Our Work
What we do at Demos Helsinki
The challenges of the 21st century require collective effort and we are committed to leading this effort in a fair, sustainable and joyful direction. Alongside our partners, we build practical paths to a societal change that seems otherwise impossible. We believe that the future is rooted in the present, and our 20-year experience has shown that there are ways to support societies through essential transitions.
We work with our partners in countless ways and treat each case with the same care. Whether it be through direct engagements in specific policy and industry fields or a consortium building action research our approach is always reflective of wider societal interests.
Our transdisciplinary team excels in the governance of complex systems, political science, economics, strategy, power relations, urban studies, technology, law, and action research, employing advanced qualitative methods and futures research methodologies. Moreover, with a strong history in European and Finnish collaborative projects like Horizon Europe and the Strategic Research Council among others, we integrate the latest research with practice. Learn more about our work below.
Understanding the world and shaping the future
Without alternative views on the future, there will be no actions, only reactions. With us, you won’t miss the radical forces that shape the future.
For 20 years, Demos Helsinki has helped governments, critical industry actors, cities, NGOs, and universities to conceive and build desirable futures. The experience we have gained makes us believe in co-creation, foresight, and research. Together with the most affirmative changemakers of our time, we want to stay at the forefront of significant transformations. The world needs organisations that solve the right problems and find the most promising answers – let’s find yours, together.
Formulating a vision and a strategy
We help organizations to navigate outside the traditional boundaries and renegotiate their societal role in the changing world.
Technological disruptions, climate change, and the distrust in traditional institutions have rapidly changed the operating environment of any organisation. All sectors will undergo a major change within the next decade, and our societies must be able to become decarbonised. Our approach helps you to create bold visions and to launch lasting strategies.
Building communities and partnerships for action
Building communities of change, enhancing co-creation across sectors, and developing innovative ways for working in these environments are at the core of Demos Helsinki.
The world changes when people and organisations come together. We have vast experience in convening different kinds of stakeholders to share resources, combine capabilities, and commit to joint action. Every organisation should be at its best when creating shared value. Real impact can only take place when we build partnerships across sectors, and a group diverse enough becomes part of the change.
Creating and experimenting
It’s time to embrace iterative planning, turn failures into learnings, and explore the unobvious. We help you to turn experiments into tangible solutions.
Many governments and corporations have shifted away from old mindsets and moved towards ‘experimental governance’ to adapt to the ongoing radical changes. Experimentation not only helps in finding out what works and what does not: when done right, it can improve participation, increase trust, and accelerate learning and innovation throughout the organisation.
Curious about our academic and scientific research?
We collaborate with leading research consortia to conduct academic and scientific research funded by Horizon Europe, the Finnish Strategic Research Council, and other funding programmes. Our research explores key areas of societal transformation, while also directly creating impact through innovative methodologies. Learn more ->
Interested in making a change?
Drop us a line and we’ll get back to you.
Embedding a long-term view
Foresight is not just a nice-to-have; it’s a must-have for strengthening your societal relevance in a complex world.
Transforming cities
Cities can lead collective action. We help city leaders and administrations transform their governance, equipping them with the mindset, tools, and knowledge to address societal challenges.
Capacity building
Building new and exciting capacities is one of the most long-term impact interventions that can turn organisations into a examples of a new era.