ITHACA Project

?? The ITHACA Sustainability Journey Begins From vision to impact, the ITHACA project is building a future where Artificial Intelligence (AI) empowers citizens, strengthens trust, and supports inclusive governance. We are actively working on the Exploitation & sustainability plan to ensure that its AI-powered solutions for civic participation have a lasting impact. ?? Key progress so far: ? Identified key exploitable results ? Completed an initial SWOT analysis ? Drafted a business model canvas ? Launched a market landscape assessment ? Conducted preliminary intellectual property rights analysis Together, we’re ensuring trustworthy, ethical, and sustainable AI for democratic participation. Stay tuned for more updates! Konnektable Technologies Ltd. PEDAL Consulting MNLT Innovations PC SIMAVI Software Imagination & Vision Centre for Research & Technology Hellas (CERTH) Raising the Floor University of Patras University of Graz Stamadianos & Partners #ITHACAProject #SustainableAI #CivicEngagement #DigitalDemocracy

??ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE & Citizen Participation: Shaping the Future of Governance. AI is transforming the way citizens engage with governments—making governance more transparent, efficient, and responsive. From chatbots answering public inquiries to machine learning analyzing data for better policies, AI has the potential to strengthen citizen participation like never before. But with these opportunities come challenges: data privacy, cybersecurity risks, and algorithmic bias must be carefully managed to ensure fairness and trust. That’s where the ITHACA Project steps in. We’re committed to using AI responsibly to empower communities and create inclusive, democratic decision-making. Let’s shape the future together! ?? Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dG9jNgsf Konnektable Technologies Ltd. PEDAL Consulting MNLT Innovations PC SIMAVI Software Imagination & Vision Centre for Research & Technology Hellas (CERTH) Raising the Floor University of Patras University of Graz Stamadianos & Partners #AI #SmartDemocracy #CitizenEngagement #ITHACAProject

?? Building a Smarter, Safer & More Inclusive Digital Future – ITHACA’s Platform in Action! The ITHACA Project is taking a major step forward in the Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven civic participation. HOW? With our online Platform Test & Evaluation Plan. Let's dive into the testing: ? Expert Evaluation (Phase 0) AI, accessibility & UX specialists assess usability. ? Controlled Testing (Phase 1) Small-scale user trials, including marginalized groups. ? Real-Life Testing (Phase 2) Large-scale pilot studies engaging communities. WHY IT MATTERS ?? Strengthening civic engagement with AI-powered solutions. ?? Prioritizing privacy & security through GDPR-compliant data governance. ?? Creating an inclusive & accessible digital democracy for all. WHAT’S NEXT? ?? Finalizing platform features based on testing insights. ?? Scaling engagement strategies to maximize participation. ?? Strengthening partnerships for ethical, impactful AI-driven governance. ITHACA is shaping the future of digital democracy. We aim to ensure AI-driven participation tools are trustworthy, inclusive, and effective! ???? Konnektable Technologies Ltd. PEDAL Consulting MNLT Innovations PC SIMAVI Software Imagination & Vision Centre for Research & Technology Hellas (CERTH) Raising the Floor University of Patras University of Graz Stamadianos & Partners #ITHACAProject #AIForGood #DigitalDemocracy #CivicEngagement #EthicalAI

??Artificial Intelligence for Civic Engagement: Strengthening Democracy?? The ITHACA Project is exploring how Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered tools can make citizen participation more transparent, inclusive, and secure. Our latest research highlights the best practices in AI-driven civic engagement worldwide. ?? What We Found: ? Reviewed 22 AI-driven platforms supporting democratic participation ? Evaluated fairness, transparency & security in citizen engagement tools ? Identified top-performing applications that enhance public decision-making ?? Why It Matters AI has the power to increase accessibility, transparency, and public trust in governance. At ITHACA, we’re committed to ensuring these technologies are ethical, responsible, and people-centered. ?? What do you think? Have you seen an AI tool that truly empowers citizens? Let us know! ?? Konnektable Technologies Ltd. PEDAL Consulting MNLT Innovations PC SIMAVI Software Imagination & Vision Centre for Research & Technology Hellas (CERTH) Raising the Floor University of Patras University of Graz Stamadianos & Partners #ITHACAProject #AIForDemocracy #CivicEngagement #DigitalDemocracy #EthicalAI

