Conference Tracks

Data for Policy has six non-domain specific and overarching focus areas for the conference and journal. The areas are interrelated and do not indicate siloed activity. They are rather an articulation of the breadth and depth of the vision and mission for improved data-driven decisions and policymaking, which is the ethos of the Data for Policy community. 

In addition to submissions aligned with these six standard focus areas, the conference also offers a special track that complements the broader conference theme. These innovative track is aligned with the conference theme while also providing a dedicated space to explore intersection of technology, institutions, and human agency in the algorithmic age.

 

Standard Focus Areas:

The six standard focus areas are as follows (see linked page for full description):

Area 1: Digital & Data-driven Transformations in Governance

Area 2: Technologies & Analytics

Area 3: Policy & Literacy for Data

Area 4: Ethics, Equity, and Trustworthiness

Area 5: Algorithmic Governance

Area 6: Global Challenges and Dynamic Threats

Special Tracks 

Special Track: Digital Statecraft: From Principles to Practice 

A combined research and practitioner track that explores the intersection of technology, institutions, and human agency in the algorithmic age. This track invites submissions across research papers, practitioner cases, and contested proposition debates, offering a dedicated space to examine emerging approaches to public governance in digitally mediated environments.

This track is convened by The Digital Statecraft Academy (DSA) in partnership with Data for Policy CIC and Data & Policy journal (Cambridge University Press). It builds on The Digital Statecraft Manifesto v1.0 (Engin et al., 2025). The special collection will be introduced by a field-constituting editorial. The companion edited volume is in development; selected authors will be approached following the conference. Cross-disciplinary submissions — combining technically oriented and institutionally or legally oriented authors — are particularly encouraged.