The Digital Policy Hub is a collaborative research programme hosted by the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI). Launched in 2023, it brings together emerging scholars and innovative thinkers from the social, natural and applied sciences to share and develop research on the evolution and governance of transformative technologies. The Hub provides a structured environment for fellows to advance their research, analytical and policy skills.
Organisation behind the tool
The Hub is operated by CIGI, a Canadian think tank based in Waterloo. It operates in partnership with universities, governments and the private sector. Financial support for academic fellowships is provided through Mitacs via its Accelerate programme, with additional support from the John Holmes Trust for fellows whose research focuses on Canadian foreign policy.
What the tool does
The Hub hosts undergraduate, masters, doctoral, post-doctoral and visiting (professional) fellows for up to 12 months. Participants connect with CIGI’s network of more than 100 fellows and policy experts worldwide, join skill-building seminars, and engage in activities spanning research, analysis and policy. Fellows also produce working papers and participate in research conferences to showcase their work.
Research focus areas
The Hub addresses the governance challenges and opportunities arising from transformative technologies — including artificial intelligence, blockchain, quantum computing, hyper-connected social media platforms, mRNA vaccines and electric vehicles. Core research areas include: data, economy and society; artificial intelligence; outer space; digitalisation, security and democracy; and the environment and natural resources. Research is grounded in a transdisciplinary approach, connecting fellows with policymakers and industry professionals to examine socio-economic and technological impacts of digitalisation.
Target audience
The Hub is primarily aimed at emerging academic researchers at undergraduate through to post-doctoral level, as well as visiting professional fellows. Its outputs — including working papers and policy analysis — are of broader relevance to policymakers, technology governance practitioners and researchers interested in digital ethics, rights frameworks and the regulation of emerging technologies.