???? How can citizens control personal data when participating in democratic processes? The ITHACA project is taking another step towards privacy, security, and transparency in AI-driven civic engagement. Our latest report, the Overview of Personal Information Management Systems (PIMS), explores how individuals can take control of their personal data while participating in democratic processes. ?? What exactly is the PIMS about? It allows individuals to: ? Store personal data securely. ? Control & share their data only with whom they choose. ? Ensure transparency by tracking how their data is used. ? Comply with GDPR and privacy regulations. ITHACA’s key activities in this field: ?? Examined best practices from leading PIMS solutions (Nextcloud, Solid, MyDex, MyData, etc.). ?? Outlined essential requirements for data privacy and security. ?? Defined a human-centric approach to personal data protection. Now we can integrate PIMS principles into our online discussion platform ensuring fair, secure, and transparent AI-powered civic participation. Konnektable Technologies Ltd. PEDAL Consulting MNLT Innovations PC SIMAVI Software Imagination & Vision Centre for Research & Technology Hellas (CERTH) Raising the Floor University of Patras University of Graz Stamadianos & Partners #ITHACAproject #data_protection #PIMS #AIprivacy #AIsecurity

?? ITHACA Platform: Tested for Usability, Built for Inclusion, Designed for Impact ?? The ITHACA project is taking the next big step in AI-driven civic participation with a structured platform test & evaluation plan. Our goal is to ensure the online platform for civic participation is user-friendly, inclusive, and scalable across different communities. ?? How are we testing it? ? Phase 0 (Feb 2025) Expert testing with AI, accessibility, and HCI specialists to validate usability. ? Phase 1 (Mar-May 2025) Controlled testing with targeted users, including people with disabilities, older users & digitally marginalized groups. ? Phase 2 (Aug–Oct 2025) Real-life testing in Brasov (RO) & Martin (SK), assessing civic engagement in urban & rural settings. ?? Key Focus Areas ?? Usability & Accessibility Ensuring easy navigation & high satisfaction levels. ?? Technical Performance Meeting response time & load-handling benchmarks. ?? Civic Impact Measuring how AI enhances participation & democratic engagement. At ITHACA, we are committed to building ethical AI for inclusive digital democracy. Follow our journey as we transform research into action. ?? Konnektable Technologies Ltd. PEDAL Consulting MNLT Innovations PC SIMAVI Software Imagination & Vision Centre for Research & Technology Hellas (CERTH) Raising the Floor University of Patras University of Graz Stamadianos & Partners #ITHACAProject #AIForCivicEngagement #DigitalDemocracy #EthicalAI #UserExperience

CAN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IMPROVE CIVIC PARTICIPATION? At the ITHACA Project, we are shaping the future of AI-driven civic engagement ensuring AI is fair, transparent, and inclusive. Let’s take a look at the "State of the Art and Conceptualisation". ?? Under the supervision of University of Graz, we are laying the foundation for trustworthy AI by studying best practices, ethics, and regulations to guide ITHACA’s pilot studies. What it really means: ? Learning from existing AI-powered civic platforms. ? Ensuring AI complies with ethical and legal guidelines (like the EU AI Act). ? Making AI more understandable, secure, and useful for people. That is not all! We plan to address also: ?? Refining AI compliance frameworks to support inclusive and ethical civic engagement. ?? Implementing findings into ITHACA’s pilot studies in Brasov (RO) & Martin (SK). ?? Strengthening AI’s role in democratic participation with a human-centered approach. ITHACA is committed to making AI fair, explainable, and impactful for civic engagement. Join us as we transform research into action! ?? Konnektable Technologies Ltd. PEDAL Consulting MNLT Innovations PC SIMAVI Software Imagination & Vision Centre for Research & Technology Hellas (CERTH) Raising the Floor University of Patras University of Graz Stamadianos & Partners #ITHACAProject #AIForGood #DigitalDemocracy #EthicalAI #CivicEngagement

