Government Modernisation, Digitalisation and Public Sector Innovation
GOVERNMENT MODERNISATION, DIGITALISATION AND PUBLIC SECTOR INNOVATION: 8TH CREATIVE BUREAUCRACY FESTIVAL ON 5 JUNE
- On 5 June, the eighth edition of the Creative Bureaucracy Festival in Berlin will bring together around 2,000 participants from public administration, politics, and civil society to discuss public sector innovation and shape the future of government.
- Former Federal Minister Thomas de Maizière will speak on the main stage about the “Initiative for a State Capable of Acting.”
- The festival is aimed at decision-makers, leaders, project managers, and public sector employees.
- The full festival programme will be published at the end of April.
- All main stage content will be livestreamed free of charge.
- Tickets are available for €34.90 at: https://creativebureaucracy.org/tickets
Berlin, 15 April 2025 – On 5 June 2025, the eighth edition of the Creative Bureaucracy Festival will once again gather around 2,000 participants from public administration, politics, and civil society in Berlin. Against the backdrop of the new Ministry for Digitalisation and Government Modernisation, as proposed in the coalition agreement, the festival anticipates a multifaceted debate on developments in the public sector. Advocating for a constructive approach to administrative modernisation, the festival offers a space for positive impulses and forward-looking dialogue. With speakers and projects from around the globe, the festival showcases how public institutions are responding to today’s challenges with creativity and pragmatism – and how innovation often emerges where we least expect it: in the everyday routines of bureaucracy.
As calls to reduce bureaucracy clash with the demand for reliable state infrastructure, the festival asks: How does innovation in public administration actually work – and what conditions and structures are needed to enable it?
A Rich Programme Offers a Multitude of Ideas and Practical Solutions
The festival day will feature a vibrant programme across four stages and five workshop spaces, offering room for discussion and inspiration. More than 150 speakers from over 30 countries will present proven projects, engage in debate with attendees, and connect with fellow bureaucrats from across the globe. A key highlight: the festival welcomes former Federal Minister Thomas de Maizière, who will represent the “Initiative for a State Capable of Acting” and share insights in light of the current debate on state reform. Johanna Sieben, Festival Director and Deputy Managing Director of the Falling Walls Foundation, underscores the broader relevance of the topic: “We’re witnessing a global erosion of trust in democracy and its institutions. To restore that trust, we need a people-centred, effective bureaucracy – it’s the first point of contact between citizens and the state.”
PD – Berater der öffentlichen Hand GmbH has been the main festival partner since 2020. Managing Director Claus Wechselmann says: “Through our in-house consulting work, PD regularly encounters innovative and courageous people within public administration. The festival gives them a space to connect, share their work, and – just like in previous years – find a community of practice. PD will contribute to 14 sessions with its public sector clients, including talks, discussions, and workshops. I’m looking forward to the festival’s unique atmosphere.”
The stages and workshop spaces at the festival will offer sessions on some of the most pressing issues of our time, including fundamental state reform, creative urban planning, citizen-centred digitalisation, and innovation in the administration of science. In addition, data labs from various ministries will present their current projects and findings, while international initiatives will showcase practical and proven solutions for more effective governance.
Among the many distinguished speakers the festival is proud to welcome are James Anderson (Government Innovation Lead, Bloomberg Philanthropies), Dörte Dinger, (State Secretary to the Office of the Federal President of Germany), Martina Klement (Chief Digital Officer of the State of Berlin), Erdem Ovacik (Social Entrepreneur and Founder), Member of the German Bundestag Ralph Brinkhaus; and Tamara Szrentić (former Minister for Digitalisation in Montenegro), with many more still to be announced.
The festival’s wide-ranging institutional partnerships reflect its commitment to tackling one of the most urgent societal challenges of our time. Alongside its main festival partner, PD – Berater der öffentlichen Hand, the festival is supported by key institutions such as the Institute for Federal Real Estate, the Federal Chancellery of Germany, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, and the Federal Ministry of Defence. Additional partners include byte – the Bavarian Agency for Digital Affairs, DigitalService des Bundes, the European Commission and EC Policy Lab, Fraunhofer Fokus, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the German Project Management Association (GPM), the Goethe Institute, the Berlin University of Applied Sciences (HTW), the Hertie Foundation, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, the Max Planck Society, the Berlin Senate Chancellery, the City of Stuttgart, and the German Environment Agency (UBA).
Press Contact:
Felix Mihalek, PR Manager Creative Bureaucracy Festival, +49 30 60 98 83 97 80, press@creativebureaucracy.org
ABOUT THE CREATIVE BUREAUCRACY FESTIVAL
The Creative Bureaucracy Festival shines a spotlight on creative solutions to a wide variety of community issues within administration, bringing them center-stage and fostering a dialogue among the individuals and minds behind them. According to its president Charles Landry, the festival stands for a change from a "No, because" culture to a "Yes, if" culture that inspires people to try new things. The festival also aims to strengthen the reputation of the administration and appeal to imaginative young talents. creativebureaucracy.org
ABOUT THE FALLING WALLS FOUNDATION
Since 2009, the non-profit Falling Walls Foundation has been bringing together the most renowned and influential thought leaders from around the world. Nobel Prize winners, start-ups, young scientific talents, research companies, culture, politics and the media discuss the question: "Which are the next walls to fall in science and society?". The Falling Walls Foundation's programmes build bridges be-tween science and society and convey enthusiasm for the work of scientists in all disciplines.falling-walls.com
ABOUT PD – ADVISOR TO THE PUBLIC SECTOR
As a partner to the public sector, PD combines economic and strategic expertise with in-depth knowledge of the special processes and structures of public sector clients. On this basis, PD offers consulting and management services on all aspects of modern administration with a team of around 1,100 employees. Clients are exclusively federal, state and local authorities as well as other public bodies and institutions, as PD is itself 100 per cent publicly owned as an in-house consultancy. pd-g.de
