Mapping the use of emerging technologies within the public sector across the EU: The case of Public Sector Tech Watch

Abstract

Public organizations across the EU are integrating emergent technologies, but information on these applications remains scarce. The European Commission's Public Sector Tech Watch (PSTW) is the first observatory that monitors the use of emerging technologies in public organizations consolidating this information into a single repository. The PSTW, established in 2023, aims to be the central hub for stakeholders interested in the latest technological advancements for improving public sector services. This research uses PSTW as a case study to explore the evolution of mapping emerging technologies as an anticipatory practice in the public sector. Using Schatzkian practice theory, the study analyzes changes in activities, material arrangements, and organizing elements through interviews, observations, and document reviews. Findings reveal that expectations have become central, shaping both the evaluation of public value and the narratives in PSTW outputs. These developments suggest that the PSTW is progressively transforming into an anticipatory knowledge hub. Key drivers of this transformation are repository expansion, community-building initiatives, and alignment with broader EU digital policies. Our paper contributes to the literature on anticipatory practices by offering a longitudinal perspective, delving into the evolutionary process of the practice, and emphasizing the critical role of mapping practices in shaping expectations.