eGov Lab Talk: AI for Municipalities

Virtual session on how municipalities can prepare for the responsible use of AI in public administration, with practical examples and perspectives from research.

The eGov Lab Talk “AI for Municipalities” by Fraunhofer FOKUS explores how artificial intelligence is increasingly being used in local public administration, from automated application processing and citizen-service chatbots to the analysis of large datasets.

The session looks at both the potential and the challenges of AI in municipal administration. Alongside efficiency gains and improved services, the event addresses issues such as data protection, transparency, possible errors in automated decision-making, and the need to develop AI-related skills within public institutions.

The program combines perspectives from research and administrative practice. Contributions cover the URBAN.KI project, three concrete AI use cases, and a framework for identifying role-specific generative AI competencies. The event concludes with a Q&A and discussion.

Date: November 10, 2026
Time: 5:30–approx. 6:40 PM
Location: Online
Organizer: Fraunhofer Institute for Open Communication Systems FOKUS
Admission: Free, registration required
Registration deadline: November 6, 2026
Audience: Public-sector employees, researchers, and professionals working on digital transformation in government and public administration
Focus: AI in public administration, municipal AI applications, generative AI skills, data protection, transparency, administrative digitalization
Welcome: Dr. Jens Klessmann, Head of Digital Public Services at Fraunhofer FOKUS
Speaker: Marlene Damerau, City of Gelsenkirchen / URBAN.KI
Speaker: Thilo Ernst, Fraunhofer FOKUS
Speaker: Dorian Wachsmann, Kompetenzzentrum Öffentliche IT (ÖFIT)
Program: Introduction, URBAN.KI, practical AI use cases, generative AI competency framework, Q&A and discussion