GTF launches Government Science Hub in New York: uniting academia, policymakers, and experts
On May 24th, Government Tomorrow Forum has held an expert meeting in New York City to kick-start its new platform: the Government Science Hub. In partnership with some of the world’s leading universities in France, United States, South Korea, and other countries, GTF puts in place a safe space for experts to discuss the most complex issues of governance, fueling both academic research and GTF-powered policymaking advice definition.
The kick-off roundtable united local and international policymakers and experts around the GTF leadership represented by the Founder Igor Matthieu Lys and research advisors Oliver Thomsen and Archibald Hood. These experts included:
the New York City’s Commissioner for International Affairs Edward Mermelstein
the director of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Contracts Lisa Flores
Michael Garner, NYC Commissioner for Business Diversity
director of the National Innovation and Excellence Agency of Albania Ledi Imeraj
Mark Minevich, a world-famous expert on AI
Bob Bennett, Chair of Cities Today Institute
— and many others.
The meeting, dedicated to “AI-powered cities and governments,” revolved around two major topics:
AI products for governments and administrations. What do governments buy when they buy AI? How do they identify their technological needs? How do they design, co-develop or develop, acquire AI-powered products? Lisa Flores, in charge of the New York City’s $40 billions procurement, was an invaluable source of insights for our experts.
AI culture and international benchmarking: how to educate leadership and staff on AI? Which countries and cities could solve the technological transition challenges and what does their experience teach us?
“I am immensely proud of the work we have done here together with our partners from New York City. I think such practical in-depth discussions are extremely important, and for example the feedback we have gotten from the head of the City’s procurement on what AI is as a product is instrumental in defining policies and pilot projects for governments globally. We will continue this work, and I am certain it will yield impressive results.”
The Forum will be working on preparing a summary of the discussion that will be published early June, and on preparing the next round of the Hub discussion, this time with its academic partners.
The next steps of the process are a new expert meeting early September, and a presentation conference in New York in Autumn 2024 to present the research results to a wide audience and journalists.
We have gotten so many different perspectives, the other people were passionate, it has very much contributed to a very vibrant conversation… The universality of the challenges we are all facing is obvious, and such discussions are very important.
— Bob Bennett, Chair of Cities Today Foundation
