Digital Challenge Lab
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How can we provide citizens in cities and rural regions with clean water?
To be adjusted.
To be adjusted.
Centre of Expertise Water Technology.
Tjeerd Rintjema.
Netherlands.
Oostergoweg 9 | 8911 MA Leeuwarden, Netherlands.
How can we increase people’s awareness of biodiversity and more specifically of the endangered honey bee?
Bees are essential for the health of people and the planet. Unfortunately, environmental degradation caused by climate change is threatening endangered bee species and other insect pollinators. These threats are anthropocentric, meaning they are a direct consequence of human activities.
The humble honey bee is a small and assuming creature, but they play a very important role in managing the globe’s ecosystems. As pollinators, they are crucial within the life cycle of plants, forming one link within a long chain of interdependent species, each one providing a vital environmental service for human life. However, the honey bee as well as other endangered bee species are being threatened by the advance of climate change, placing the species in a sensitive position that can lead to harmful impacts on global biodiversity (Earth.org, 2023).
Beelife.
Quinty van Drie.
Netherlands
How can we promote society’s literacy about the importance of extensive livestock farming for planet sustainability?
There is an awareness gap in the public’s recognition of the livestock sector’s role in contributing to the global food system. According to the FAO, livestock contributes 40% of the worldwide value of agricultural output and supports the livelihoods and food and nutrition security of almost 1.3 billion people. There are huge and urgent questions to be asked and answered about the globalized food system in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss. Farming can be a force for change with huge potential to build resilience and security in our food system. Plus, extensive livestock production contributes positively to preserving biodiversity and carbon sequestration in soils and biomass.
How might we raise public awareness regarding the benefits of extensive livestock farming systems for rural and urban ecosystems? How can we promote society’s literacy about the importance of extensive livestock farming for planet sustainability?
Marketing, Behavioural Sciences, Multimedia, Art and Design, Agricultural Sciences, Economics and Managment.
NATURALCOOP Cooperativa de Carnes de Montanha
Álvaro Mendonça
Portugal
Zona Industrial, Rua D, nº 66 5370-327-MIRANDELA, BRAGANCA
Paula Cabo
Prototype; Solution to improve future livestock setor sustainablility
How to increase awareness on energy, energy use and energy efficiency?
WeEntrance are building up an energy transition fair, that, besides information on various opportunities to safe energy, install solar panels and heatpumps, consists of an escape room and other interactive elements that will help in raising awareness and help individuals to take action. The members of our target groups (low income groups, young people) are most of the times not easy to connect to, but on the other hand would benefit enormous with a lower energy prize and a sustainable house.
We use the model from A to Sustainability (Elving, 2019,) as contextual model
EnTranCe, Centre of Expertise, Energy, Hanze U.A.S
Wim Elving
Netherlands
Zernikelaan 17, 9747 AA Groningen
How can businesses located in Wexford increase their access to resources?
Relevant regional challenges identified by Laura Lyons, enterprise administrator at the Local Enterprise Office in Wexford, come from the perspective of an organisation that is the first-stop shop for new entrepreneurs or existing small business owners seeking information and support on starting or growing a business in Wexford.
If industry can have better access to resources, new businesses are more likely to be created and existing businesses are anticipated to thrive and better improve their competitiveness. Resources are already available but due to the distance to the capital, there is difficulty to access products.
Streamlined resource access
Laura Lyons
Ireland
Local Enterprise Office, Carricklawn, Wexford
What is the rural of the future? What is the ideal path for rural regions to evolve into in the future?
Rural depopulation has led to changes in rural areas and affects both the environment and quality of life in rural and urban areas. Today’s rural society is connected to the environment and urban market, rather than primary activities. Solving the challenges faced by rural areas requires an innovative and out-of-the-box approach.
Bragança Municipality
Paula Cabo
Portugal
5300 Bragança
Afval kathedraal = waste cathedral
The ‘De Afvalkathedraal’ project is part of the activities in the context of the municipality of De Wolden, cultural municipality of Drenthe. This project focuses on initiating and raising awareness of transition thinking within the community. The social change from linear to circular economy. This includes actively involving youth from primary school age onwards. We want all residents involved, from young to old, to contribute to a literal experiment in circular construction.
As the beating heart of the Wiede Wold village, we will work with designers and the local population to realize a ‘cathedral’ constructed entirely from recycled, demolition-harvested and discarded materials from early 2023. A Cathedral as a symbol for building together towards a common ‘higher’ goal. The Peergroup is the initiator of this and has involved us as a partner.
The striking structure will become a place where performances can be given, debates organized and initiated and activities developed. To increase mutual bonding, strengthen the social structure and Identity; a new form of neighborliness.
NICE
Stefan Dingemans
Netherlands
Gasgracht 3, 7941 KG Meppel
Sustainable shared mobility has great potential to enhance livability and accessibility in cities and rural areas. However, for most travelers, shared transportation is not a suitable alternative. Tackle one of the challenges to increase participation in shared mobility, and make an international comparison. This could involve differences between traveler types or social barriers, innovative business models, behavior change interventions, and stimulating government policies.
The benefits in urban areas:
Especially in urban areas, a significant amount of parking space is required to accommodate all cars, which then cannot be used for recreational purposes such as parks and playgrounds. However, transportation vehicles are stationary for the majority of the time, meaning a large portion of the available transportation capacity is usually not utilized. By sharing cars, as well as other means of transportation, with other travelers, it is potentially possible to meet mobility needs while significantly reducing the number of cars. Depending on the form of car-sharing, the “car replacement factor” can reach up to 10, meaning 1 shared car can replace 10 other cars.
