Finalists for the Innovation in Politics Awards 2025 - kazva.bg in Top 9

The Innovation in Politics Awards is one of Europe's most respected recognitions for democratic innovation. Each year, the Vienna-based institute evaluates hundreds of projects from across the continent, with a jury composed entirely of citizens - over 1,000 Europeans selected to judge which initiatives genuinely improve public life. In 2025, the competition drew entries from 22 countries across eight categories.

In the Technologies for Democracy category, a shortlist of nine finalists was selected from more than 300 submissions. Among them was the project by the Municipality of Stara Zagora, built on the kazva.bg platform. The system enables residents to scan QR codes placed at public touchpoints - bus stops, kindergartens, municipal offices - and leave anonymous feedback on the service in under 30 seconds. No app, no registration, no personal data required.

What makes the achievement notable is the company Stara Zagora keeps. The Top 9 includes initiatives from cities with far larger budgets and longer digital governance traditions. The selection signals that innovation in citizen engagement is not a function of resources - it is a function of intent.

The awards ceremony took place on September 17, 2025 in Vienna. For Stara Zagora and kazva.bg, the Top 9 placement validates a straightforward premise: that a QR code on a park bench can be as powerful a democratic instrument as any formal consultation process - provided the data it collects reaches the people who make decisions.