Amsterdam Smart City

Bij Amsterdam Smart City zijn we op zoek naar een stagiair die voor 4 tot 6 maanden ons team komt versterken. Je stage start in september 2024 (of later, in overleg). Je werkt mee in ons team. Daarnaast werk je eventueel aan je eigen stageopdracht of onderzoek.

Je bent een enthousiaste hbo-student en je wilt graag leren. Je kunt makkelijk schakelen en bent flexibel. Communicatief en schriftelijk kun je je sterk uitdrukken. Ook vind je het leuk om samen aan de slag te gaan. Nieuwe mensen te ontmoeten, en je netwerk te vergroten. Wij zijn benieuwd welke skills je nog meer meebrengt!

Wie is Amsterdam Smart City?

Amsterdam Smart City is hét regionale innovatieplatform dat innovatieve bedrijven, kennisinstellingen, maatschappelijke organisaties, overheden en proactieve bewoners bijeenbrengt. Samen geven we de stad van de toekomst vorm. Met een netwerk van 29 partners versnellen wij de transities in mobiliteit, energie, circulaire economie en digitalisering. We werken aan een betere, duurzame en toekomstbestendige wereld. Daarnaast hebben we een internationale community van duizenden pioniers en innovatie professionals die elkaar op de verschillende transities ontmoeten en verder helpen.

Wat ga je doen tijdens je stage?

• Je activeert de Amsterdam Smart City community door dagelijks contact te onderhouden met de leden;

• Je bedenkt en plaatst content op ons online platform en op LinkedIn;

• Je maakt en redigeert mede onze wekelijkse nieuwsbrief;

• Je onderhoudt en optimaliseert onze social mediakanalen samen met je collega;

• Je helpt met de organisatie van (partner)events en ondersteunt tijdens events;

• Je verzorgt de communicatie voor, tijdens en na events naar deelnemers en onze partners.

Waarom wil je deze stage?

• Het is een uitdagende stage waar je veel eigen verantwoordelijkheid krijgt;

• Je wordt onderdeel van een klein en hecht team dat je goede ondersteuning en begeleiding biedt;

• Ons kantoor zit op het inspirerende Marineterrein in Amsterdam;

• Je wordt deel van een divers en dynamisch netwerk bestaande uit koplopers en pioniers op het gebied van stedelijke innovatie binnen diverse toonaangevende organisaties in de Metropool Amsterdam;

• Je kunt de meewerkstage omzetten naar een onderzoekstage;

• Je krijgt een stagevergoeding van 380 euro per maand (bij een 40-urige werkweek).

Hier staan wij voor

Iedereen is anders, en juist de verschillen in mensen helpen ons aan een nog beter beeld van de metropool van morgen. We zijn nieuwsgierig naar jouw talenten, wat jou bijzonder maakt. We horen graag jouw ideeën en perspectieven. Dat helpt ons om samen nog meer impact te maken.

Wil jij dit?

Ben je enthousiast? Dan horen we graag van je! Upload z.s.m. je cv en een korte motivatie via het formulier op deze pagina. Of mail naar:  solliciteren@amecboard.com. Als wij een goede match zien, dan plannen we direct een kennismakingsgesprek in met je. Zodra we de juiste stagiair hebben gevonden, gaat de vacature offline. Wacht dus niet te lang!

Voor meer informatie over de functie neem je contact op met Sophie van der Ploeg (Community Manager) via sophie@amsterdamsmartcity.com. En bekijk ons platform. Hopelijk spreken we elkaar snel!

Heb jij ervaring met vraagstukken binnen de energietransitie en de circulaire economie? Ben je goed in partners verbinden en inspireren rond zulke issues? We zoeken een tijdelijke collega vanaf september.

Als Programmamanager Energie & Circulair vervang je tot februari 2025 een collega tijdens haar zwangerschapsverlof. Je gaat aan de slag, samen met team Amsterdam Smart City, op het Marineterrein in Amsterdam.

Wat is Amsterdam Smart City?

Amsterdam Smart City is een onafhankelijk innovatieplatform dat vernieuwende bedrijven, kennisinstellingen, overheden en maatschappelijke organisaties samenbrengt en de stad van de toekomst vormgeeft.