The benefits for rural areas:
In rural areas, there is often a declining population as many (young) people move to urban areas for living and work opportunities. Organizing public transportation effectively becomes a challenge. However, good accessibility to cities and between smaller residential areas is essential for livability. Shared mobility can provide a solution for these areas, such as shortening travel time for the so-called “first and last mile” from home to a bus or train station.
The potential for energy use sustainability:
Shared mobility presents a good opportunity to transition to zero-emission transportation. Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and vehicles with hydrogen fuel cells are often not a financially viable alternative to traditional cars. By smartly sharing costs and involving the government, this transition becomes more feasible.
EnTranCe, Centre of Expertise, Energy, Hanze U.A.S.
Chris Dijksterhuis
Netherlands
Zernikelaan 17, 9747 AA Groningen
Small agri and food businesses are located in low-density areas that previously worked with domestic producers and products, is now forced to work with raw materials and products from abroad. This weakens competitiveness. What alternative raw materials and products could be found in the future to increase competitiveness and value creation?
Small agricultural and food businesses located in low-density areas traditionally relied on domestic producers and products to remain competitive. However, with the advent of globalization and changing consumer preferences, these businesses are now compelled to source raw materials and products from abroad. This shift has led to a weakening of their competitiveness and value creation.
Bragança Municipality
Paula Cabo
Portugal
5300 Bragança
The selection of materials for sustainable construction carries a holistic and integrated approach, in relation to ecosystem services, the implications of materials choice at the design stage, and the impact of materials on building users and their health. How can we innovate for a healthy eco-friendly building, while valorising regional endogenous resources?
When choosing home building materials, individuals think about the style and the desired aesthetic of their home. However, it’s also important to keep their health and environment in mind. Sustainable building is presently a crucial concern for governments, companies, and families. Researchers are developing innovative, new, green products, often by incorporating natural materials, and techniques that were used historically, to take advantage of this growing marketplace opportunity.
Padimir
Paula Cabo
Portugal
Mirandela
The traditional meat processing industry needs to find sustainable ways to manage waste, including animal bones, to support the transition to a circular bioeconomy. This requires innovative and cost-effective solutions that prioritize sustainability and optimize resource use.
A bio-based circular economy can provide the path to a sustainable future. Sustainability challenges are increasingly complex, the time to propose solutions is reduced and nobody today has a clear understanding of the dimension of the problem. Currently, environmental sustainability in the industrial context derives mainly from the application of efficiency principles such as reducing waste or closing and narrowing production and consumption cycles. European Union policymakers have given high priority to a sustainable and circular bioeconomy with the aim of promoting local economies. However, for a circular bioeconomy to succeed, new businesses and business models are needed, for which many drawbacks can be faced.
Bernadete Bittencourt
Portugal is one of Europe’s top chestnut producers, but most of the production is exported with little processing. Chestnut valorization can benefit small farmers and rural communities by creating new economic opportunities, promoting rural development, and preserving traditional food cultures.
Portugal is one of Europe’s top chestnut producers, with Terra Fria municipalities accounting for 60% of the national total. Despite this, most of the production is exported with little processing. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in the chestnut industry in Portugal, driven by the country’s rich chestnut culture and the recognition of the nutritional and environmental benefits of chestnuts as a sustainable food source.
Marron – Chestnut Workshop
Pedro Rodrigues
Portugal
Rua dos combatentes da grande guerra, 135, 5300-113 Bragança
How to increase civic engagement in climate action?
Climate change is one of the biggest problem humanity is facing. We do not only need to accelerate the energy transition from using fossil fuels to renewables, but we are also need to work on the biodiversity, the transition of agriculture, limit the amount of trash, limit the use of plastic/ban the use of ‘single-use-plastics’, etcetera. Though governments on all levels are urging the individuals to get into action, the top-down model (government telling us what to do) is not enough. Civic engagement is needed to help governments, but most of all societies in the transitions.
IPCC, the European Green Deal and national and regional programs for the transitions are all underway.These deals are needed in line with the Paris climate accord, where almost all countries in the world, in 2014 agreed that we should limit the temperature rise within 1,5 degrees Celcius. Despite all these international, national and regional deals, the main action should come from citizens and companies. More and more, governmens, especially local governments, face the challenges to engage citizens in participation, but face the complexity, and are challenged with a lack of trust from the public.
The big challenge on global level is to change our consumption society into a Doughnut society (see figure 1) where economic growth is limited by ecological boundaries (Haworth, 2012).
EnTranCe, Centre of Expertise, Energy, Hanze U.A.S.
Wim Elving
Netherlands
Zernikelaan 17, 9747 AA Groningen
How can we improve the housing conditions in the Waterford county?
The entire country is suffering with the housing crisis. This challenge has to cope with a number of issues: homelessness, not enough properties to rent, influx of asylum seekers and refugees as well as the rising housing prices, due to a shortage opf supply.
Michael Quinn, as Deputy Chief Executive Officer & Director of Economic Development & Planning at Waterford City & County Council, identified three challenges happening in the region that are relevant for his organisation, the city & county council. The Waterford City and County Council is the authority responsible for local government in the City & County of Waterford.
Regional Housing
Michael Quinn
Ireland
City Hall, The Mall, Waterford, X91 PK15 Civic Offices, Davitt’s Quay
How can we reduce pharmaceutical residues in water?
