Bologna, 15–17 May 2024 — The Global PeaceTech Hub played an active role in the 2024 Bologna Peacebuilding Forum, an international gathering dedicated to rethinking peace mediation and exploring the evolving intersection of technology, conflict, and cooperation.

The Forum, hosted in venues across Bologna including Cappella Farnese, Biblioteca Salaborsa, Teatro del Baraccano, and Johns Hopkins SAIS, brought together experts and practitioners from around the world. Conversations spanned mediation efforts in Colombia, South Africa, Nigeria, and the Central African Republic, while also addressing broader challenges such as gender inclusion, accountability, and the role of technology in peace processes.

Spotlight on PeaceTech

On the morning of May 15, the Forum opened with a high-level panel titled “PeaceTech: Exploring the Intersection between Technology and Peacebuilding”. The session featured:

• Michele Giovanardi (Coordinator, Global PeaceTech Hub – EUI)

• Marianna Lunardini (CeSPI)

• Kristoffer Lidén (Peace Research Institute Oslo)

• Emiliano Alessandri (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe)

Panelists examined how digital tools — from AI to online platforms — are reshaping peacebuilding practices, with a focus on both the opportunities for inclusion and innovation and the risks of surveillance and digital harm.

Looking Ahead

The Forum closed with a renewed call for collaboration between researchers, diplomats, tech developers, and local peacebuilders, echoing the Global PeaceTech Hub’s mission to bridge global governance and local innovation.

Stay tuned for the 2025 edition — and check out resources from this year’s Forum via the Agency for Peacebuilding channels.