What is PeaceTech? How can we use AI, virtual reality, open data, and other digital technologies in peacebuilding and mediation work? What can PeaceTech learn from CivicTech? Where is the EU’s place in the geopolitical competition in technological innovation and how can it capitalize on its strengths? We discuss these and other questions with Bernardo Venturi and Nathan Coyle. This episode is produced in partnership with the Agency for Peacebuilding (Bologna) and the Austrian Center for Peace with the kind support of the Compagnia di San Paolo Foundation.

Guests: Nathan Coyle is the Senior Project Manager for PeaceTech at the Austrian Center for Peace. He is responsible for all our Peace Tech related activities and digital development. Nathan has partnered with governments across the globe to enhance their digital outreach efforts. He is a Fellow at The Royal Society of Arts in his native Britain and a writer, contributing to publications such as The Guardian. On his publication 'Open Data for Everybody: Using Open Data for Social Good' Nathan did a TEDx talk. Bernardo Venturi a co-founder and Head of Research and Policy at the Agency for Peacebuilding in Bologna, Italy. He has 20 years of experience in research, training, policy work and programme management mainly on peacebuilding, conflict resolution, EU external relations, good governance and international cooperation. Bernardo is also Adjunct Professor at the University of Bologna, an Associate Researcher for the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI) and lectures in several MA courses and training programmes in different countries. Bernardo obtained his PhD in 2009 from the University of Bologna, where he also held a post-doctoral research fellowship. Bernardo consulted for several regional and international organizations including the European Commission, EEAS, European Parliament, IGAD, OSCE, the Italian MFA and several international NGOs and platforms. Bernardo is a frequent media commentator for different Italian media (e.g., Radio Tre, Il Sole 24 Ore, Repubblica, Avvenire, Quotidiano Nazionale, etc.) and international ones (e.g., BBC Radio, Le Soleil, El Confidencial, etc.).

Moderation Marylia Hushcha, Researcher and Project Manager at the IIP The episode was recorded on 12 June 2024.