Clean water is becoming increasingly scarce, also in the Netherlands, and this leads to various problems. For example, the water shortage is standing in the way of the growth of sustainable industry in Groningen’s Eemshaven and Delfzijl. Industrial processes often require a lot of cooling water and a lot of water is also required for the production of hydrogen, for example. That water is simply not available now, which is why the REGAIN project was conceived. Waste water that has already gone through an initial purification step at WWTP Garmerwolde is stripped of any medicine residues that are still present and further made suitable for reuse as industrial water. All this takes place in a test factory using sustainable low-chemical technologies.
Centre of Expertise Water Technology
Peter van der Maar
Netherlands
Oostergoweg 9, 8911 MA Leeuwarden
How can we produce sustainable interior products and furniture?
Curtains in hospitals or care centers, for example, must be washed once a quarter, which releases many microplastic particles.
To prevent this, we will create linen curtains together from the flax that the Timpelsteed in Engwirum will grow for this project. The curtains are designed by House of Design in collaboration with Iedema Projectstoffeerder and woven by Ingeborg Meijssen Textiles. Biosintrum, together with the partners, provides a revenue model so that we can scale up further after this project.
With plastic-free curtains we can:
1. Preventing the spread of plastic particles through the air and pollution of nature and our water
2. Creating healthy spaces where people are free of microplastics in, for example, hospitals or care centers to recover healthily.
2. Contributing to new revenue models for farmers; In addition to ‘food’ and ‘feed’, it can also be grown for ‘product’
3. Make a positive impact on the environment because growing flax is a good crop rotation that contributes to biodiversity.
Biosintrium
Petra Boorsma
Netherlands
Ecomunitypark 5, 8431 SM Oosterwolde
How to attract talents/professionals to the North of The Netherlands for regional development and innovation? This initiative falls under a larger, regional plan to make Groningen a European capital for innovation: ‘Het Akkoord van Groningen’
The Province of Groningen has a shortage of qualified workers in 3 important industries namely IT, health and energy, whilst the amount of jobs is increasing. m Talent in de Regio, which is focused on making the region more attractive to those looking for work, often highly educated professionals with at least a Bachelor’s degree (henceforth described as talent) This initiative falls under a larger, regional plan to make Groningen a European capital for innovation: ‘Het Akkoord van Groningen’
Talent in the Regio
Antionia Hein
Netherlands
Zernikeplein 7, (Gebouw Van OlstBorg), 9747 AS Groningen
Decrease in soil quality due to current use of agricultural production methods in the Netherlands. For this project we are aiming for a clear line of communication and materials to be able to present insights to specific target groups.
The soil of agricultural land is becoming increasingly poor in organic matter. This results in a decrease in the types of micro-organisms (that convert this organic matter), which necessitates the use of crop protection products and as a result of which the cycle that is so essential for nature does not occur. Soils become impoverished, the bearing capacity of the soil decreases. CO2 disappears and the capacity to organically bind minerals is virtually absent, causing minerals to leach out and biodiversity to be further lost. In the absence of diverse organic sources, the soil can probably also produce less diverse building blocks. This includes many different amino acids, fatty acids and carbohydrates. This makes the cultivated plant material more one-sided in content, which has an effect on the crops produced (more mono-sugars, fewer long chains, virtually no lignin and crude fiber). Too much nitrogen (N) is emitted in agriculture and too much phosphate (P205) and nitrogen leaches from the soil into the surface water. Many more minerals are supplied than are removed in products.
With as ultimate goal to deliver ‘hard evidence/results’ of Schatlinks’ relevance and significance which we need to to convince our (future) stakeholders/subsidy providers to develop and unroll Schatlink within the northern part of the Netherlands.
Target audience(s)/Stakeholders
Primarily within this assignment:
• Target group Schatlink: citizens, users and residents of an area
Secondary:
• Stakeholders within this project: (semi) governmental subsidy providers
Biosintrum
Petra Boorsma
Netherlands
Ecomunitypark 5, 8431 SM Oosterwolde
Following the 2030 Agenda, the EU wants to transform the European economy into a circular, energy efficient and climate-neutral one. However, what does it mean practically for European regions and, specifically, for the Northern Netherlands – the three Dutch provinces – Groningen, Drenthe and Friesland?
Where to start and who to target? What should be done in the region to meet the ambitious goals of Agenda 2030 and commitments of the EU?
In September 2015, the United Nations General Assembly signed up the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). World leaders committed to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
The 2030 Agenda, together with Paris Agreement on Climate Change, are the roadmaps to a better world and the global framework for international cooperation on sustainable development and its economic, social, environmental and governance dimensions.
The EU has played an active role throughout the process and is committed to implementing the Agenda 2030 within the EU and in development cooperation with partner countries.
The European Commission aims to transform the EU economy into a circular, energy efficient and climate-neutral one that at the same time provides an optimal business environment for sustainable growth, job creation and innovation. In four out of six priorities (A European Green Deal, A Europe fit for the digital age, An economy that works for people, A stronger Europe in the world, Promoting our European way of life, A new push for European democracy) transformation to sustainable EU economy is addressed directly.
However, what does it mean practically for European regions and, specifically, for the Northern Netherlands – the three Dutch provinces (Groningen, Drenthe and Friesland) – to transform the regional economy into a circular, energy efficient and climate-neutral one? How such transformation should look like? What to do in order to create sustainable regional economy that provides an optimal business environment for sustainable growth, job creation and innovation? Where to start and who to target?
What should be done in the region to meet the ambitious goals of Agenda 2030 and commitments of the EU?
