About ILO Innovation Day
ILO Innovation Day · 3 March 2026 · Gobelins, ILO Headquarters
Innovation Day 2026 was the first-ever global ILO Innovation Day—an all-day, interactive event for ILO staff to explore, experience, and celebrate innovation across the Organization.
How people took part
ILO staff at headquarters were invited to attend the event at the Gobelins and were encouraged to spend as much of the day there as possible.
UN staff based in Geneva were also welcome to attend at ILO Headquarters.
ILO staff in the field and all other participants could watch the event live on ILO Live. The full day was streamed from start to finish.
What happened
High-level speakers
Three high-level speakers took the stage throughout the day.
Innovation Talks
Over 30 short Innovation Talks (8 minutes each) from ILO colleagues around the world, including Innovation Scouts from the regions. The programme highlighted both projects already delivering results and promising ideas that are just taking shape. Topics included:
- AI and data
- Digital platforms and operations
- And more
Demonstrations and booths
Interactive spaces hosted by DCOMM, ITC, and other departments showcased concrete examples of innovation, such as:
- Using AI to improve productivity
- Holograms and AI-powered avatars
- Virtual reality and immersive tools
Departments also hosted stands highlighting their work and initiatives.
Partner perspectives
Short video messages from key partners, including IOE and ITUC, were shown throughout the day on the main LED screen.
Regional and online participation
Innovation Day was designed to be fully hybrid and interactive:
- Colleagues in the regions joined live via ILO Live, with their interventions featured prominently on the main screen
- Q&A sessions connected on-site and online participants
- A video montage of innovative work from the field was shown during the event and shared online afterward
- The programme explored immersive formats, including 360° video, to enhance remote participation
Dedicated support and briefing sessions were organised for speakers joining from the regions.
A shared moment for the ILO
Innovation Day 2026 was an opportunity to:
- Inspire new ways of delivering for our constituents
- Showcase how the ILO is innovating to fulfil its mandate
- Approach change with a positive, solutions-oriented mindset
- Break silos and spark new collaborations across the Organization
Whether curious, hands-on, or simply looking for inspiration, Innovation Day had something for everyone.
ILO Innovation Day supported the ILO strategy on knowledge and innovation endorsed by the Governing Body, and was organised by the Department of Communication (DCOMM) and the ILO International Training Centre (ITCILO).