Met een netwerk van 26 partners versnellen we de transities in mobiliteit, energie, circulaire economie en digitalisering. Samen werken we aan een betere, duurzame en toekomstbestendige wereld. Daarnaast hebben we een internationale community van duizenden pioniers en innovatie professionals die elkaar op de verschillende transities ontmoeten en verder helpen.

Wat ga je doen?

Als programmamanager bij Amsterdam Smart City weet je wat er speelt binnen energie en circulair. Je belangrijkste taken zijn:

• Relatiemanagement met partners en contactpersonen binnen de thema’s energie en circulair;
• Je organiseert co-creatie sessies, workshops en andere bijeenkomsten waar partners samen aan elkaars complexe vraagstukken kunnen werken en bouwt coalities tussen deze partners;
• Je vindt sprekers voor onze events en organiseert deze samen met je collega’s;
• Je schrijft event-verslagen en artikelen;
• Je coördineert programma-activiteiten en bewaakt daarbij het overzicht, stemt af met collega’s en bent voorzitter van ons teamoverleg;
• Je coördineert en managet de feedback, evaluatie, en impact meting van het programma. Je gebruikt Typeform voor de evaluatie van onze events, maakt analyses en draagt bij aan het jaarverslag;
• Je signaleert kansen voor verbetering van onze innovatie-instrumenten en processen en ontwikkelt deze met onze kennispartners.

Dit ben jij

We zoeken een collega die een verbindende rol wil spelen in de energietransitie en de circulaire transitie. Je praat graag over deze onderwerpen en zoekt uit welke mensen nodig zijn om deze transities te versnellen. Je werkt graag in een klein team, en je vindt het fijn om de structuur te behouden van je activiteiten, zodat ze makkelijk over te dragen zijn aan het eind van je werk.

• Een netwerk binnen ons werkveld is een pre!
• Je hebt een opleiding in of ervaring binnen tenminste een van de thema’s of binnen stedelijke innovatie in algemene zin;
• Je hebt kennis van samenwerkingsprocessen en innovatiemethodieken;
• Je hebt ervaring met het organiseren en programmeren van bijeenkomsten en werksessies;
• Je bent een enthousiaste, open en bevlogen gesprekspartner;
• Je hebt een uitstekende beheersing van de Nederlandse en Engelse taal in woord en geschrift;
• Je hebt enkele jaren werkervaring;
• Je hebt een wo/hbo werk- en denkniveau;
• Je bent beschikbaar van september tot februari 2025.

Hier staan wij voor

Iedereen is anders, en juist de verschillen in mensen helpen ons aan een nog beter beeld van de metropool van morgen. We zijn nieuwsgierig naar jouw talenten, wat jou bijzonder maakt. We horen graag jouw ideeën en perspectieven. Dat helpt ons om samen nog meer impact te maken.

Wat bieden wij?

• Een fijne werkplek op het Marineterrein in Amsterdam, met een informele en collegiale sfeer.
• We zijn een klein team dat nauw met elkaar samenwerkt.
• Inzet op basis van een detacheringsovereenkomst* met jouw werkgever, of
• Een tijdelijk contract van 4 maanden (september 2024-februari 2025);
• Salarisindicatie: € 4.470- € 4.826 bruto per maand (o.b.v. 40 uur).
  *Commerciële tarieven passen niet binnen het budget.

Interesse gewekt?

Ben je enthousiast? Dan horen we graag van je! Upload je cv en een korte motivatie uiterlijk 16 augustus 2024. Of mail naar: solliciteren@amecboard.com.

Voor meer informatie over de functie neem je contact op met Noor Veenhoven, via noor@amsterdamsmartcity.com of 06-46 26 08 20. Hopelijk spreken we elkaar snel!

We zijn al weer twee jaar onderweg, en daarmee halverwege, de huidige programmaperiode Amsterdam Smart City 2022-2026. Twee jaar waarin we onze tussenruimte verder hebben versterkt, waarin we een sterkere focus leggen op sociale innovatie, leerzame kennissessies hebben toegevoegd aan ons programma en samen tal van vraagstukken hebben verrijkt en verder gebracht.

Sinds juni’22 hebben we 8 demodagen, 30 werksessies, meer dan 30 pitches, 1 Challenge co-creatie, 2 Transitiedagen, 6 Data Dilemma’s een zomerexpeditie, 3 diners en 5 kennissessies georganiseerd. In bijgevoegde pdf lees je aan welke onderwerpen en challenges we allemaal werken. Twee wil ik eruit lichten.