Jean Monnet Chair in Sustainable EU Economy
Beata Kviatek
Netherlands
Zernikeplein 7, 9747 AS Groningen
Some drastic changes are coming to the wine industry and traditional wine shops are facing challenges that demand an innovative approach to foster the future of wine tasting!
There are some drastic changes in the viniculture, marketing & sales of wine, due to technological progress. These changes are driven by factors like technology in the vineyard, climate change and the emergence of new wine regions, sustainability and the popularity of eco-friendly wines, new taste trends, new retail wine concepts, technologically augmented bottles and blockchain-based authentication of fine wine. Lost Corner Wine House offers the opportunity for a glass of wine whit a view of “Praça da Sé”, the city’s central square. Lost Corner Wine House has been innovating the wine retail concept by combining the best local products and the worldwide recognized Portuguese wines. The typical retail wine shop has not changed very much in the past century. Wines are typically arranged by region or grape variety, and it’s up to the consumer to peruse through thousands of bottles, all of which largely look the same, to find the perfect bottle of wine.
Casa do Joa
Pedro Rodrigues
Portugal
5300 Bragança
The constraints of “fast fashion” are particularly noticeable in furniture and interior design industry, leaving behind a staggering amount of wasted material.
If one particular design, or color, or material, or function can become obsolete relatively fast, making furniture’s life-cycle very short, how can we make products that last throughout fashion trends?
Consumers are now more interested in the latest designs and trends, which has led to a culture of disposability. This culture of disposability has significant environmental and social implications. The discarded furniture and design pieces end up in landfills, contributing to environmental degradation. The production process also creates a significant carbon footprint, leading to climate change.
Monfreita
Paula Cabo
Portugal
Macedo de Cavaleiros
The second home property is an interesting market that can benefit rural areas that are struggling to attract residents. Next generation pensioners will be healthier, will live longer and are definitely environmentally conscious. How can an eco-branded UNESCO destination attract these new migrants?
International second home property and residential mobility have grown rapidly in the past decades. Trends like globalization, individualization, mobility, movement flows, working flexibility are some of the reasons for this expansion. Residential mobility from northern European countries towards southern Europe has created several patterns of residence that can be designated as lifestyle migration. Simultaneously, migration from rural areas to cities is a global phenomenon and in 2050 it is expected that nearly 70% of the world’s population will live in cities. This trend results in a large stock of available real estate which has its infrastructures and is, nevertheless, depreciated. A partnership between Portugal and Spain created the ZASNET territory. The vast majority of the 29 907 km² which host it corresponds to rural areas and includes 5 natural parks. In 2015, UNESCO has distinguished ZASNET as a territory where the symbiosis between Man and the Biosphere is complete. This seal of excellence led to the creation of the brand RESERVE OF THE BIOSPHERE TRANSFRONTEIRIÇA MESETA IBÉRICA, representing an opportunity to market a sustainable socio-economic destination. This brand is intended to boost tourism, combining the UNESCO brand with nature conservation, certified regional products, and the creation of new job opportunities.
ZASNET
Pedro Rodrigues
Portugal
5300 Bragança
Technology has been developing at an unprecedented pace, which fundamentally changes and will continue to change our way of life. Artificial Intelligence (AI) allows to automize tasks such as recognition of images, speech, decision-making, and translation between languages. AI systems learn from data, either from being explicitly programmed or from self-learning algorithms, to make predictions or decisions without being explicitly programmed to perform the task. There are huge and urgent questions to be asked and answered about the globalized food system in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss. Farming can be a force for change with huge potential to build resilience and security in our food system. Plus, extensive livestock production contributes positively to preserving biodiversity and carbon sequestration in soils and biomass.
How might the new developments in AI enhance the active tourist experience?
Arts, IT, Data analytics, Tourism, Marketing, Sports.
Emotion Defender.
Patrícia Fidalgo.
Portugal.
Av. Cidade de León, 5300-358 Bragança.
Pedro Rodrigues.
Prototype; Solution for smart tourism experience.
In a world where it is easy to find the solution of a given math problem. How the students should learn math?
Nowadays, there is a large set of platforms, named brilliant, symbolab, Khan Academy and others. Considering all these tools, how the teaching of math should change in the future?
How the classes should run? What is the role of the teacher? How validade if a given student learn?
Tecnological.
MathE Project.
Florbela Fernandes.
Portugal.
Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança.
Ana I Pereira
Strategies and good practices
Our objective is to provide digital literacy education to individuals who are not proficient in technology and help them grasp the fundamental significance of digital identity in a way that is relevant to their daily lives and easily understandable.
Digital identity is a crucial topic that has an impact on people worldwide. Especially because interactions with government organizations are becoming increasingly digital. However there is still a group of people, who are less familiar with digital technologies. It is essential to communicate with these individuals about the significance of digital identity in a way they would understand, so it is easy to understand and accessible to everyone.
DIT-lab is an innovative research project conducted for a Dutch government executive agency, DUO. The project focuses on exploring the potential of new technologies in relation to digital identity and how they can revolutionize the agency’s services. The main objective is to enhance data integrity and privacy, while also prioritizing customer-centricity.
Dit-Lab, DUO
Jan Van Mulligen
Netherlands
Zernikepark 10, 9747, Groningen
How can we use new techniques in monitoring and scanning below surface?
70 years of gas extraction in Groningen in the North of the Netherlands has caused earthquakes for some years. Buildings need to be monitored regularly. There is a need to use more advanced techniques in order to be able to use less invasive techniques.
