For the Stiftung Mercator I conducted a research to understand the current landscape and future developments of digital civil society in Germany, particularly with regard to policy-making and advocacy work. Together with some of the most relevant Civil Society Organisations we explored past, present and future trajectories, challenges and strategic opportunities to co-shape an open, fair and diverse digital society in Germany and Europe. Topics covered include new reporting and funding models, emerging capabilities and skills as well as new organisational and collaborative structures.

The findings have been published in a 2024 report and can be accessed here.

The Institutional Framework for City-level Innovation Ecosystems Purpose-built for African Cities is an initiative by the Africa Center for Cities (ACC) aims to create innovation ecosystems in African cities that support sustainable, just, and carbon-neutral urban development. Collaborating with leaders from diverse sectors, it explores locally relevant solutions that integrate governance, material needs, and inclusive social narratives. I had the opportunity to contribute to opportunity mapping and research in Cape Town in 2023 and continue exploring these themes in my work.

As part of the CO:DINA research program on sustainable public services, funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, my team at HCL conducted a study on "Principles and Guardrails for Future-Proof Universal Basic Services."(GER) This work integrates insights from futurology, public design, and sustainability research, structured into three main chapters.

Our study introduces key concepts of Universal Basic Services amidst global shifts—such as sovereignty, ecological responsibility, and data governance—then establishes six principles for sustainable public service delivery. Part of this project was the creation of a field book summarising our core findings, and incorporating insights from events like the 2022 World Urban Forum and Vienna’s University of Applied Arts summer school. The field book can be accessed here: https://whatgotushere.hybridcitylab.com/.