COLDIGIT - Collective Intelligence through Digital tools (NordForsk Digitalisation of the Public Sector)
Lead Research Organisation:
Nesta
Department Name: Policy and Research
Abstract
The overall purpose of the COLDIGIT project is to generate new knowledge on innovative digital tools and approaches, in order to understand how they can support governance of complex societal processes in the Nordic region. Previous research on such digital tools has been disciplinarily and sectorally fragmented, which has limited the horizon of related opportunities and challenges. COLDIGIT will adopt a broad view by empirically exploring various types of collective intelligence tools supported by technology (e.g., crowdsourcing, augmented reality (AR), artificial intelligence (AI), serious games, e-democracy and e-participation), in three parallel streams of co-creation: i ) co-innovation and co-funding, ii) co-production of knowledge and iii) co-construction of policies and decisions. In particular, the project will catalogue 150-200 cases of innovative digital tools, create a conceptual model of the digital ecosystem of collective intelligence, study obstacles and drivers of adoption and use of new technologies, and test innovative solutions through a series of pilots on participatory budgeting projects in Finland, Sweden, and Norway. To increase the strategic relevance of the findings, COLDIGIT will draw policy advice on how to develop and implement such tools and approaches in ways that contribute to a dynamic and responsible digital transformation of Nordic societies and the United Kingdom. Nesta, the project's UK partner, will lead the parts of the proposed work studying the obstacles and drivers of adoption and the development of policy recommendations.
| Description | Collective Intelligence through Digital Tools (COLDIGIT) |
| Organisation | Fab Lab Barcelona |
| Country | Spain |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | While each partner is responsible for leading a work package, the delivery of the project has been collaborative throughout. Nesta plays a central role in the project, aligning research goals, guides and format to ensure insights collected can be integrated across work packages and hosting workshops to ensure the partnership is delivering towards common objectives. The breakdown of Nesta's contribution to work packages is described below: WP1 Inventory of digital CI tools supporting co-creation - Nesta's role: Supporting SINTEF in defining the purpose of the inventory of CI tools, sharing expert knowledge on existing repositories, primary research on tools and case studies for the inventory, and reviewing inventory. WP2 CI conceptual modelling and ecosystem mapping - Nesta's role: Lead reviewer of materials WP3 Analysis of obstacles and enabling factors - Nesta's role: leading work package and primary research, defining strategic direction of work package, creation of framework, integrating findings from other work packages, and designing of interventions WP4 Digital democracy pilots - Nesta's role: providing input into research guides, supporting the development of piloting interventions and evaluation of findings WP5 Final studies and policy advice - Nesta's role: lead synthesis of findings across all work packages and development of policy advice and recommendations WP6 Management and dissemination - University of Helsinki work package lead |
| Collaborator Contribution | WP1 Inventory of digital CI tools supporting co-creation - SINTEF work package lead, Nesta and University of Helsinki support WP2 CI conceptual modelling and ecosystem mapping - University of Helsinki work package lead, University of Gothenburg support WP3 Analysis of obstacles and enabling factors - Nesta work package lead, University of Helsinki review WP4 Digital democracy pilots - University of Gothenburg work package lead, Trondheim citizen's assembly (SINTEF partner lead), Gothenburg participatory budgeting (Digidem Lab partner lead), Helsinki participatory budgeting (University of Helsinki partner lead) WP5 Final studies and policy advice - Nesta work package lead, University of Helsinki support WP6 Management and dissemination - University of Helsinki work package lead |
| Impact | No outputs of the partnership have been generated in this first year, however, the partnership combines a diverse range of disciplines and practices of work, including: University of Helsinki - Social sciences, data analytics, participatory and democratic theory University of Gothenburg - Architecture and urban design, social sciences SINTEF - Software engineering, risk and safety engineering Digidem Lab - Participatory and deliberative practitioners |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Collective Intelligence through Digital Tools (COLDIGIT) |
| Organisation | SINTEF |
| Country | Norway |
| Sector | Multiple |