Noorderruimte
Maarten Vieveen
Netherlands
Zernikeplein 7, 9747 AS Groningen
Schatlink consists of short videos and assumes an inclusive approach, where the information is presented in an educational, narrative and factual manner. This way of providing information is not only contemporary and attractive to a wide audience, but also very suitable for low-literate people and young visitors. The information offered is easy to update, supplement and deepen or simplify
Raising awareness and increasing the importance of Heritage in shaping the current and future quality of our physical living environment among citizens, users and residents of an area. This is not only about ‘protecting and preserving’ (status quo), but it also fuels the desire for a healthy living environment (improvement)!
The objective of this assignment is to find/create a way to improve the videos by achieving more;
• Awareness amongst viewers of the videos
• Action perspective (‘handelingsperspectie’)
o Interactivity between sender and viewer/user and/or
o Call to action/Follow up and/or
With as ultimate goal to deliver ‘hard evidence/results’ of Schatlinks’ relevance and significance which we need to to convince our (future) stakeholders/subsidy providers to develop and unroll Schatlink within the northern part of the Netherlands.
Target audience(s)/Stakeholders
Primarily within this assignment:
• Target group Schatlink: citizens, users and residents of an area
Secondary:
• Stakeholders within this project: (semi) governmental subsidy providers
Currently Schatlink is an informative channel (video) understandable for a very broad audience. The outcome of the pilot phase was judged by several stakeholders as very appealing and positive (subjective). However they are insecure about the specific results (objective). We know, for example, the views of videos but it is not clear if the awareness amongst the target groups is really changed. Are they really motivated to contribute to a better living environment? What did they do to achieve this? The videos are highly informative at the moment (current status), but need more interaction, follow up, call to action. Viewers must be more ‘involved and turned into an active modus’.
Starkx
D. Wernik
Netherlands
Molenkampsteeg 49, 9751 TS Haren (Gn)
Smart tourism, a technology application shaping the future, can be enhanced with Augmented Reality experiences. The challenge is to explore how Emotion Defender’s IT solutions can create a more engaging active tourist experience.
Technology has been developing at an unprecedented pace, which fundamentally changes and will continue to change our way of life. People embrace technology advancements and Smart tourism is one of the exciting technology applications that are shaping the future landscape. Emotion defender is a company that develops IT solutions for active tourism and fitness. Ubiquitous connectivity and available data are reshaping the tourist experience and allow real time Augmented Reality experiences.
Emotion Defender
Pedro Rodrigues
Portugal
Av. Cidade de León, 5300-358 Bragança, Portugal
How can we experiment with and cope with online forms of behaviour leading to misbehaviour?
We live in an increasingly polarizing world. People don’t feel heard and therefore start shouting louder and become more explicite in statements and arguments. In addition, we live in a world in which the amount of information and data is increasing and it is therefore becoming more difficult to get your message across. In the digital world, boundaries are blurring and people are becoming more and more direct and unpolite in opinion sharing, especially in online environments leading to judgements, and cancel culture. Organizations and influencers also play a role in this and increasingly become the target of opinions, statements and judgmental behaviour. From the point of view of Responsible Leadership, something is expected of influencers and organizations, but what if individual citizens become targets?
What are current trends in online platforms? What behavioural aspects can be identified? How can we empatize with online behaviour and feel what others might encounter in extreme situations of online misbehaviour? How can we design for an artefact to view and experience the other person’s point of view?
Keerwater Development & Platform Media Literacy.
Didier Kick.
Netherlands.
EUROPE DIRECT in Bragança aims for a deeper engagement of Portuguese youth in building a united Europe.To effectively connect with this group, its crucial to understand their motivations, values, and communication preferences.
The younger generation plays a vital role in the politics of the European Union. Generation Z is characterized by their digital literacy, creative problem-solving, and advocacy for fairness and equality. Youngers are crucial to the future of Europe and their involvement in EU politics is essential for the EU’s responsiveness and accountability to the needs of all Europeans.
How can we increase the participation of Portuguese centennials or Generation Z in EU affairs? What factors determine their level of engagement with EU? How does cultural and national identity impact the engagement of youngsters with EU affairs? To what extent do they feel represented and included in EU politics?
Marketing, Behavioural Sciences, Multimedia, Art and Design, Politics, Economics and Managment.
Europe Direct de Bragança
Silvia Nobre
Portugal
Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança.
Paula Cabo
Prototype; Solution to foster youth engagement in the future of Europe
How to increase business digitalisation in Wexford?
Relevant regional challenges identified by Laura Lyons, enterprise administrator at the Local Enterprise Office in Wexford, come from the perspective of an organisation that is the first-stop shop for new entrepreneurs or existing small business owners seeking information and support on starting or growing a business in Wexford.
Digitalisation is the most important challenge because many local businesses and start ups need to adapt to new technologies. Digitalisation is very relevant for businesses in the region, especially if these businesses deal with repetitive processes that would benefit from automation, if these businesses can move software to the cloud or if digital innovations can help creating additional values to their clients. There are already a few programmes available to meet this end.
Increasing digitalisation
Laura Lyons
Ireland
Local Enterprise Office, Carricklawn, Wexford
The today’s European society faces a number of challenges; we move to little and weigh too much (WHO, 2022), we breathe unhealthy air contaminated by various sources and live in areas suffering from the “heat island effect”.
A really practical solution to these problems is getting more people to cycle trips up to 5/10 kilometers. This means reducing pollution of traffic and improving the individuals health. If we can change the car minded way of thinking in urban planning, we gain a lot of space to plant trees and green spaces to cool down the cities.
