Welcome Reception

Welcome Dinner

Opening Remarks

Speakers:
Andreen Soley, Executive Director, Public Interest Technology University Network (PIT-UN)

Keynote Address: Public Interest Tech: A Vision for the Next Decade

Public Interest Technology as a National Priority

In this cross-sector conversation, panelists from global and national think tanks, tech advisory groups, corporate accountability, and philanthropy will explore why PIT is essential to national security, global competitiveness, economic development, and public trust.

The discussion will focus on how embedding public interest values into technology development not only mitigates harm, but actively strengthens democratic institutions and prepares a more ethical, future-ready workforce.

Investing in PIT: Philanthropy and Corporate Leadership

This roundtable will explore innovative funding models—such as grant challenges, prizes, corporate-nonprofit partnerships, and government matching programs—that have the potential to scale impactful public interest technology (PIT) initiatives.

Participants will highlight new and emerging commitments from government and philanthropies aimed at institutionalizing PIT through research, curriculum, and career pipelines. This session offers a firsthand look at how funders and field leaders are working to unlock new collaboration models and catalyze the next wave of investment in technology for the public good.

Fireside Chat: University Leadership for Public Interest Tech

This fireside chat features university leaders—presidents, provosts, and deans—who have championed PIT initiatives across disciplines, underscoring the crucial role of higher education in building this field. From interdisciplinary curricula and ethics in tech courses to research centers and student fellowships, they’ll highlight how higher education is foundational to building the talent pipeline for civic-minded technologists.

Panelists will offer candid insights on breaking down institutional silos, securing faculty support, and preparing future “civic-minded” tech and policy leaders. The session aims to inspire other academic institutions to lead in PIT and encourage funders to invest in their efforts, spotlighting successful models like joint degrees and tech clinics—while emphasizing the power of a networked approach through PIT-UN.

Networking Lunch

Strategic Breakouts: Co-Creating the Public Interest Tech Roadmap

Designed to reinforce cross-sector understanding, participants will have a direct voice in PIT-UN’s future. Each group will capture key ideas or commitments—such as launching a regional hub, forming a funding consortium, or creating a PIT internship program—and share highlights in a brief plenary report-back. By encouraging candid dialogue, networking, and creative thinking, the breakouts help build a collective vision and identify actionable opportunities.

Creative Arts Performance

Networking Break

PIT Showcase: Innovating Responsibly: PIT in Action

Practitioners and researchers will share examples—such as using data science to advance local government transparency or centering fairness in AI ethics—to illustrate what public interest technology looks like on the ground.

Table discussions will prompt participants to reflect on how technology can be designed, deployed, and regulated in ways that are responsible, equitable, and centered on public needs. Participants will leave the session with real-world PIT value and fresh ideas for applying its principles across sectors.

Closing Keynote: Collective Commitment: A Call to Action

The program concludes with a unifying call to action, turning the collective vision into concrete commitment and next steps. A PIT-UN leader will summarize key takeaways—shared goals, bold ideas, and emerging priorities—and outline a forward path for the network and the broader field.

This call to action affirms support for developing tech that serves the public interest. Rather than an end, this closing marks a launch: new partnerships formed, a stronger network built, and a clear mandate to grow and sustain public interest technology in the years ahead.

Closing Remarks

Break

Networking Dinner