This study analyzes the role of digital technologies in the process of implementing open innovation in the public sector in Bulgaria. The focus is on the interaction between civil society and public institutions. The aim of the study is to examine how technologies support the creation and implementation of innovations by including citizens in innovation processes. The study is based on an empirical analysis of data obtained from a survey among representatives of the public sector in Bulgaria, conducted in October 2024. A mixed methodological approach was applied, combining quantitative and qualitative methods for assessing and analyzing citizen participation in innovative practices. The results achieved show that digital technologies play a key role in increasing transparency, efficiency and citizen participation in decision-making processes, but traditional approaches are still in use. Almost 34% of respondents noted that online platforms are used to interact with citizens, but there is a significant difference in their application at the various administrative levels – much more at the central authorities (41,46%) and not so much at the local authorities (21,09%), where public discussions are the predominant method of interaction. Organizing innovation-related events in the form of hackathons and urban labs is still not such a popular method for generating innovative ideas, with only 12% reporting holding similar activities. The main challenges for this include limited digital literacy among some social groups, institutional resistance to change and the lack of a sustainable strategic framework for integrating technologies into governance. The conclusion of the study emphasizes the need for more active policies to promote digital transformation in the public sector and create mechanisms for closer cooperation between public institutions and civil society.