Technology and democracy connected. United, in hook. That is the idea of ​​Tech4Democracy, an initiative that promotes technologies that reaffirm democratic development. It is an idea promoted by IE University, a global academic center based in Spain, and the United States Department of State.

This year Bogotá plays a crucial role because it was the city chosen to celebrate a Venture Day in October, an international event that brings together entrepreneurs, investors, corporations, accelerators and leaders.

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From this moment on, emerging technology companies in Latin America can present their applications on the website https://www.ie.edu/tech4democracy/.

The finalists will appear before a jury at Venture Day in the capital and the winners will exhibit their projects, along with winners from Europe, the United States, Africa and Asia, at the next Summit for Democracy organized by the Department of State. It is a virtual meeting of international leaders who deal with the challenges of democracies, the fight against authoritarianism, the fight against corruption and the protection of human rights.

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The beneficiaries of the Venture Day will be able to be members of the Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub for four years, which includes $150,000 worth of computing in the cloud, free productivity software, participation in a community of mentors and technical guidance.

Development throughout the year

IE University organizes several international events of this type in different regions of the world throughout 2022, in order to identify key innovations in sectors such as data management in politics, responsibility in artificial intelligence, the fight against disinformation, the defense of transparency and access to state services. The last one will coincide with the Summit for Democracy that the United States will organize in December.

On June 28, the first Tech4democracy final took place in Madrid with European startups, coinciding with the NATO meeting in Spain. Citibeats won, a Spanish startup that develops the first artificial intelligence for active listening of citizens, created to work with a focus on the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This initiative favors civic commitment, the participation of society and the impact on cities.

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“The way we manage emerging technologies will determine our future,” said Manuel Muñiz, Head of Tech4democracy and International Rector of IE. “If we want stronger democracies we must understand and shape technological evolution,” he added. “That is where the importance of a project like Tech4Democracy lies.”

In parallel, work is also being carried out on research on the global challenge of entrepreneurship, in order to determine the current state of technologies

who support democracy. IE University will prepare a first report on this, which will be published in December.

Academy, society and technology

“We have no guarantee that any given technology supports democratic values,” Eric Lander, science adviser to US President Joe Biden and director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, told the Democracy Summit.

“It requires constant vigilance and commitment. We, the citizens, have to make sure that technology is developed and use responsibly. That is our solemn obligation”, he added.

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This explains the importance of the role of the academy. “Universities and academic institutions must promote innovation that improves people’s lives,” Muñiz said in this regard.

“In addition, technology must respect fundamental democratic values ​​such as privacy, equality or non-discrimination, and defend rights such as freedom of expression or the vote”, he added.

Tech4Democracy works in the present and looks to the future. It connects technology with governments, the private sector and civil society in order to strengthen democracy to protect future generations. Now Bogotá is a key piece to illuminate those innovative initiatives that pedal towards that goal.

JUANITA SAMPER OSPINA

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