, we remain dedicated to the principle that thoughtfully designed civic technologies are essential enablers for more transparent and resilient democracies. We look forward to integrating the insights gained from these European leaders and practitioners into our ongoing research and initiatives.

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