| PI Contribution | While each partner is responsible for leading a work package, the delivery of the project has been collaborative throughout. Nesta plays a central role in the project, aligning research goals, guides and format to ensure insights collected can be integrated across work packages and hosting workshops to ensure the partnership is delivering towards common objectives. The breakdown of Nesta's contribution to work packages is described below: WP1 Inventory of digital CI tools supporting co-creation - Nesta's role: Supporting SINTEF in defining the purpose of the inventory of CI tools, sharing expert knowledge on existing repositories, primary research on tools and case studies for the inventory, and reviewing inventory. WP2 CI conceptual modelling and ecosystem mapping - Nesta's role: Lead reviewer of materials WP3 Analysis of obstacles and enabling factors - Nesta's role: leading work package and primary research, defining strategic direction of work package, creation of framework, integrating findings from other work packages, and designing of interventions WP4 Digital democracy pilots - Nesta's role: providing input into research guides, supporting the development of piloting interventions and evaluation of findings WP5 Final studies and policy advice - Nesta's role: lead synthesis of findings across all work packages and development of policy advice and recommendations WP6 Management and dissemination - University of Helsinki work package lead |
| Collaborator Contribution | WP1 Inventory of digital CI tools supporting co-creation - SINTEF work package lead, Nesta and University of Helsinki support WP2 CI conceptual modelling and ecosystem mapping - University of Helsinki work package lead, University of Gothenburg support WP3 Analysis of obstacles and enabling factors - Nesta work package lead, University of Helsinki review WP4 Digital democracy pilots - University of Gothenburg work package lead, Trondheim citizen's assembly (SINTEF partner lead), Gothenburg participatory budgeting (Digidem Lab partner lead), Helsinki participatory budgeting (University of Helsinki partner lead) WP5 Final studies and policy advice - Nesta work package lead, University of Helsinki support WP6 Management and dissemination - University of Helsinki work package lead |
| Impact | No outputs of the partnership have been generated in this first year, however, the partnership combines a diverse range of disciplines and practices of work, including: University of Helsinki - Social sciences, data analytics, participatory and democratic theory University of Gothenburg - Architecture and urban design, social sciences SINTEF - Software engineering, risk and safety engineering Digidem Lab - Participatory and deliberative practitioners |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Collective Intelligence through Digital Tools (COLDIGIT) |
| Organisation | University of Gothenburg |
| Country | Sweden |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | While each partner is responsible for leading a work package, the delivery of the project has been collaborative throughout. Nesta plays a central role in the project, aligning research goals, guides and format to ensure insights collected can be integrated across work packages and hosting workshops to ensure the partnership is delivering towards common objectives. The breakdown of Nesta's contribution to work packages is described below: WP1 Inventory of digital CI tools supporting co-creation - Nesta's role: Supporting SINTEF in defining the purpose of the inventory of CI tools, sharing expert knowledge on existing repositories, primary research on tools and case studies for the inventory, and reviewing inventory. WP2 CI conceptual modelling and ecosystem mapping - Nesta's role: Lead reviewer of materials WP3 Analysis of obstacles and enabling factors - Nesta's role: leading work package and primary research, defining strategic direction of work package, creation of framework, integrating findings from other work packages, and designing of interventions WP4 Digital democracy pilots - Nesta's role: providing input into research guides, supporting the development of piloting interventions and evaluation of findings WP5 Final studies and policy advice - Nesta's role: lead synthesis of findings across all work packages and development of policy advice and recommendations WP6 Management and dissemination - University of Helsinki work package lead |
| Collaborator Contribution | WP1 Inventory of digital CI tools supporting co-creation - SINTEF work package lead, Nesta and University of Helsinki support WP2 CI conceptual modelling and ecosystem mapping - University of Helsinki work package lead, University of Gothenburg support WP3 Analysis of obstacles and enabling factors - Nesta work package lead, University of Helsinki review WP4 Digital democracy pilots - University of Gothenburg work package lead, Trondheim citizen's assembly (SINTEF partner lead), Gothenburg participatory budgeting (Digidem Lab partner lead), Helsinki participatory budgeting (University of Helsinki partner lead) WP5 Final studies and policy advice - Nesta work package lead, University of Helsinki support WP6 Management and dissemination - University of Helsinki work package lead |
| Impact | No outputs of the partnership have been generated in this first year, however, the partnership combines a diverse range of disciplines and practices of work, including: University of Helsinki - Social sciences, data analytics, participatory and democratic theory University of Gothenburg - Architecture and urban design, social sciences SINTEF - Software engineering, risk and safety engineering Digidem Lab - Participatory and deliberative practitioners |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Collective Intelligence through Digital Tools (COLDIGIT) |
| Organisation | University of Helsinki |
