About Demos Helsinki

As a journalist, you contribute to the future by highlighting ideas that matter. Whether you are already writing a story or looking for inspiration, Demos Helsinki can provide trustworthy commentary while remaining joyful and optimistic about societies and our future.

Governments and other organisations come to Demos Helsinki looking for new ideas, concepts, points of growth, and strategic change when old tools become outdated. Our people lead the way in challenging the status quo to bring about positive societal change. We work with global actors, including the United Nations, OECD, European Commission, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and many others, to reshape societies.

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Get the unexpected angle of any story — big or small

Demos Helsinki experts always provide useful context that can promote public dialogue and increase the stakes of any story. All of our experts are available for comments, and you can find them here. Otherwise, see if something sparks your interest from the featured topics below:

Cutting-edge research and evidence-based policies

Cutting-edge research and evidence-based policies

We have an extensive research portfolio that explores the dynamics of institutions and society.

See our latest research -> 

Public administration and governance

Public administration and governance

Our current institutions, tools, and policies are not fit for purpose. We have been building a number of approaches, models, and frameworks that can create a new type of governance — one that can instigate and sustain just transformations. 

See our relevant research, projects, experts, and thoughts ->

Sustainability and post-sustainability

Sustainability and post-sustainability

Our experts have 20 years of experience studying societal and behavioural trends regarding the sustainability transition, while also carrying out direct engagements with governments, companies, universities, and civil society to accelerate a just transformation.  

See our work and experts on Sustainability & Climate Action ->

New economic thinking, wellbeing economy, new economic indicators

New economic thinking, wellbeing economy, new economic indicators

Our economic system has revealed its pain points. We believe that there are economic interventions that go beyond policy. What if our economies focused on wellbeing instead of growth? What if new key indicators replaced GDP? 

See our work on big economic questions ->

Industrial policy for the post-industrial era

Industrial policy for the post-industrial era

Industrial policy is about governance — and we said before it was cool. Governments are now dealing with strategic uncertainty and a gap in capacities, while also missing the right tools to engage meaningfully with critical-industry leaders. 

See our work and experts on Industry & Innovation ->

Emerging technologies and how to design, develop and deploy them equitably

Emerging technologies and how to design, develop and deploy them equitably

Technology cannot be treated as a sector. We consistently develop research and recommendations on the responsible and ethical deployment of technologies, the rollout of ethical AI, and the future of work, governance, and regulation in a digitalised era.  

See our work and experts in Technology ->

See our work and experts around ethical AI ->

The future of care, healthcare, and welfare

The future of care, healthcare, and welfare

Demands for care are growing due to a number of factors. Our work shows the need to integrate care in all economic sectors and all aspects of life.

See our work and experts on the future of care -> 

See our work and experts on health and wellbeing ->

Cities, their challenges, and their opportunities

Cities, their challenges, and their opportunities

Cities can lead essential transitions by instigating and sustaining collective action. Our 20+ years of experience in urban transformations reveals city-governance gaps and opportunities. 

See our work and experts in Cities -> 

See our work and experts in Construction -> 

Connect with the right expert

Connect with the right expert

Send your request to angeliki.vourdaki[at]demoshelsinki.fi, including your name, publication, and a short summary of what interests you. Our colleague, Angeliki, will help direct you to the right person. 

Latest news

See what Demos Helsinki has been up to.

Webinar: Governing through transformation – How Finland is reforming its governance in the times of crisis

As a part of the OECD’s Government After Shock event series, Demos Helsinki will arrange a webinar that brings together high-level government officials and decision-makers to deliberate, ideate and challenge a pivotal question: In the light of the COVID-19 crisis, what should governments do differently and how?


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Demos Helsinki strengthens its research expertise with four new senior researchers

This autumn, Demos Helsinki welcomed Anna Björk (D.Soc.Sc), Kari Jalonen (D.Sc. Econ.), Lauri Holappa (D.Soc.Sc), and Niina Meriläinen (PhD).


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This Is the Beginning of Unfolding the New World

The Untitled alliance, spanning from the Nordics to Australia, is here to stay. This week marks the beginning of a decade-long initiative to build the society of the future. An idea of a journey of transformation roughly a year ago has turned into a reality for 400 people from over…


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Webinars for the curious – Demos Helsinki open events in June

This June, we are co-hosting several open events together with our international partners, topics varying from governance innovation to smart cities and consumer cleantech. All webinars are free. You’ll find registration links and more info below. Join us to imagine a better future!


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“Our job is to imagine a better future” – New members appointed to Demos Helsinki’s board of directors

Demos Helsinki has been working towards societal transformation for the past 15 years. There are now 50 of us. In 2019 we worked on 138 projects and in almost 30 countries. The previous decade is now wrapped up and the new one has truly brought enormous challenges. In the midst…


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Webinar: Emerging Changes in the Post-Pandemic World

Demos Helsinki’s foresight specialists are hosting a webinar on Wednesday 15 April at 8.30-10.00 am Helsinki time. 


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See our previous media coverage