Mobiliteitsrechtvaardigheid

Echt een vraagstuk dat past bij de focus op sociale innovatie. Ingebracht door de provincie Noord-Holland en Drift. Met een brede coalitie van partners is het vraagstuk verkend en aangescherpt, zijn doelgroepen geïdentificeerd en hebben we een aanpak ontworpen. De eerste stap is om meer te weten te komen over mensen die moeite hebben hun mobiliteit te organiseren. Bijvoorbeeld omdat ze geen geld meer hebben, minder valide zijn of bijvoorbeeld het openbaar vervoer te ingewikkeld vinden. Als tweede stap wordt een programma ontwikkeld met maatregelen die nodig zijn om de toegang tot mobiliteit voor deze doelgroepen te verbeteren.

Het vraagstuk is inmiddels ondergebracht bij het Platform Mobiliteit van de Metropoolregio Amsterdam (MRA), uiteraard inclusief alle lessen uit het onderzoek en de sessies die we gedaan hebben én de werkgroep die Amsterdam Smart City had ingericht hiervoor. Hiermee wordt het echt opgepakt en verankerd in het beleid van de overheden. Ook de andere leden van het netwerk blijven aangehaakt.

Daarnaast is, voor het eerst, een multidisciplinaire onderzoekskring van de Hogeschool van Amsterdam (HvA) hierop afgestuurd. Zij hebben gekeken naar manieren om de doelgroepen zelf in het onderzoek en de aanpak te betrekken. De resultaten hiervan staan ter beschikking van de werkgroep van de MRA.

Lokale energiesystemen

Lokale energiesystemen spelen een belangrijke rol in de energietransitie. Maar zijn we niet elke keer het wiel opnieuw aan het uitvinden, en hoe komen we uit de pilotfase en in de opschaalfase?

Dit vraagstuk werd ingebracht vanuit de Gemeente Amsterdam en de HvA en werd met veel enthousiasme ontvangen in het netwerk. De oplossing zat in het beter delen van learnings van afgeronde pilots.

Hiervoor heeft de HvA een start gemaakt met het ontwikkelen van een Framework waarin alle learnings van verschillende pilots verzameld kunnen worden, zodat je gemakkelijk een totaaloverzicht zou kunnen vinden van alles wat er uit de pilots is gekomen.

De eerste versie van het Framework is gemaakt en getoetst bij het netwerk. Dit wordt nu verder doorontwikkeld.

Kennissessies

De kennissessies hebben we nieuw toegevoegd aan onze programmering. Met als doel collectief leren hoe we met nieuwe manieren de complexe vraagstukken van deze tijd aan kunnen pakken. Nieuwe manieren die leiden tot nieuwe en betere oplossingen. Zo hebben we geleerd over de inzet van Impactlenzen, de rol van macht in transities, bewustwording van vooronderstellingen door Socratic Design, van puntoplossingen naar systeemoplossing door systeem mapping en het achterhalen van de echte oorzaak met Theory U.

Met dank aan Amsterdam Economic Board, Gemeente Amsterdam, Kennisland, Hieroo en HvA voor het verzorgen hiervan.

On June 20th, our network gathered for the 24th edition of our Demoday. This time, the Demoday took place in the Jakoba Mulderhuis, the home of the Faculty of Technology of the Hogeschool van Amsterdam. This building is highly innovative and future-proof in both design and facilities. For example, it can be easily transformed in the future and does not use any fossil fuels. In many ways, it was a perfect location for this inspiring day.

In this article, we’ll give you a quick overview of the Knowledge Session, Work Sessions and Pitches. Interested in learning more? Read the full reports by our team members Pelle, Sophie, Jessie and Jill (linked below).

About our Demodays

The Demodays are one of the tools we use to stimulate innovation and encourage connection between our partners and community. The purpose of the Demodays is to present the progress of various innovation projects, ask for help, share dilemmas and involve more partners to take these projects to the next level. More information about the Demodays can be found here.