| Country | Finland |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | While each partner is responsible for leading a work package, the delivery of the project has been collaborative throughout. Nesta plays a central role in the project, aligning research goals, guides and format to ensure insights collected can be integrated across work packages and hosting workshops to ensure the partnership is delivering towards common objectives. The breakdown of Nesta's contribution to work packages is described below: WP1 Inventory of digital CI tools supporting co-creation - Nesta's role: Supporting SINTEF in defining the purpose of the inventory of CI tools, sharing expert knowledge on existing repositories, primary research on tools and case studies for the inventory, and reviewing inventory. WP2 CI conceptual modelling and ecosystem mapping - Nesta's role: Lead reviewer of materials WP3 Analysis of obstacles and enabling factors - Nesta's role: leading work package and primary research, defining strategic direction of work package, creation of framework, integrating findings from other work packages, and designing of interventions WP4 Digital democracy pilots - Nesta's role: providing input into research guides, supporting the development of piloting interventions and evaluation of findings WP5 Final studies and policy advice - Nesta's role: lead synthesis of findings across all work packages and development of policy advice and recommendations WP6 Management and dissemination - University of Helsinki work package lead |
| Collaborator Contribution | WP1 Inventory of digital CI tools supporting co-creation - SINTEF work package lead, Nesta and University of Helsinki support WP2 CI conceptual modelling and ecosystem mapping - University of Helsinki work package lead, University of Gothenburg support WP3 Analysis of obstacles and enabling factors - Nesta work package lead, University of Helsinki review WP4 Digital democracy pilots - University of Gothenburg work package lead, Trondheim citizen's assembly (SINTEF partner lead), Gothenburg participatory budgeting (Digidem Lab partner lead), Helsinki participatory budgeting (University of Helsinki partner lead) WP5 Final studies and policy advice - Nesta work package lead, University of Helsinki support WP6 Management and dissemination - University of Helsinki work package lead |
| Impact | No outputs of the partnership have been generated in this first year, however, the partnership combines a diverse range of disciplines and practices of work, including: University of Helsinki - Social sciences, data analytics, participatory and democratic theory University of Gothenburg - Architecture and urban design, social sciences SINTEF - Software engineering, risk and safety engineering Digidem Lab - Participatory and deliberative practitioners |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Barriers and enablers workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Workshop run as part of a consortium meeting. Attended by other researchers and members of local government authorities. The intended purpose of the workshop was to engage with members of local government interested in implementing democratic innovations and help them identify potential barriers and enablers to their implementation, using the published toolkit ("Advancing democratic innovations toolkit."). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | COLDIGIT "Democratic innovation and digital participation." report launch event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Online launch event for COLDIGIT report "Democratic innovation and digital participation.", including talks by the report author (Oli Whittington, Nesta) and guest speakers Claudia Chwalisz (OECD) and Jon Alexander (New Citizenship Project). The event focused on exploring the themes of the report, while discussing how the move towards collective intelligence and citizen-led action is addressing real-world problems, such as climate change. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.nesta.org.uk/event/nesta-talks-to-claudia-chwalisz-and-jon-alexander/ |
| Description | Collective Intelligence in Citizen Participation for Sustainable Cities (Conference in Tampere, Finland) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Talk attended by researchers, practitioners and technologists working on and with digital tools for public participation. The intended purpose of the talk was to engage with those working in the field and discuss the implementation of democratic innovations, and how this can help develop sustainable cities. In doing so, we aimed to raise the profile of our research activities with those working in related fields, and disseminate our findings. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | http://www.kaupunkitutkimuksenpaivat.net/esitelmakutsu-call-for-papers/ |
| Description | Good Growth Directorate meeting at the Greater London Authority |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Provided keynote talk and workshop covering the COLDIGIT barriers and enablers theoretical framework and ideas for innovation and alternative approaches to citizen participation. This with a particular focus on diversity and inclusion and how to involve people in decision making to strengthen trust and collaboration and improve representation so that GLA serves Londoners more effectively. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Government Business article on Collective Intelligence and Digital Tools |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Article requested by Government Business Magazine that references the rise of Collective Intelligence throughout the pandemic and its emerging role in decision making. COLDIGIT is directly referenced and this featured as the main article of the issue. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://governmentbusiness.co.uk/features/covid-19-and-rise-collective-intelligence |
