WSA Global Congress – Hyderabad, India
Digital, Democracy & Us: Impact Solutions for Global Challenges
Where: T-Hub - Hyderabad, India
When: April 6 - 9, 2025
Why join?
If you truly care about global challenges, data & democracy and digital divides, join the world's largest community of social entrepreneurs changing the world through digital technology one day at a time.
- Share your ideas on social issues on a global stage with direct exposure to innovators, government and the private sector
- Exchange, learn, and co-create on an eye-to-eye level with an especially diverse multi-stakeholder community
- Learn from Indian ecosystem partners about digital & IT infrastructre & meet the buzzing innovation ecosystem in Hyderabad
Key Topics
Digital Democracy
Citizen Participation, Access, Transparency
Digital tools are transforming how we engage with governance, offering new ways to amplify voices, access information, and participate in decision-making. Yet, it also raises critical questions: How do echo chambers shape public opinion? Can we safeguard privacy and trust in the face of data misuse? What happens to democracy when millions lack digital access?
Join for bold discussions, discover best practice solutions and learn from international experts.
It's in our hands
Data, Digital Divides, Ethics
The digital world is a reflection of our choices—how we manage data, uphold sovereignty, and define ethical boundaries. Are we building systems that empower people or reinforce control? Who owns our digital identities, and how do we ensure fairness in an interconnected age?
Impact Solutions
Social Entrepreneurship, UN SDGs, ESGs
How can digital innovation address the world’s toughest challenges? From climate action to social equity, to health, education or inclusion. Discover global best practices and connect with global changemakers and innovation experts.
Winners
For 20+ years, every year over 200 nationally elected solutions get judged by 400+ global jury members across 3 voting rounds and 45 overall global winners are selected. These 45 overall winners are then
recognized and celebrated during the Global Congress.
Key Participants
Program flow
Day 1, Sunday, April 6
- 11:00-13:00 – Test your pitching
WSA Peer to Peer Pitch Rehearsal for Winning Teams - 13:00-14:45 – WSA winning teams welcome
Information & Networking Session
Global Innovation Exchange
WSA National Experts Networking Exchange for WSA National Experts and WSA Youth Ambassadors - 15:30-16:30 – Global Community Get2Gether
- 17:00-19:00 – WSA Board of Directors Meeting
- 19:00-21:00 – Why Hyderabad? Get to know the buzzing innovation ecosystem
Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary, IT & EC, Government of Telangana State
Sujit Jagirdar, CEO, T-HUB
Osama Manzar, Founder & Director Digital Empowerment Foundation
Day 2, Monday, April 7
- 09:30-10:30 – WSA Global Congress Welcome & Inauguration
- 10:30-11:00 – Futurizing Democracy | Threats and Opportunities in the Digital Age
Keynote - 11:00-11:45 – The Ethical Dilemma: Power and Agency in the Age of AI
Panel discussion - 12:00-13:00 – Digital & Us – Impact Solutions for Local Challenges: Global Perspectives
Inspiration Shot Talks - 13:00-14:00 – Lunch Break & Digital Sangam
- 14:00-16:00 – Connect 4 Impact
Winners Roundtables
Regulation 4 Innovation
Ministerial Roundtable - 16:00-18:15 – Impact Solutions for Global Challenges
WSA Winners Pitches in the Categories
Business & Commerce | Learning & Education | Inclusion & Empowerment | Culture & Heritage
Day 3, Tuesday, April 8
- 09:30-10:00 – The Human Costs of Digital Divides
Keynote - 10:00-11:15 – Equity by Design. Building Tech That Reflects Everyone
Inspiration Shot Talks - 11:15-12:00 – Regulation 4 Innovation
Panel Discussion - 12:00-14:00 – Digital Sangam & Networking Lunch
- 14:00-15:15 – Impact Entrepreneurship
Peer2Peer Exhchange
Global Digital Compact & WSIS Process
Ministerial Roundtable
Digital Democracy & Us
Fishbowl - 16:00-18:15 – Impact Solutions for Global Challenges
WSA Winners Pitches in the Categories
Environment & Green Energy | Health & Well-Being | Smart Settlements & Urbanization Government & Citizen Engagement | Young Innovators
Day 4, Wednesday, April 9
- 10:00-20:00 – Digital Impact Academy
Parallel Workshops & Roundtables - 13:00-16:00 – Telangana Site Visits
- 19:30-22:00 – Digital Impact Solutions for the UN SDGs
Award Ceremony & Gala
Support the WSA Youth Community
Empower Young Innovators. Shape the Future.
In times of crisis and misinformation, young changemakers need support more than ever. WSA equips them with the knowledge, networks, and opportunities to drive real impact.
At the WSA Global Congress 2025 in India, youth innovators will connect with global leaders to tackle today’s biggest challenges through digital solutions. But many can’t afford to attend.
Help us raise €15,000 to fund scholarships for 10 young innovators from crisis regions. Your support covers travel, stay, and participation—turning dreams into action.
Every contribution counts. Let’s make innovation accessible to all!
Supporting and Strategic Partners
The Global Congress is co-organized by WSA and the DEF.
World Summit Awards (WSA) is a global community initiative that champions innovation ecosystems in 182 UN member states. WSA operates an international jury and award system to identify and honour digital impact solutions tied to the UN SDGs. WSA is working with a network of global experts with a focus on digital ingenuity for people, planet and prosperity.It serves as a due diligence engine and trend tracking pipeline for ESG partnerships. WSA was initiated in 2003 in the framework of the UN World Summit on the Information Society and closely works with UN entities like UNESCO, ITU, UNIDO, and the Youth Office to achieve its objectives – which include narrowing digital divides and contributing to an inclusive knowledge society.
The Digital Empowerment Foundation started almost at the sametime as WSA, as a Delhi-based nonprofit organization. Since morethan 20 years DEF is working towards empowering people to gainaccess to better healthcare, education, skills and livelihoodopportunities through digital literacy and digital tools. Theorganization’s main focus is to make technology easily accessible tothe masses, to empower women, youth, persons with disabilitiesand the elderly through providing functional digital literacy, medialiteracy, and digital up-skilling across agriculture, micro and nano-business, health, education, livelihood, and entrepreneurial skills.
