Exchange Northwest to announce new Civic Innovation Challenge at Oct. 14 forum

Published October 1 2026

Forum will also feature panel on human-first artificial intelligence

A year after four companies participated in the City of Bellevue's first Civic Innovation Challenge and showcased their products at a tech forum, the Exchange Northwest partnership is preparing to announce its next challenge.

The Exchange Northwest, a technology and civic innovation partnership between the city, Bellevue College, King County and the state, will introduce the challenge at its fall Exchange Northwest Forum Wednesday, Oct. 14, 6-8 p.m. at Bellevue City Hall. Bellevue brought together regional leaders, community partners and industry experts at an all-day Innovation Exchange event last fall.

In addition to introducing the second innovation challenge, the Exchange will host a panel discussion exploring guardrails for the ethical use of artificial intelligence.

The discussion arrives at a moment when institutions across the country are determining how to guide the rapid growth of new technologies in ways that reflect public values.

Panel to focus on human-first AI

The featured panel at the forum will be "Human-First AI: Exploring the Guardrails for a Shared Future," featuring:

• Onur Bakiner, political science professor and director of the Technology Ethics Initiative at Seattle University
• Yuki Ishizuka, technology policy manager, State Attorney General's Office
• Jai Jaisimha, cofounder, TransparencyCoalition.ai
• Laura Ruderman, CEO, Technology Alliance

These panelists bring expertise across AI ethics, democratic resilience, technology policy, transparency, safety and accountability. The discussion will explore how public institutions and private innovators can responsibly navigate rapid advances in artificial intelligence, establish meaningful safeguards and ensure community trust.

Panelists will offer perspective on the choices that public agencies, nonprofits and industry partners face today and the implications those choices carry for the future.

Civic Innovation Challenge

The Challenge invites teams from across sectors to develop grounded solutions to civic priorities. Participants will have opportunities to test ideas, learn from subject matter experts and shape concepts that can be implemented and scaled.

This proof-of-concept cycle expands the City of Bellevue's commitment to advance thoughtful innovation that responds to community needs and strengthens public services.

For this year's challenge, selected participants will partner on pilot projects with the city, county or state and receive mentorship and a stipend of $15,000 to $45,000, depending on the scope of the solution.

Applications are due this fall. The challenge takes place between January and June 2027.

About the Exchange Northwest

The Exchange Northwest is a regional partnership dedicated to civic innovation, digital access, and community-driven technology solutions. The Forum provides a space for government, academic institutions, nonprofits and industry to share insights, align on priorities and strengthen collaboration that benefits residents across the region.

Registration is required to attend the Fall Forum. Additional details about the forum are available at ExchangeNW.org.