| Description | Institute for Government event: Reinvigorating UK democracy: how to bridge the gap between citizens and the state |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Panel Discussion attended by researchers, practitioners and technologists working on and with digital tools for public participation. The intended purpose of the talk was to engage with the public and other practitioners interested in the implementation of democratic innovations, and how collective intelligence methods can be used to bridge the gap between citizens and the state. In doing so, we aimed to raise the profile of our research activities with those working in related fields, and disseminate our findings. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/events/reinvigorating-uk-democracy |
| Description | Interviews & discussions |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Throughout the project a primary focus has been engaging a variety of people in discussion and interview. Over the last year this has included: - Anthony Zacharzewski, Democratic Society - Claudia Chwalisz, OECD - Rosie Beacon, Tony Blair Institute - Miguel Arana Catania, Alan Turing Institute - Matt Stempeck, Cornell University - Attending the OECD's Innovative Citizen Participation Network These interviews and discussions helped to develop our framework, understand the progress of digital democracy in the sector and widen our understanding of global case studies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | London Office of Technology and Innovation: Innovation Day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Delivered talk on the use of Collective Intelligence methods as a means of delivering democratic innovation and increasing citizen participation in policy making. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | London Office of Technology and Innovation: Innovation Day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Delivered workshop on the use of Collective Intelligence methods as a means of delivering democratic innovation and increasing citizen participation in policy making. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Nordic Edge conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Talk attended by researchers, practitioners and technologists working on and with digital tools for public participation. The intended purpose of the talk was to engage with the public and other practitioners and explore the implementation of democratic innovations, and designing ways in which we can mainstream and scale digital democracy in the Nordics. In doing so, we aimed to raise the profile of our research activities with those working in related fields, and disseminate our findings. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://nordicedge.org/events/whats-next-for-democratic-innovation-in-the-nordics/ |
| Description | Polis Meetup |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Talk as part of a series of short talks followed by dinner & networking. Attended by other researchers, practitioners and technologists working on and with digital tools for public participation. The intended purpose of the talk was to explore why we often fail to move beyond individual pilots, and designing ways in which we can mainstream and scale digital democracy - and if scale is even the right objective. In doing so, we aimed to raise the profile of our research activities with those working in related fields, and disseminate our findings. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://lu.ma/PolisMeetupMar2022 |
| Description | Reimagining democracy and our role as citizens |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Panel Discussion attended by researchers, practitioners and technologists working on and with digital tools for public participation. The intended purpose of the talk was to engage with the public and other practitioners interested in the implementation of democratic innovations, and how collective intelligence methods can be used to bridge the gap between citizens and the state. In doing so, we aimed to raise the profile of our research activities with those working in related fields, and disseminate our findings. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.nesta.org.uk/event/nesta-talks-to-claudia-chwalisz-and-jon-alexander/ |
| Description | Trondheim municipality workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | A cross partnership workshop with representatives from Trondheim municipality to share institutional knowledge on digital democracy and learn about the municipality's challenges and opportunities in developing and implementing digital tools for democratic engagement. This has engagement has resulted in a deepening relationship with the municipality and shared objectives to foster collaboration and sharing with Norway's Smart City network. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |