The 3rd online-conference on Digital Governance and Public Administration: Global and Interdisciplinary Perspectives

18-19 Jun 2026 the HSE University International Laboratory for Digital Transformation in Public Administration (the Laboratory) organized the third International conference on digital governance

In 2026, the event brought together scientists and business experts from Russia, Israel, China, Brazil and Malaysia over two days (June 18-19) with four sections, and general theme «Intelligent governance: Transformations in the digital age». Eran Vigoda-Gadot, Scientific Director of the Laboratory, Professor of the School of Public Administration and Political Sciences at the University of Haifa, and Head of the Laboratory Evgeny Styrin opened the conference with an introductory speech. The organizers briefly highlighted the experience of the past two conferences (2025 and 2024), and thanked them for participating in the international dialogue in the interests of developing public and municipal governance in the participating countries.

Prof. Tao Chen, School of Public Administration, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China made a presentation on theme «Cross-Border Data Flows and AI Cooperation between China and Russia». Risk-based management helped China make a breakthrough in 2024 by eliminating bureaucratic delays in routine work with personnel, logistics and contacts. Prof. Deden Witarsyah, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia and Nusa Putra explained how, thanks to landmark paradigm-shifting regional agreements and bold, aggressive domestic reforms, starting with the consolidation of Indonesia's state-owned technology (INA Digital) and ending with innovative AI accountability systems in Vietnam, the ASEAN region is actively defining the operational parameters of a modern digital state.

Ziteng Fan, Associate Professor, Fudan University, Shanghai, China spoke about the study of the performance feedback and strategic AI governance framing. He noted that the formulation of the authorities' ideas about AI often leads to a dichotomy, a choice between opportunity-oriented management and risk-oriented management. Then Head of the Laboratory, Evgeny Styrin, presented a report, prepared with the Laboratory Leading Research Fellow Anna Sanina about research agenda of digital governance beyond traditional public administration. He highlighted the methodological problems of modern public administration studies, the complexities of researching the emotional and platform aspects of the digital transformation of the public sector.

Prof. Lizandro Lui, School of Public Policy and Government (FGV University, Brazil) and Denise Direito, Specialist in Public Policy and Government Management (IPEA, Brazil) made presentation on «Digital Transformation in Brazil: Federative and Cross-Sectoral Coordination». Their report aroused great interest among the audience, especially the problem of horizontal voting of Brazilian regions in certain areas of digital transformation of public administration, which was raised by the speakers. Prof. Erica Siqueira, Associate Professor, Fundação Getulio Vargas — FGV EAESP, São Paulo, Brazil FGV spoke about social fintech technologies, highlighting regulatory challenges of financial inclusion. Dr. Daniel de Souza Valotto presented a work made with Ms. Lorrayne Silva, Specialist (Municipality of Pedro Leopoldo, Brazil) on the experience of agency management of the Municipality of Pedro Leopoldo. The speakers were directly involved in the development of digital tools to solve citizens' problems, that is why Senior Research Fellow Maria Yudina asked clarifying questions about the use of AI from other countries in the design of Brazilian government services. Daniel de Souza Valotto replied that although this practice took place in the early stages of development, Brazil combines several generative models in the development of its municipal software to increase the security and sustainability of developments.

Zhangyu Ge, School of Public Administration, Huazhong University of Science and Technolgy, Wuhan, China, presented an upcoming study on data protection and data collaboration in the co-production of public services. Head of the Laboratory Evgeny Styrin, Laboratory Leading Research Fellow Anna Sanina, Senior Research Fellow Maria Yudina, as well as Research Assistant Ivan Makarov gave feedback on the work, including a number of recommendations for finalizing the study to increase the chances of successful publication. Abdullaeva Fazilatkhon (MGIMO, Russia) made a presentation «Digital Platforms in Public Administration: Enabling Intelligent Governance through Data Integration and Institutional Transformation». Leading Research Fellow Evgeny Diskin recommended that the terms "information systems" and "platform" be more precisely distinguished, as well as security risks taken into account when discussing the circulation of citizens' data between government systems. Research Assistant Ivan Makarov asked about possible resistance from government officials to such changes. Abdullaeva Fazilatkhon replied that the problems can be solved through institutional reforms.

Maxim Kravchenko (RANEPA, Russia) presented on the topic «Integral Assessment of the Effectiveness of Industrial Goods Promotion as a Tool for Intelligent Management in the Digital Economy». The laboratory Research Assistant Agnessa Bich, master student (HSE University, Saint Petersburg, Russia) presented her research «The Image of Authority in Digital Format: How Citizens Perceive the Names of Chatbots for Public Services?». Anastasya Sviridova, (Siberian Institute of Management, RANEPA, Russia) highlighted in her presentation balancing efficiency and ethical norms of artificial intelligence in public administration.

Ekaterina Gurova (St. Petersburg State University, Russia) made a presentation on the topic «The Digital State and the Fragmentation of the Global Digital Economy: Institutional Models and Digital Sovereignty». Makovskaya Polina, Lawyer from the Rostov Regional Сollegium of Аdvocates "Business and Law" (Russia) talked about the problem of trust in legal artificial intelligence solutions in the context of ensuring human and civil rights and freedoms.

Dojdikov Anton (FCTAS RAS, Moscow, Russia) presenred his research on the topic «Tools for Protecting Against Reward Function Hacking and Systemic Corruption in Artificial Intelligence of Government Systems». Gracheva Alina («The Best App» LLC, Russia) gave a presentation on the topic «When an Algorithm Evaluates People: AI-Assisted Management and the Limits of Algorithmic Assessment» about the experience of using such technologies in the Russian business environment. Sergey Myasnikov (Innocifra, Russia), with the presentation "Using AI to develop learning competencies using the example of a platform", showed the development possibilities for universities: digital tools allow you to combine the analysis of sought-after skills from vacancies on the Internet with recommendations to university teachers.

We invite you, dear rider, to familiarize themselves with the conference papers by following the link.