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 opened applications for the GovTech Bootcamp on AI in Governance and Public Administration.
The program is designed for government institutions in low- and middle-income countries that are developing, piloting, or deploying artificial intelligence solutions to improve public administration and government services.
Selected teams will participate in a fully funded five-day technical bootcamp in Korea, where they will learn from Korean and World Bank experts and work on practical implementation plans for their AI initiatives.
What Is the World Bank GovTech AI Bootcamp?
The GovTech AI Bootcamp is a practical learning and implementation program focused on helping governments move from AI strategies and ideas toward real-world implementation.
Participants will learn from Korea’s experience in deploying AI systems across areas such as public financial management, tax administration, citizen services, social welfare, and other government functions.
Rather than focusing only on theory, the bootcamp will involve practical workshops, exchanges with practitioners, technical exercises, and the development of an implementation roadmap for each participating initiative.
Who Can Apply?
The opportunity is open to government institutions in low- and middle-income countries that are working on an AI initiative for the public sector.
Eligible areas include:
- Public financial management
- Civil service and human resource management
- Citizen services
- Civic technology and citizen engagement
- Public procurement
- Anticorruption
- Transparency
- Other public-sector applications of artificial intelligence
Only government institutions can apply. NGOs and international organizations cannot submit applications on behalf of a government institution.
Who Should Be on the Team?
Each application should nominate a two-person team consisting of:
1. Policy Leader
The policy leader should have genuine decision-making authority over the AI initiative and be able to help advance the project within the institution.
2. Technical Practitioner
The second team member should be directly involved in the design or implementation of the AI solution.
The technical practitioner does not necessarily have to be a programmer. According to the official FAQ, suitable applicants may include data analysts, system administrators, project managers with strong technical knowledge, or professionals overseeing a technical vendor.
What Stage Should the AI Project Be At?
Your initiative does not have to be fully developed.
Projects at the following stages can apply:
- Concept
- Prototype
- Pilot
- Deployment
However, proposals with a specific problem, realistic solution, institutional backing, and a clear implementation pathway are expected to be stronger candidates.
What Does the Bootcamp Offer?
Selected participants will receive a fully funded opportunity to participate in the five-day bootcamp.
The program includes:
- International travel
- Accommodation
- Five days of technical learning and workshops
- Exposure to Korea’s public-sector AI ecosystem
- Engagement with Korean AI practitioners
- Interaction with World Bank experts
- Practical technical exercises
- Development of an AI implementation roadmap
- Possible follow-up technical support after the bootcamp
The program will also provide official invitation letters and coordinate with relevant Korean authorities to facilitate the visa process for selected participants, although the final visa decision remains with Korean immigration authorities.
What Will Participants Learn?
The bootcamp focuses on practical challenges involved in implementing AI in government.
Participants will explore areas such as:
- AI implementation
- Data management
- Infrastructure requirements
- Algorithmic challenges
- Governance
- Institutional coordination
- Procurement
- Scaling AI systems
- Managing implementation risks
Participants will use these lessons to develop a technically grounded roadmap for their own government AI initiative.
Why Korea?
Korea has extensive experience deploying digital government and AI systems at scale.
During the bootcamp, participants will have opportunities to learn directly from Korean public and private institutions involved in developing and operating these systems.
This provides participants with practical exposure to how AI can be implemented within government institutions rather than simply studying AI concepts theoretically.
Application Requirements
Applicants will need to explain their proposed AI initiative and provide information about areas including:
- The public-sector problem being addressed
- The proposed AI solution
- Technical readiness
- Data readiness
- Institutional support
- Implementation risks
- Learning objectives
- Plans after the bootcamp
Supporting documents may also be submitted, including endorsement letters, technical diagrams, policy documents, budget commitments, and other relevant materials.
All proposals must be submitted in English.
How Applications Are Evaluated
Applications are assessed using four main criteria:
- Public Value and Impact — 25 points
- Specificity of Problem Definition — 25 points
- Technical Feasibility and Data Availability — 25 points
- Risk Management and Governance Arrangements — 25 points
This means applicants should not simply describe an interesting AI idea. They need to demonstrate that the proposed solution addresses a clearly defined public-sector problem and has a realistic pathway toward implementation.
Key Dates
Call for Proposals Opens: August 12, 2026
Application Deadline: October 2, 2026
Notification of Results: October 16, 2026
Seoul Bootcamp: December 7–11, 2026
Final Roadmap Submission: January 23, 2027
Selection of Follow-Up Support Teams: February 13, 2027
Important Deadline
The application deadline is October 2, 2026.
Government institutions interested in participating should prepare their proposal and supporting documents before the deadline rather than waiting until the final day.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted through the official World Bank submission form.
Official World Bank GovTech AI Bootcamp application pageThe World Bank states that applications must be submitted by October 2, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an individual apply?
No. This opportunity is designed for government institutions, not individual applicants. Each application should nominate a two-person team.
Can NGOs apply?
No. Only government institutions can apply.
Does the AI project need to be completed?
No. Projects at the concept, prototype, pilot, or deployment stage can apply.
Does the program cover travel and accommodation?
Yes. International travel and accommodation for the two selected team members will be covered by the program.
Do participants need to speak Korean?
No. The bootcamp will be conducted in English, with interpretation support available during sessions.
Is post-bootcamp support guaranteed?
No. Some participating teams may receive additional technical support, depending on the strength and viability of their initiatives and available resources.
Final Thoughts
The World Bank GovTech AI Bootcamp is particularly relevant for government institutions that are already working on an AI solution and want practical guidance on moving that initiative toward implementation.
The strongest applications should clearly explain the problem, demonstrate institutional support, show that the proposed technology is feasible, and explain how the bootcamp could help accelerate the initiative.
If your government institution is developing an AI solution for public administration or citizen services, this could be a valuable opportunity to learn from Korea’s experience and work directly with World Bank and Korean experts.
Application Deadline: October 2, 2026.