About ILO Innovation Day
ILO Innovation Day · 3 March 2026 · Gobelins, ILO Headquarters · ILO Live
Innovation Day 2026 is an all-day, interactive event designed for ILO staff to explore, experience, and celebrate innovation across the Organization.
The event will take place on Tuesday, 3 March 2026, at the ILO headquarters in Geneva, with full online participation for colleagues in the regions.
ILO Innovation Day supports the ILO strategy on knowledge and innovation endorsed by the Governing Body, and is organised by the Department of Communication (DCOMM) and the ILO International Training Centre (ITCILO).
Why Innovation Day?
Innovation Day is about people, ideas, and collaboration. It provides a space for colleagues from headquarters and the regions to:
- Discover innovative work happening across the Office
- Share practical experiences and lessons learned
- Experiment with new tools, approaches, and technologies
- Connect with colleagues across departments, roles, and locations
Above all, it aims to strengthen a culture of creativity, experimentation, and collaboration at the ILO.
Event format
Innovation Day will be hosted at the Gobelins as a festival-style, drop-in event with a relaxed and participatory atmosphere.
You can join for the whole day or drop in for individual sessions. Light refreshments will be available throughout the day to encourage informal exchanges.
The full programme will also be streamed on ILO Live, allowing colleagues in the regions—and external audiences—to follow online.
What to expect
Opening session
The day will begin with opening remarks from a senior ILO official, setting out the objectives and highlighting key moments in the programme.
External speaker
A guest thought leader on innovation will share insights on how institutions like the ILO can embrace innovation in meaningful and practical ways.
Innovation Talks
Short, dynamic talks from ILO colleagues and Innovation Scouts (including speakers from the regions), scheduled hourly between 10:00 and 15:00. Topics will include:
- AI and emerging technologies
- Organizational change
- Inclusive and people-centred innovation
Demonstrations and booths
Interactive spaces hosted by DCOMM, ITC, and other departments will showcase concrete examples of innovation, such as:
- Using AI to improve productivity
- Holograms and AI-powered avatars
- Virtual reality and immersive tools
Departments will also host stands highlighting their work and initiatives.
Partner perspectives
Short video messages from key partners, including IOE and ITUC, will be shown throughout the day on the main LED screen.
Regional and online participation
Innovation Day is designed to be fully hybrid and interactive:
- Colleagues in the regions will join live via ILO Live, with their interventions featured prominently on the main screen
- Q&A sessions will connect on-site and online participants
- A video montage of innovative work from the field will be shown during the event and shared online afterward
- The programme will explore immersive formats, including 360° video, to enhance remote participation
Dedicated support and briefing sessions will be organised for speakers joining from the regions.
Stay informed
Information about the programme, calls for Innovation Talks, and participation details will be shared through:
- Intranet announcements
- Internal emails
- Screens and displays in ILO buildings
A shared moment for the ILO
Innovation Day 2026 is 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 you are curious, hands-on, or simply looking for inspiration, Innovation Day is for you.