Edward Strasser
Current roles
- Founder & CEO (Managing Director), The Innovation in Politics Institute (Vienna)
- Founder, “European Capital of Democracy” as well as the political magazine “Democracy Technologies” / democracy-technologies.org
At a glance
Edward Strasser is the Founder and CEO of The Innovation in Politics Institute. From Vienna, together with a Europe-wide network of partners, he helps turn a simple conviction into practical work: democracy gets stronger when we learn from what works, invite citizens in, and scale solutions that serve the public interest.
He leads the Institute’s mission-driven work at the intersection of politics, participation, and innovation and always with a focus on outcomes, not buzzwords.
“When you give people the opportunity to be directly involved in political decisions, they develop a taste for it, and start to demand more opportunities. And that is exactly what our democracies need.”
Why he works on democratic innovation
Edward’s work begins where many citizens are today: expectations are high, trust is fragile, and politics often feels too far away. His answer is not to romanticise the past but to modernise democracy in ways people can actually experience.
That means designing participation that matters: citizen dialogues that shape decisions, digital tools that widen access, and institutions that don’t just collect input but act on it.
And when it comes to AI, his view is refreshingly practical. AI can help democracies handle, scale, translate, cluster, summarise and structure citizen contributions. But democratic choices, accountability and values stay exactly where they belong: with humans.
Career history
Before founding The Innovation in Politics Institute (launched around 2016/2017), Edward spent many years in political communication and public affairs, including as Managing Director and Partner at Skills Group. That background shaped his strength for building bridges – between sectors, between perspectives, and between good ideas and real implementation.
Previously, he was passionate about co-initiating many citizen-centered and political initiatives such as the Austrian Institute for Applied Telecommunications, work at the federal headquarters of the Social Democratic Party of Austria, and co-initiating civil society projects such as respekt.net.
Focus areas & expertise
Democratic innovation & citizen participation (process design, legitimacy, real-world impact)
Digital democracy & democracy technologies (tools that strengthen inclusion and trust)
Online voting & digital participation (progress with safeguards: security, inclusion, credibility)
Selected publications & media
AI Have a Dream
On AI supporting democracy without replacing it
Putting Citizens First
On online voting, participation, and strengthening legitimacy
Mitreden in der digitalen Agora
On digital participation and democratic dialogue
FAQs about Edward Strasser
What motivates Edward?
Democracy doesn’t renew itself. Edward is driven by the belief that we can rebuild trust through better ways to listen, decide, and deliver by making participation meaningful and results visible.
What is Edward’s core expertise?
Connecting democratic innovation with implementation: participation formats, digital tools, legitimacy questions, and the institutional readiness to act on citizen input.
What is his role at The Innovation in Politics Institute?
As Founder and CEO, Edward leads the Institute’s strategy and public work including the Innovation in Politics Awards, where citizens help identify Europe’s most inspiring political initiatives.
What are his views on digital participation?
Take risks seriously such as f.e. security, exclusion, misuse and address them without turning them into excuses. Participation should be inclusive by design, trustworthy in practice, and credible in impact.
What is his view on AI in democracy?
AI can help democracies “listen” at scale, but it must not replace political responsibility. It supports sense-making; humans remain accountable for decisions.
What kind of topics does Edward speak and write about?
Democratic innovation, citizen participation, democracy technologies, and the practical question behind it all: how democracies stay capable and trusted in a fast-changing world.