Knowledge Session: Social Innovation

Dave van Loon and Marieke Doorninck from Kennisland shared insights on social innovation, emphasizing its transformative potential. Marieke stated, “Those who are closest to the issue know the most about it,” highlighting the importance of collaboration. Kennisland co-creates solutions with those involved to address complex societal challenges, aiming for inclusive and sustainable outcomes through new strategies and collective efforts. Read Jill’s full report here.

Worksessions

Energy | Floating Neighbourhoods

Can we better utilize our water spaces? The Netherlands is renowned for its water management innovations, like the Delta Works and the reclamation of Flevoland. However, with increasing pressure on available land, we need to continue innovating. Our goals include generating sustainable energy, advancing agriculture, and building 100,000 homes per year. Bianca Bodewes and Sije Kloppenburg from the City of Amsterdam led an interactive workshop where they discussed their research on a floating district with 1,500 units and the various dilemmas they are facing. Read Jessie’s full report here.

Mobility | Mobility Radar

Yuki Tol and Joaquim Moody, trend watchers specializing in Smart Mobility at the Municipality of Amsterdam's Innovation Department, guided us through an engaging workshop on the Mobility Radar for future public transport. In this first edition, the Amsterdam Smart Mobility program explores the city's mobility challenges. Will issues such as staffing and funding shortages, the energy transition, and increasing demand for accessible transport options continue to shape Amsterdam's future public transport system? Read Pelle’s full report here.

Circular | New economic thinking. New Economic Doing.

Together with a collective of organisations, the Amsterdam Economic Board has launched the living lab project ‘New Economic Thinking, New Economic Acting, at the Marineterrein in Amsterdam, to test new economic theories in practice. Through various socio-economic experiments, they explore what it would mean to shift the focus from quantitative to qualitative growth. During this Demoday session, Laetitia Stuijt and Erik Lückers from Amsterdam Economic Board asked the Amsterdam Smart City network for input on how to implement True Pricing in practice at the Marineterrein. Read Sophie’s full report here.

Pitches

Before the work sessions began, we enjoyed some inspiring pitches. Below are the topics presented, with links to their dedicated project pages.

Byewaste: Giving a second chance to your pre-loved items – Bywaste offers an innovative and convenient solution for cleaner homes and a healthier planet. They collect unwanted items from citizens' homes at no cost, giving each item a second life through their network of sustainable partners. Learn more about their initiative here.

2Ping: Social Local Pay – What if the economy was no longer about growth, but about balance and equity? 2Ping champions the local economy by introducing and developing a local currency for Amsterdam-Zuidoost. With this experiment, they want to show that the current economy is in need of renewal and how things can be done differently. Read more here.

HvA: Interdisciplinary graduation project – Since February, four students from the Hogeschool van Amsterdam (HvA) from different fields of study have been working together in an interdisciplinary graduation project. An initiative that grew out of the longstanding collaboration between the HvA and Amsterdam Smart City. Together with the Province of North Holland, we commissioned a graduation project on the theme of Mobility Justice. Read more here.

De Stadspergola – The City Pergola in the courtyard of the HvA Amstelcampus is an innovative prototype of sustainable street furniture. What can a pergola, besides providing shade, mean for the city? The initiative invites broad collaboration between education, research, and practice. Read more here.

Our next Demoday will take place in October. Do you have an inspiring story or project you want to pitch to the Amsterdam Smart City network? Let us know via Sophie sophie@amsterdamsmartcity.com (Digital), Pelle pelle@amsterdamsmartcity.com (Mobility) or Noor noor@amsterdamsmartcity.com (Energy & Circular)

Our current economic system is ecologically, socially, and even economically unsustainable. New economic theories give us an idea of how our economy can be part of our society. They offer tools to make that economy more equitable and sustainable. Yet, new economic thinking is still often dismissed as unrealistic and unachievable. Only by trying out new economic theories in practice, we can demonstrate that these are real alternatives.

That’s why, together with a collective of organisations, Amsterdam Economic Board has launched a living lab project ‘New Economic Thinking, New Economic Acting’ at the Marineterrein in Amsterdam. With various socio-economic experiments, they explore what it would mean if we’d shift the focus from quantitative to qualitative growth. One of the experiments is about True Pricing, which involves applying real prices of products, including the hidden costs for the environment, animals and people. In this Demoday session, Laetitia Stuijt and Erik Lückers from Amsterdam Economic Board asked the Amsterdam Smart City network for input on how to implement this theory in practice at the Marineterrein.

