Author Archives: cssadmin

“Inclusive AI-Enhanced Civic Engagement: Empowering Marginalized Voices” selected as Cover Article

We are excited to announce that our recently published article, “Inclusive AI-Enhanced Civic Engagement: Empowering Marginalized Voices” has been selected as the Cover Article for Volume 16, Issue 4 of Societies.

Can AI bridge the digital divide in democratic participation? While online platforms offer a space for collective intelligence, they often silence the very voices they aim to include: older adults, people with disabilities, and marginalized communities. This paper presents an “inclusive-by-design” approach to digital governance. Through co-design workshops with vulnerable citizens in Romania and Slovakia and focus groups with AI experts, we bridge the “developer–user” gap. Our research reveals a hierarchy of needs where safety and accessibility trump entertainment. From AI-driven language simplification to secure toxicity sensors, we outline the technical and ethical blueprints for a platform that does not only host participation but actively empowers marginalized citizens to participate online.

View the full issue here.

ToCoReRaM: Final Conference at Circularity Days 2026

The ToCoReRaM project is entering its final phase – and we are pleased to invite you to the final project conference.

Join us on 20–21 May 2026 in Wolfsburg, Germany, where the conference will take place as part of the Circularity Days 2026.

The Circularity Days will bring together stakeholders from policy, industry, and academia, where the ToCoReRaM conference is embedded and where the final results of the project are discussed.

The agenda includes many interesting speakers and presentations and provides a platform for making new connections & exploring next steps towards more efficient and sustainable use of resources.

If you want to be part of our conference please contact deborah.huber[at]uni-graz.at.

ToCoReRaM International Workshop in Brussels – Report published

On 13 November 2025, the ToCoReRaM project — led by universities in Germany, Ireland, and Austria — hosted an international workshop at the Representation of the State of Lower Saxony in Brussels.

The project aims to develop practical tools that support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in implementing circular material strategies in line with the EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR).

The workshop brought together representatives from industry, the European Commission, and academia. Initial research findings were presented, followed by interactive round-table discussions where participants shared perspectives on implications for business, policy, and future research.

The insights generated during the event provide valuable input for the development of the ToCoReRaM tool and highlight the importance of international collaboration in advancing sustainable product design and circularity across Europe.

The workshop report has been published and can be accessed here.

ToCoReRaM International Workshop in Brussels

On 13 November 2025, the ToCoReRaM project — led by universities in Germany, Ireland, and Austria — hosted an international workshop at the Representation of the State of Lower Saxony in Brussels.

The project aims to develop practical tools that support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in implementing circular material strategies in line with the EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR).

The workshop brought together representatives from industry, the European Commission, and academia. Initial research findings were presented, followed by interactive round-table discussions where participants shared perspectives on implications for business, policy, and future research.

The insights generated during the event provide valuable input for the development of the ToCoReRaM tool and highlight the importance of international collaboration in advancing sustainable product design and circularity across Europe.

You can access the workshop results on www.designforrecovery.eu

Policy Workshop on Raw Material Recovery in Brussels – 13 November 2025

Organized within the ToCoReRaM-project (Tool for Complete Recovery of Raw Materials) a policy workshop will be held in Brussels on November 13.

The event brings together policymakers, industry representatives, and research institutions to discuss one of Europe’s most urgent challenge: how to enable small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to transition toward circular resources use and contribute meaningfully to the EU’s sustainability goals.

Key program points are:

  • First insights from SME survey and interviews conducted across Europe,
  • Concepts for practical tools to support raw material recovery,
  • Discussion of training needs for companies and customers,
  • Exploring the implementation of EU strategies such as the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and the Digital Product Passport,
  • Engage participants in a high-level roundtable on how policy can best support SMEs in this transition

We believe this is a valuable opportunity to connect research, policy, and industry—and to explore concrete ways to support SMEs in becoming drivers of Europe’s future.

If you are interested in joining please contact deborah.huber[at]uni-graz.at

ITHACA Final Event – Beyond the Algorithm: From Research to Action for Democratic Renewal

The final event Beyond the Algorithm: From Research to Action for Democratic Renewal provides a unique opportunity to see the achievements of four projects in one place.
On 4 December 2025, the KT4D final event will take place in Brussels and oline as part of a joint conference of the AI, Big Data & Democracy Task Force and the European Association for Social Sciences and Humanities.
The involved Horizon Europe projects are: AI4GOV, KT4D, ITHACA, and ORBIS.

Paper presented: “Inclusive AI-Enhanced Civic Engagement: Empowering Marginalized Voices through Inclusion by Design”

At the ORBICOM annual conference in Strasbourg (September 29–October 2, 2025), Maria Zangl presented a paper entitled Inclusive AI-Enhanced Civic Engagement: Empowering Marginalized Voices through Inclusion by Design. This paper emerged from the ITHACA project and reports on findings from AI citizens’ juries in Brasov (RO) and Martin (SK) and the wishes of socially disadvantaged people regarding digital civic participation, and offers various technical considerations for the ethical implementation of AI tools as well as necessary information and explanations for users for safe and efficient use.