But where do we start? Where do people ride their bikes and which places do they avoid? How can we make cycling a game and motivate them to collect more data for the benefit of urban planning? How can we guide them through the city, riding the least polluted route? And to gain insight into where the air is polluted, which is an important factor for governments to do something about it.
Where we began and where we are
In 2018 we started seeing all these problems that we wanted to fix. Civity at its core is a data company, we connect with sensors and platforms to store and share data. We started a partnership with a IoT hardware company and a couple of months later the first version of the “Snifferbike” was born.
We called the project Snifferbike, because we built a sensor that actually sniffs in the air and measures the number of particles floating in the air. The first project started with 20 volunteers sniffing the air on their routes. Later we scaled up and sold 500 sensors to the province of Utrecht.
The project works like this: a larger regional governmental body decides to start the project and invite people to sign up for a sensor. Usually people are interested in learning more about the air quality in their environment or are happy to contribute to society.
The sensor collects data every 50 meters which on the bicycle is every 10 seconds. We collect the temperature, humidity, PM 2,5 (kind of harmful dust expelled when burning fossil fuels and wood), GPS, and vibrations.
Who uses the data?
The research institutes are very interested in the PM 2,5 data to investigate hyper local differences. The cycling department within for example the province use the raw GPS data to make informed decisions about the usage of the infrastructure. They look at possible bottlenecks, speeds and route decision making. Based on the Snifferbike data they can also choose to improve or extend bike paths.
Volunteers
The individual users or end users, mount the sensor on their handlebars on routes to work, university or recreational rides. The sensor automatically turns on when moved and shuts down after it stopped moving for five minutes. After arriving at their destination the user can access their route data on an application.
This application is very basic not very cool and a little to hard to understand. hat’s why eo le after a cou le of months don’t feel like charging the sensor and taking it with them anymore. This for us is problem because without the willingness to collaborate we don’t receive any data.
CIVITY
Tom de Nooij
Netherlands
Stadsring 115, 2e verdieping, 3817 AX Amersfoort
Create awareness and interest as well as stimulate the target groups to become involved in STARS EU. STARS EU is an European Alliance of nine universities working on developing the European University of the future. STARS EU is a young alliance and not everybody within the partner universities knows about it. Therefore we are facing the challenge of informing staff (researchers and lecturers) and students about STARS EU, its goals and motivating staff and students to become involved in developing the European University of the future together.
STARS EU (Strategic Alliance for Regional Transition) is an alliance of nine complementary universities (in both research and applied sciences) which aims to establish channels of collaboration in initiatives of different types, seeking to promote the exchange of ideas, people and innovation in both research and teaching.
Preparing future generations for increasingly automated, digitalised and fluid labour markets implies reforming both educational models (through international exchange, challenge-based education, micro-credentials and other strategies) and research models, with collaboration as the driving force.
The partners of STARS EU can be found all over Europe: University West (Sweden), Hanze University of Applied Sciences (The Netherlands), Hochschule Bremen (Germany), Cracow University of Technology (Poland), Silesian University in Opave (Czech Republic), University of Franche-Comté (France), University of La Laguna (Spain), Polytechnic Institute of Braganca (Portugal) and Alexander Moisiu University of Durrës (Albania).
Stars EU
Schaaf PN van der, Patricia
Netherlands
Zernikepark 10, 9747 AN Groningen
Peripheral areas are struggling to survive in a context where the work structure is changing. Digital nomads are emerging, growing, and demanding unique destinations. How can Cabo Verde stand out in this competitive environment and become a hub for the next generation of digital nomads?
Migration to cities is a global phenomenon and in 2050 it is expected that nearly 70% of the world’s population will live in cities.
However, and simultaneously, work structures are changing and the traditional categories such as unemployed, wage-earners and entrepreneurs may no longer apply. It is expected that the rate of pensioner freelancers, project nomads and people in various intermediate states grows significantly in the next decade.
República de Cabo Verde is an established tourism destination that intends to appeal to these new workers, offering sun, beach, hospitality, tranquility, and a guaranteed high-speed Internet connection, to work while enjoying the local natural beauty. If succeeded, it is expected that this will bring lower seasonality and increased revenues to the local economy. The opportunity is being pursued by several destinations representing an opportunity to market a sustainable socio-economic destination.
Mina
Pedro Rodrigues
Portugal
5300 Bragança
Current technology allows the creation of video content that can boost indoor cardio fitness customer experience. The challenge is to combine this capability with the anticipation of active tourism experience.
Emotion defender is a company that develops IT solutions for active tourism and fitness. The cardio equipment flor is an essential part of the club experience, but fitness industry has been struggling to engage clients in this segment. Digital content provided by treadmills and exercise bikes has grown in popularity because it satisfies a desire for more instructor-led classes, personalization, and engagement. Simultaneously, active tourism is one of the fast-growing segments of the tourism industry.
Emotion Defender
Pedro Rodrigues
Portugal
Av. Cidade de León, 5300-358 Bragança, Portugal
How can we make prisons more child-friendly?
Currently there are approximately 800.00 children in the European Union with a parent in detention. That is a staggering number of children in difficult situations for a short or longer period of their life as a child. Detention affects not only the lives of prisoners, but also the lives of their family members. Maintaining a positive relationship can contribute to successful reintegration and the well-being of children of prisoners. However, it is not easy for parents in detention to maintain relationships with family members.
We want to contribute to making the (Dutch) prison system more child-friendly. We do this by conducting (scientific) research and developing products that benefit prisons. We do this in collaboration with the target group, professionals, students and researchers. Achievement: European Prison Achievement Award 2022.
