The seminar will pave the way towards more strategic and systematic approaches to innovation. This year it will include leading-edge methods such as behavioural insights, co-creation and design-thinking for innovative policy-making and improved public services, the reform potential of digital technologies and open data as well as the building of (local) innovation systems and its management.

This practice-oriented seminar aims to provide participants with a sound background of the main innovation challenges and trends in the public sector, as well as successful existing and rewarded innovation cases regarding service delivery and policy-making. In addition, you will get an overview of up-to-date innovation methodologies and tools used by international institutions such as the European Commission as well as by cutting-edge organisations such as Nesta and Gartner. In two interactive workshops, you will also acquire the skills to formulate challenges, co-create and co-design new services, to draft an innovation agenda based on a simulation exercise, and ultimately learn how to develop (successful) innovation projects.

This new programme is addressed to public officials and leaders at the forefront of public service design and/or modernisation and reform efforts from all levels of public administration, as well as to policy officers, staff from NGOs, think tanks and other bodies who are eager to learn how to create innovative and radically new policies and services responding to the specific local, regional or national challenges.

The Lab’s location, the City of Barcelona, as a European Capital of Innovation will proudly showcase its potential and experience in this field with contributions from the Barcelona Design Centre (BCD).