Building the ITHACA Online Platform: Another Milestone Achieved The ITHACA project is developing an Artificial Intelligence-powered platform for fair and transparent civic participation. Our partner SIMAVI Software Imagination & Vision is leading the technical development. What’s been achieved so far with their help? ?? The first version of the ITHACA platform is designed with a solid system architecture. ?? A strong backbone is in place, including database access, APIs, and cloud hosting. ?? Key AI tools for security and transparency are integrated. ?? Early user-interface features like chatbots, forums, and polls are developed. ?? What’s next? ?? Further refining the platform based on feedback. ?? Deploying the final version in a cloud environment. ?? Preparing a report to ensure long-term sustainability. By combining technology with ethics, ITHACA is paving the way for AI in local governance. More progress is on the way! Konnektable Technologies Ltd. PEDAL Consulting MNLT Innovations PC SIMAVI Software Imagination & Vision Centre for Research & Technology Hellas (CERTH) Raising the Floor University of Patras University of Graz Stamadianos & Partners #ITHACAProject #AI #civic_engagement #ITHACAplatform

Setting new benchmarks for leveraging AI in citizen engagement At the M24 General Assembly Meeting, the ITHACA Project presented updates on the exploitation and sustainability of the online communication platform for civic participation. As we work towards the final version of the Exploitation and sustainability plan (due in December 2025), here’s what makes ITHACA stand out: ? Ethical by Design A transparent, inclusive platform that builds public trust in Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools. ? Scalable Cybersecurity Tools Ensuring safety and reliability in AI-driven citizen services. ? Market Potential The civic AI market is projected to grow from $11.1B (2024) to $67.3B by 2030, with immense opportunities for impact. ?? Next Steps: ?Refining our business model and financial projections. ?Exploring transparent procurement avenues and market entry strategies. ?Monitoring trends to ensure the platform’s sustainability and impact. ITHACA is setting new benchmarks for leveraging AI in citizen engagement. Join us on this journey toward a transparent and ethical AI-powered future! Konnektable Technologies Ltd. PEDAL Consulting MNLT Innovations PC SIMAVI Software Imagination & Vision Centre for Research & Technology Hellas (CERTH) Raising the Floor University of Patras University of Graz Stamadianos & Partners & Partner #ITHACAProject #AI #CivicParticipation #Innovation #EthicalAI

?? Advancing Artificial Intelligence Ethics and Governance in Civic Participation At the recent 4th Plenary Meeting in Waterford, Ireland in December 2024, we shared our key updates. Especially the work focusing on developing tools and frameworks to ensure fairness, security, and privacy in AI-powered civic participation platforms. ?? What are the major achievements in this field? - The AI Fairness Tool Evaluates and addresses biases in AI systems, promoting inclusivity and transparency. - The AI Cybersecurity Tool Detects vulnerabilities in AI models, ensuring safer systems for civic engagement. - The Privacy Preserving Machine Learning (PPML) Tool Protects user data while enabling effective analysis. All of them are supported by a cutting-edge visual component for improved oversight and usability. We’re also laying the groundwork for ethical AI with policy recommendations and a robust Data Governance Framework to align with GDPR and EU AI regulations. ?? Stay tuned for more updates. Konnektable Technologies Ltd. PEDAL Consulting MNLT Innovations PC SIMAVI Software Imagination & Vision Centre for Research & Technology Hellas (CERTH) Raising the Floor University of Patras University of Graz Stamadianos & Partners #ITHACAProject #CivicEngagement #AIForGood #Innovation #PrivacyByDesign