How can we limit detention damage for children with a parent in detention? How can we design positive artefacts in order to facilitate and encourage positive family situations?
Gezinsbenadering in Penitentiaire Inrichtingen.
Petrick Glasbergen.
Netherlands.
Esserheem Meidoornlaan 38 Veenhuizen, Netherlands.
How can economic development lead to higher quality jobs in the Waterford landscapa?
Michael Quinn, as Deputy Chief Executive Officer & Director of Economic Development & Planning at Waterford City & County Council, identified three challenges happening in the region that are relevant for his organisation, the city & county council. The Waterford City and County Council is the authority responsible for local government in the City & County of Waterford.
The strategic objective of the council is to ensure that Waterford can build a critical mass of quality jobs, related to the significant industries of the region, as a driver of economic and social development in the South East region.
Quality jobs – futureproofed
Michael Quinn
Ireland
City Hall, The Mall, Waterford, X91 PK15 Civic Offices, Davitt’s Quay
How can industry in Wexford obtain access to financial resources for non-technical purposes?
Relevant regional challenges identified by Laura Lyons, enterprise administrator at the Local Enterprise Office in Wexford, come from the perspective of an organisation that is the first-stop shop for new entrepreneurs or existing small business owners seeking information and support on starting or growing a business in Wexford.
There is already financial support for business, however, this happens more at the technical level. There should be financial support at all business levels.
Streamlined resource access
Laura Lyons
Ireland
Local Enterprise Office, Carricklawn, Wexford
How to tackle customer confidence due to high inflation?
Aileen McGrath is a Senior Enterprise Development Officer providing one-to-one business advice and guidance to anyone thinking about starting a business or to any existing business in Kilkenny. Her viewpoints come from the perspective of being constantly engaging with local businesses – providing advice, evaluating their plans and strategies, recommending actions and engaging in regular review meetings.
Kilkenny is a self-sufficient regional driver which avails of a significant population as well as prominent economic and business roles. Due to the world recession, employment declined during the 2006-2011 period. Moreover, there was a steady increase in number of jobs in all sectors between 2011 and 2016, excluding Public Administration and Manufacturing. However, labour shortage is still an issue that could benefit from access to business skills across a number of positions, including problem solving, responsiveness to the existing and upcoming opportunities as well as connectiveness with other regions and abroad.
Poor consumer confidence
Aileen McGrath
Ireland
Kilkenny LEO, John Street Lower, Collegepark, Kilkenny
How can we involve and attract primary school children in the cultural heritage of small villages in the region they live in?
A number of museums in the north of the Netherlands aim to provide their visitors with knowledge of the history and development of the maritime past of the villages, fishery and the cultural-historical values of the immediate vicinity. The museums aim to perform their museological tasks at a high quality level. The museums aim to transfer knowledge of the museums to pupils of primary schools. In addition, the museums’ next approach is to develop teaching programs for children in primary schools.
Living environment in transition
Charlotte Hidding
Netherlands
Zernikeplein 7, Van OlstBorg, B0.185
9747 AS Groningen
STARS EU is an European Alliance of nine universities working on developing the European University of the future. STARS EU is a young alliance and not everybody within the partner universities knows about it. Therefore we are facing the challenge of informing staff (researchers and lecturers) and students about STARS EU, its goals and motivating staff and students to become involved in developing the European University of the future together.
STARS EU (Strategic Alliance for Regional Transition) is an alliance of nine complementary universities (in both research and applied sciences) which aims to establish channels of collaboration in initiatives of different types, seeking to promote the exchange of ideas, people and innovation in both research and teaching.
Preparing future generations for increasingly automated, digitalised and fluid labour markets implies reforming both educational models (through international exchange, challenge-based education, micro-credentials and other strategies) and research models, with collaboration as the driving force.
The partners of STARS EU can be found all over Europe: University West (Sweden), Hanze University of Applied Sciences (The Netherlands), Hochschule Bremen (Germany), Cracow University of Technology (Poland), Silesian University in Opave (Czech Republic), University of Franche-Comté (France), University of La Laguna (Spain), Polytechnic Institute of Braganca (Portugal) and Alexander Moisiu University of Durrës (Albania).
How can we attract talents/professionals to the region (North of the Netherlands) for development and innovation?
The Province of Groningen has a shortage of qualified IT-workers whilst the amount of jobs is increasing. Talent in de Regio wants to make the region more attractive to those looking for work, often highly educated professionals with at least a Bachelor’s degree (henceforth described as talent) This initiative falls under a larger, regional plan to make Groningen a European capital for innovation: ‘Het Akkoord van Groningen’.
The challenge will be framed., in communciation with the team.
Talent in The Regio
Antonia Hein
Netherlands.
Zernikeplein 7, (Gebouw Van OlstBorg), 9747 AS Groningen
How can the Waterford city and county obtain more funding for regional development?
Michael Quinn, as Deputy Chief Executive Officer & Director of Economic Development & Planning at Waterford City & County Council, identified three challenges happening in the region that are relevant for his organisation, the city & county council. The Waterford City and County Council is the authority responsible for local government in the City & County of Waterford.
Waterford is already a recipient of funding stemming from national frameworks, such as the Rural Economic Development Fund in order to (i) diversify the industries and also create new small businesses and attract jobs to the region; (ii) promote local development in rural areas; and (iii) enhance use and quality of ICT in rural areas. However, funding is still needed.
