The Cancer Guidance Centre – Kapa3, in collaboration with René Descartes College, held a webinar on Friday, 30 October 2026, from 18:30 to 20:30, entitled “Digital Transformation in the Public Sector and Civil Society: Convergence or Divergence and Proposals.”
The event explored how the digital transition can strengthen relationships between the state, organisations and citizens while ensuring better services and equitable access. The discussion connected changes in public administration with the everyday circumstances in which citizens use digital services.
Speakers included Anastasia Tsartara, Head of the Interior, Digital Governance, Justice and Institutions Sector at the General Secretariat for Coordination of the Presidency of the Government; Dr Emmanouil Alexandrakis, Adjunct Professor and Strategic Development and Internationalisation Advisor to the MBA International programme at Athens University of Economics and Business; Evangeli Bista, Co-founder and Strategic Partnerships Lead at Kapa3; Eirini Gkoni, collaborator at GRNET’s Directorate of Digital Transformation and Digital Skills; Dimitris Papadakis, Co-founder and Head of Sales at SimasiaAI; and Aristea Archontidou, Kapa3 collaborator, with postgraduate expertise in Health Policy and Planning.
Organisational change, skills and cooperation
The webinar addressed digital transformation as a continuous process of organisational change requiring redesigned procedures, effective leadership, a supportive organisational culture and workforce development. Topics included interoperability, cooperation between institutions, objective setting and project management, alongside the evaluation of digital initiatives and their outcomes.
The discussion also considered differences in citizens’ digital skills, accessibility requirements and ability to use services. Civil society’s contribution was examined through its role in identifying needs, supporting people with limited digital experience and participating in the design of solutions.
Eirini Gkoni’s presentation included the example of GovTech4All 2.0 in Komotini, Greece, and Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. Through co-creation workshops, people with disabilities, civil society organisations, citizens, municipal employees and academics contributed to identifying needs and developing specifications for accessible digital solutions.
MYRTO and access to social support
Kapa3’s experience illustrated the practical challenges of the digital transition for people affected by cancer and their families. A single question about rights, benefits or travel support may require information from multiple institutions, different documents and successive administrative procedures.
Aristea Archontidou presented MYRTO, Kapa3’s digital social assistant, and its contribution to accessing information on rights, benefits and services, with the option of connecting users to the organisation’s team.
In his presentation, “MYRTO as a Bridge Between Artificial Intelligence and Human Needs,” Dimitris Papadakis explored the challenge of connecting fragmented information and drawing on up-to-date sources. The presentation highlighted how technology and human guidance can work together to support users. The TIMA Charitable Foundation is MYRTO’s founding sponsor.
From dialogue to practical proposals
The webinar materials presented proposals for systematic co-design and user testing, civil society involvement from the strategy development stage, the use of open data and tools, and stronger community structures as points of support for accessing services. Particular attention was also given to sustaining partnerships beyond the duration of a funded project.
Artificial intelligence and the use of data were discussed as part of the next phase of digital transformation, alongside the need for training, responsible design and evaluation of the practical value of new tools in everyday life.
