How is the digital transformation of public administration working in practice? Which projects are creating tangible added value for citizens? And which innovative approaches are driving the modernisation of cities, local authorities and public bodies? The stage programme at the Smart Country Convention 2026 provides answers to these questions.

This year’s Call for Speakers attracted a great deal of interest: a total of 390 entries were submitted. The projects come from 40 cities, ten federal states and eight districts, and illustrate the wide variety of digital transformation initiatives in Germany. From all the submissions, 20 best-practice examples were selected to be presented at the Smart Country Convention 2026.

AI, cyber security and sustainable urban development

The selected contributions cover a wide range of topics:

For example, the Hessian Ministry of Finance demonstrates how tax returns can be filed digitally via the tax office.

The Lower Rhine Municipal Data Centre (KRZN) presents a collaborative approach to strengthening municipal IT security and reports on cyber resilience through shared structures and cooperation.

The City of Munich shares its experiences from the development and roll-out of an AI tool within the local government administration. This highlights that successful digitalisation does not depend solely on technological solutions, but above all on their acceptance and use.

With ‘G24 – Setting up a business in 24 hours’, Berlin’s Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises demonstrates how digital processes can speed up the process of setting up a business.

The city of Aalen reports on how a new understanding of digitalisation can bring about lasting change to administrative processes.

The municipality of Eichenzell shows how inter-municipal cooperation makes digital infrastructure more efficient and pools resources.

The city of Wuppertal illustrates how digital technologies can also contribute to sustainable urban development. There, satellite remote sensing and artificial intelligence support climate-adapted planning of urban spaces and provide valuable insights for the preservation and expansion of the city’s tree population.

From public administration to the stage

The selected best practices demonstrate just how diverse the digital transformation of public administration is already today – and what potential there is for a modern, efficient and citizen-centred public administration. From 13 to 15 October, the presentations will be featured on the stages of the Smart Country Convention 2026.

Further information on the programme for the Smart Country Convention 2026 is available here.