Applications are open for a Civic Tech Exchange Programme that will bring together professionals from the UK and Portugal working at the intersection of democracy, citizenship and technology.

Eligible participants include Portuguese researchers, civil society organisations, technologists, civic innovators, public institutions, journalists, philanthropic actors and private organisations.

Organised by the Foundation’s UK Branch in partnership with Nesta, the programme aims to promote sharing of experiences and the creation of networks, collaborations and new approaches that can strengthen the Portuguese ecosystem of democratic innovation using technology. The initiative is jointly led by the Foundation’s UK Branch and Democracy and Civil Society grant-making units.

The exchange trip will take place in London between 6-8 July. Participants will gain exposure to the British civic technology ecosystem through visits and presentations of initiatives that use digital tools and collaborative methodologies to strengthen democratic participation, institutional trust, civic engagement and the collaborative resolution of public problems. The programme will be conducted entirely in English.

Interested individuals should submit an Expression of Interest letter to [email protected], according to this guidance, by Thursday 28 May.

Up to 12 participants will be selected and will be informed on 2 June. Participants will be selected to ensure sectoral diversity, plurality of perspectives and relevance of the work developed in the field of civic tech, democratic participation and civic innovation.