Quality jobs – futureproofed
Michael Quinn
Ireland
City Hall, The Mall, Waterford, X91 PK15 Civic Offices, Davitt’s Quay
How to increase the number of quality jobs in Kilkenny?
Aileen McGrath is a Senior Enterprise Development Officer providing one-to-one business advice and guidance to anyone thinking about starting a business or to any existing business in Kilkenny. Her viewpoints come from the perspective of being constantly engaging with local businesses – providing advice, evaluating their plans and strategies, recommending actions and engaging in regular review meetings.
Kilkenny is a self-sufficient regional driver which avails of a significant population as well as prominent economic and business roles. Due to the world recession, employment declined during the 2006-2011 period. Moreover, there was a steady increase in number of jobs in all sectors between 2011 and 2016, excluding Public Administration and Manufacturing. However, labour shortage is still an issue that could benefit from access to business skills across a number of positions, including problem solving, responsiveness to the existing and upcoming opportunities as well as connectiveness with other regions and abroad.
War on Talent
Aileen McGrath
Ireland
Kilkenny LEO, John Street Lower, Collegepark, Kilkenny
How to improve business and transportation costs in Kilkenny?
Aileen McGrath is a Senior Enterprise Development Officer providing one-to-one business advice and guidance to anyone thinking about starting a business or to any existing business in Kilkenny. Her viewpoints come from the perspective of being constantly engaging with local businesses – providing advice, evaluating their plans and strategies, recommending actions and engaging in regular review meetings.
Kilkenny is a self-sufficient regional driver which avails of a significant population as well as prominent economic and business roles. Due to the world recession, employment declined during the 2006-2011 period. Moreover, there was a steady increase in number of jobs in all sectors between 2011 and 2016, excluding Public Administration and Manufacturing. However, labour shortage is still an issue that could benefit from access to business skills across a number of positions, including problem solving, responsiveness to the existing and upcoming opportunities as well as connectiveness with other regions and abroad.
The challenging operating environment
Aileen McGrath
Ireland
Kilkenny LEO, John Street Lower, Collegepark, Kilkenny
How can we make prisons more child-friendly?
Currently there are approximately 800.00 children in the European Union with a parent in detention. That is a staggering number of children in difficult situations for a short or longer period of their life as a child. Detention affects not only the lives of prisoners, but also the lives of their family members. Maintaining a positive relationship can contribute to successful reintegration and the well-being of children of prisoners. However, it is not easy for parents in detention to maintain relationships with family members.
We want to contribute to making the (Dutch) prison system more child-friendly. We do this by conducting (scientific) research and developing products that benefit prisons. We do this in collaboration with the target group, professionals, students and researchers. Achievement: European Prison Achievement Award 2022
Gezinsbenadering in Penitentiaire Inrichtingen
Petrick Glasbergen
Netherlands
Esserheem Meidoornlaan 38 Veenhuizen, Netherlands
In the digital age, social media has become a significant source of information for children aged 10-11. However, the abundance of content on social media poses a challenge as it is often difficult for young users to discern reliable and accurate information from misleading or false claims. This lack of critical evaluation skills leaves children vulnerable to misinformation, manipulation, and potential harm.
Limited Critical Thinking Skills: Many children in the age range of 10-11 lack the ability to critically analyze information, identify bias, evaluate the source’s credibility, and distinguish facts from opinions or misinformation.
Influence of Social Media: The proliferation of social media platforms exposes children to a vast array of information sources, including user-generated content, which may not undergo rigorous fact-checking or verification processes. Children often lack the knowledge and tools to differentiate between credible and unreliable sources.
Vulnerability to Misinformation: Without proper guidance, children can easily fall victim to false narratives, hoaxes, or harmful content circulating on social media platforms. They may unknowingly accept and spread inaccurate information, leading to misconceptions or misguided beliefs.
Educational Gap: Formal education systems may not adequately address media literacy and critical thinking skills, specifically concerning social media, leaving children unprepared to navigate the complex landscape of information online.
Need for Empowerment: There is a growing need to equip children with the necessary skills and knowledge to evaluate the credibility and trustworthiness of the information they encounter on social media platforms. Empowering children to be critical consumers of information can help them make informed decisions and contribute positively to society.
LinkUp
R Willems
Netherlands
9648DT Wildervank/Groningen, Netherlands
The current rate of consumption of resources and corresponding production of waste is unbearable. The change of pattern presupposes the transition from the dominant economy, predominantly linear, to a circular economy. This imposes the awareness of new generations, more connected, informed, and sensitive to rapidly evolving forms of communication. Organizations oriented to the dissemination of scientific and technological knowledge are required to undergo a process of constant innovation to meet their target audience.
At a time when economic growth is increasing globally, the circular economy has taken on a more prominent role. Circular Economy is a strategic concept based on the reduction, reuse, recovery and recycling of materials and energy. While the linear model assumes that there are unlimited resources, the circular model assumes that all products and services originate from factors of nature, and that, at the end of their current useful life, they once again return to nature through waste. It is unsustainable to continue with a model in which 90% of what is consumed turns into garbage within 6 months. The Ciência Viva center’s central mission is to build active citizenship based on the promotion of scientific knowledge and the dissemination and dissemination of science and technology. Its action is based on a varied portfolio that includes dissemination actions, technical-scientific publications, presentation of communications at technical-scientific congresses and national and international projects. The contribution of science to society is unquestionable! But, in the current context, access to information and science is rapidly changing and requires innovative solutions to respond to new generations.
Centro de Ciência Viva
Pedro Rodrigues
Portugal
5300 Bragança