INCITE-DEM Final Conference at the European Parliament

The final conference of the research project coordinated by FCiências.ID/CE3C ‘INCITE-DEM – Transforming the Future of Democracy’ will take place on 27th January 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at the European Parliament in Brussels (with the possibility of online participation).

INCITE-DEM is a cross-border research project led by FCiências.ID/CE3C at the University of Lisbon, bringing together partners from across Europe. The project focuses on democratic innovations and participatory governance, combining comparative research with applied analysis to support resilient, inclusive, and evidence-based democratic systems.

Democracy across Europe is facing growing challenges. Rising political polarisation, the spread of disinformation, and declining public trust are placing unprecedented pressure on democratic institutions. Civil society and NGOs are facing increasing pressure and constraints, even as they remain essential actors in safeguarding transparency, participation, and democratic resilience. As well as journalism.

On 27 January 2026, policy-makers will meet with academic partners and civil society to explore a vital question for the European project led by FCiências/CE3C of the University of Lisbon: how can democratic systems remain legitimate, inclusive, and effective in an era of polarisation, disinformation, and mistrust?

“Why should we embrace democratic innovations? Because even when things are going well, they could always be better. And if things are not well, they should be made better. This is the imperative of innovation in general and democratic innovation in particular,” Petteri Repo, (Research Director, the Centre for Consumer Society Research, the University of Helsinki).