Bjorn-Soren Gigler, PhD

Senior Digital and Green Transformation Specialist, Adjunct Professor, Georgetown University-personal views

Brussels, Brussels Region, Belgium

About

I am passionate about the role that digital innovations, data and disruptive technology play for improving human development and enhance the well-being of people. What is the impact of digital technologies on the economy, people and society? How can we leverage innovations and disruptive technologies to fundamentally transform our society towards a sustainable economy and reducing inequalities. At the same time the digital revolution has many challenges- How can we avoid that disruptive technologies (AI, big data) lead to the increase of existing inequalities and leave nobody behind? Curious to know more: Read my book: Development as Freedom in a Digital Age https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/21631 Closing the Feedback Loop- Can Technology Bridge the Accountability Gap (World Bank, 2014) https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/e979a7b7-da0f-52b1-81c9-f9fa48e350cb

Experience

  • Senior Digital and Green Transformation Specialist (SNE) at European Commission
    Sep 2025 - Present · 11 mos

    I am focused on: -supporting the development and implementation of EU climate policies and programs on the Digital and Green Twin Transition within the EU and globally - digital innovations and AI for climate action with special focus on AI for climate action for cities -supporting the work of the Task Force for International Carbon Pricing and Markets Diplomacy (global)

  • Visiting Professor for Political Economy at Georgetown University
    Apr 2007 - Present · 19 yrs 4 mos

  • Head of Data Economy program at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
    Oct 2021 - Sep 2025 · 4 yrs

    leading the EU-AU data economy and the blockchain partnership flagship programs at the GIZ

  • Senior Digital Innovation Officer at European Commission
    Jul 2018 - Nov 2021 · 3 yrs 5 mos

    provide policy advice on economic impact and access to finance for digital innovations with a focus on Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, IoT, Supercomputing, 5G. Coordinate the preparation and implementation of programs (funded through financial instruments) focus on the digital economy including the digitalisation of SMEs, Digital Innovation Hubs, Semi-conductor and Photonics industries.

  • Senior Innovation and Digital Economy Advisory at European Investment Bank (EIB)
    Feb 2016 - Jun 2018 · 2 yrs 5 mos