Reflections from Érica Menezes (Travel Grant Awardee Ph.D Student at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

DgO 2025 was na absolute success, with 262 submissions, including 17 specifically for the PhD Colloquium. From these, 158 were accepted, resulting in 119 full papers, 28 posters, 6 workshops, and 5 panels. The review process was equally impressive, with 551 reviews conducted by a community of 324 reviewers. The conference featured 24 tracks, including two proposed by the local organization committee—“Dialogues About Latin America” and “Digital Government Ecosystem Cases – Practical Case Reports.” It was a great honor to be part of the organizing team for this edition, which was held for the first time in my country, Brazil, and to witness the international research community gather to discuss critical topics for advancing digital government.

Participating in the PhD Colloquium was, without a doubt, one of the most meaningful moments of the conference to me. The exchange with experienced researchers and fellow PhD students from different parts of the world provided valuable insights for the development of my research. The collaborative environment not only allowed for constructive feedback but also fostered partnerships and connections that I am sure will continue to grow in the future. At the colloquium, I discussed with peers my research titled “Pathways for implementing a Smart City Living Lab (SCLL) in Latin America: a glance at governance.” This on going doctoral research aims to investigate how governance models can support the implementation of Smart City Living Labs in Brazil, considering the country’s social and economic specificities.

For me, having my work analysed at the colloquium was an important step in validating my theoretical and methodological approach. The feedback received highlighted the originality of the research by focusing on governance from a Global South perspective, and also offered practical suggestions on how to deepen the analysis of stakeholder networks and incorporate variables related to the sustainability and longevity of Living Labs. One of the main takeaways was understanding how different cultural and institutional contexts impact the way Living Labs are designed and operated, reinforcing the relevance of my proposal for a governance framework tailored to the Brazilian reality.

If I could give one piece of advice to other PhD students, it would be: participate in doctoral colloquium! Take full advantage of the feedback from experts and peers, and use these opportunities to connect with your research community. These spaces not only strengthen academic work but also help build support networks that are essential for the research journey. Thank you very much, DGS community! See you in 2026! ”