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come to Demos Helsinki looking for new ideas, concepts, points of growth, and strategic change when old tools become outdated.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.

_70A5891

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.

Introducing the new Executive Director of Demos Helsinki, Juha Leppänen

The Nordic think tank Demos Helsinki has chosen Juha Leppänen as its new Executive Director.   Leppänen began his career at Demos in 2011 and has a long career as a specialist in themes revolving around democracy and capabilities. Previously the CEO of Demos Helsinki’s subsidiary Demos Effect, Leppänen took…


→ Continue reading

What If Mobility Became the Symbol of the Future Once Again?

One hundred years ago, Henry Ford introduced the Ford Model T to middle-class Americans. The car revolutionized the whole transportation industry and became the symbol of modernization, freedom and prosperity for the growing middle classes. Currently, there is an ongoing mobility transformation, but it lacks a promise and symbolism. Mobility…


→ Continue reading

Demos Helsinki in NTNU Sustainability Science Conference

Demos Helsinki is well known for the work on the human centered transitions to radically sustainable societies. Therefore it is only natural that four of our researchers are attending the NTNU Sustainability Science conference (October 18th-20th 2017) in Trondheim, Norway. The conference is organized to discuss some of the most…


→ Continue reading

How to design an impactful research project?

From Failand to Winland is a transdisciplinary research project assessing future energy and food security in Finland with co-creation and future scenarios. In May 2017, Iina Koskinen, interaction specialist at Demos Helsinki, travelled to Tokyo, Japan, to present Winland to Future Earth, an international global change research initiative. Have a…


→ Continue reading

Demos Helsinki at World Circular Economy Forum 2017

The world’s best circular economy solutions and the most recognised experts and decision makers in the field will gather in Helsinki, when the World Circular Economy Forum will be held in Finlandia Hall on 5-7 June, 2017. Demos Helsinki is part of the Forum. Follow the schedule below and find…


→ Continue reading

Seminar series about immigration: From refugee camps towards active citizenship in Finland

Recent findings and policy considerations on immigration are hard currency at the moment. The seminar series launched by the Strategic Research Council (Academy of Finland) is a great opportunity to access such knowledge. The series follows the rocky road of asylum seekers from their countries of origin or from refugee…


→ Continue reading

See our previous media coverage