The World Bank, in partnership with the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) and the National Information Society Agency (NIA), has launched a new GovTech AI Bootcamp for Governance and Public Administration aimed at helping governments in low- and middle-income countries advance the practical implementation of artificial intelligence in the public sector.
The initiative is designed for government institutions that are already developing, piloting, or deploying AI-enabled solutions to address public administration challenges. Applications are open until October 2, 2026, and up to five government teams will be selected to participate in a fully funded five-day technical bootcamp in Seoul, South Korea.
About the GovTech AI Bootcamp
The programme responds to the growing need for governments to move beyond AI strategies and policies toward practical implementation. Although many countries have introduced digital government frameworks and AI strategies, institutions often face challenges related to technical capacity, data management, infrastructure, governance, procurement, and scaling.
The bootcamp will provide selected government teams with an opportunity to learn from Korean practitioners and World Bank experts who have experience designing, implementing, and scaling AI systems within government.
Participants will develop practical implementation roadmaps for their respective AI initiatives and identify technical, institutional, and operational requirements needed to move their projects forward.
Who Can Apply?
The call is open to government institutions in low- and middle-income countries that are pursuing AI initiatives in areas such as:
- Public financial management
- Civil service and human resource management
- Citizen services and digital government
- Civic technology and citizen engagement
- Public procurement
- Anticorruption and transparency
- Other public sector applications of artificial intelligence
Each application must nominate a two-person team consisting of a policy leader with appropriate decision-making authority and a technical practitioner who is directly involved in implementing the proposed AI initiative.
The bootcamp will be conducted in English, with simultaneous Korean-English interpretation. Participants should therefore be able to actively participate in English-language discussions, technical sessions, and workshops.
What Successful Applicants Should Demonstrate
Strong applications are expected to present a clearly defined public-sector challenge and a realistic AI-enabled solution that is already being developed, piloted, or deployed.
Proposals should demonstrate:
- Strong institutional commitment to the proposed initiative
- Technical feasibility and readiness
- A clearly identified public-sector problem
- Potential for meaningful public impact
- A credible implementation pathway
- Relevant data and infrastructure readiness
- Understanding of implementation risks and dependencies
- Clear learning objectives for participating in the bootcamp
Applicants should also explain how exposure to Korea’s experience and technical expertise could help accelerate or strengthen their AI initiative.
Why Korea?
South Korea is internationally recognised for the scale and maturity of its digital government and public-sector technology systems. Its experience includes AI and digital solutions supporting public financial management, taxation, citizen services, social welfare, and other government functions.
During the bootcamp, selected teams will engage directly with Korean public and private-sector institutions involved in designing and operating these systems. Participants will gain practical insights into institutional coordination, data governance, procurement, infrastructure, implementation, and scaling.
Where appropriate, participants may also engage with technology providers involved in public-sector AI deployment.
Seoul Bootcamp Programme
The programme will be delivered in three main phases.
1. Call for Proposals
Government institutions submit proposals describing their AI initiatives, implementation challenges, technical readiness, and expected outcomes. The application deadline is October 2, 2026.
2. Seoul Technical Bootcamp
The five-day bootcamp will take place from December 7–11, 2026. Participants will undertake site visits and exchanges with Korean practitioners before participating in hands-on technical workshops.
The workshops will help teams refine their AI initiatives, address algorithmic, data, and infrastructure bottlenecks, identify dependencies and contingencies, and develop technically grounded implementation roadmaps.
3. Follow-Up Support
Following the bootcamp, selected participating teams may receive technical feedback and follow-up support to help advance their initiatives. The availability of this support will depend on the quality, viability, and implementation potential of the proposals.
Key Dates
- Call launched: August 12, 2026
- Application deadline: October 2, 2026
- Results announced: October 16, 2026
- Seoul bootcamp: December 7–11, 2026
- Final roadmap submission: January 23, 2027
- Follow-up support selection: February 13, 2027
How to Apply
Eligible government institutions must submit their applications through the official submission form by October 2, 2026. Applicants will be required to provide information about the public-sector challenge, proposed AI solution, technical and data readiness, institutional support, implementation risks, learning objectives, and planned next steps.
Supporting documents may also be submitted, including endorsement letters, technical diagrams, policy documents, budget commitments, and other relevant materials.
Prospective applicants can consult the official World Bank programme information and FAQ for additional eligibility and application guidance.
For questions not addressed in the FAQ, applicants can contact the GovTech team at [email protected].
Application Deadline
The World Bank GovTech AI Bootcamp 2026 provides an opportunity for eligible government institutions to strengthen their capacity to implement practical AI solutions in public administration. Government teams with credible AI initiatives and strong institutional support are encouraged to submit their proposals before the October 2, 2026 deadline.