Introduction to True Pricing: True Price Lab

We started with an introduction about True Pricing by Sjoukje Goldman, researcher and lecturer at the Centre for Economic Transformation at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. She told us all about the True Price Lab project she’s been working on lately. The project aims to provide a deeper understanding of the true costs of products. On one hand, it seeks to offer a more comprehensive view of the total costs, including often overlooked factors such as environmental pollution, health damage, and social impact. And on the other hand, it aims to gather knowledge on how to motivate consumers to actually pay the true price. How can you effectively communicate to the customer about true pricing so that the customer understands, trusts, and is willing to pay the true price? And does true pricing indeed lead to increased sales of organic and sustainably produced food?

True pricing in practice

After the introduction by Sjoukje, the participants brainstormed about how True Pricing could be put in practice in their own organisation and on the Marineterrein. Mare Roelfsema and Amber Dubbeldam from Hieroo led this session, and helped to categorise all ideas based on their originality and ease of implementation using a How-Now-Wow-Matrix.

• Now!

In the “Now” category, we grouped ideas that are familiar and easy to implement and actualise. One of the ideas that we discussed was to start small: for example at your own office by buying true price coffee. Also, restaurants at the Marineterrein can start small by offering one true price product on the menu. By doing this, restaurants such as Homeland or Kanteen25 can initiate the conversation about true price with their customers, which will help raise awareness. Another “Now!” idea was to work together with the True Price organisation, because their expertise on this topic would be very valuable for the Marineterrein.

• Wow!

In the “Wow!” category, we grouped ideas that are innovative and easy to implement and actualise. One of the “Wow!” Ideas was for all hospitality providers on the Marineterrein to jointly have the true price calculated for one or more products. Calculating the true price for products can be very costly. By doing this together, the costs will be more manageable for the hospitality providers. Another “Wow!” idea that was mentioned often is to create more awareness by communication campaigns in our public place. This is important, because not many consumers know about the hidden external costs of the products they buy. By creating awareness, we can increase people’s willingness to pay the true price of products in the future.

• How?

In the “How” category, we grouped ideas that are innovative but difficult to implement, they might be worth considering as future goals. The main “How?” idea we discussed was to directly link true pricing as a means to achieving CSRD goals that companies must meet. True pricing offers an opportunity to gain insight into supply chains and the hidden environmental and social costs, thereby helping to report on sustainability. Currently, only large companies have to comply with CSRD legislation, but later on, small and medium-sized will have to report on CSRD as well.

Conclusion: Start small to make an impact!

During this session, the participants became more familiar with the concept of true price and thought about how to put this into practice on the Marineterrein. “We have gained valuable new practical insights at this Demoday. What has stuck with me the most is that we need to start small, and that true price can be linked to CSRD to show its value to companies”, said Laetitia Stuijt from Amsterdam Economic Board.

Would you like to know more about the Living Lab Project ‘New Economic Thinking, New Economic Acting’? Or do you have any input? Leave a comment and I’ll connect you with Laetitia and Erik.

Yuki Tol and Joaquim Moody, trend watchers for Smart Mobility at the Innovation Department of the Municipality of Amsterdam, delivered the Mobility Radar on future public Transport.Twee 'moonshots' geven je een,van zo'n 11 jaar) this March. In this first edition, the Amsterdam Smart Mobility program delves deeper into the city's mobility challenges. Will staff and funding shortages, the energy transition, and a growing demand for (accessible) transport options continue to impact the city's future public Transport system? Two 'moonshots' give us a glimpse into the future, showing what public Transport might look like in 2050.

The new concession for public Transport in Amsterdam is nearly ready and will commence in 2025 for a period of approximately 11 years. This is a good time to engage in discussions about the steps that need to be taken to achieve the goals and ambitions set for 2050. It is also crucial to determine what measures are necessary to address the developments that public Transport will face in the future. If the current system is continued, we are only one or two concessions away from 2050. Therefore, now is the time to start working on developments, innovations, and concepts that we want to include in the concessions for the 2030s and 2040s.

Exploring the future together
The Radar team has developed a workshop to engage with various organizations, experts, residents, and enthusiasts to discuss the Mobility Radar. In this workshop, participants jointly explore the trends and developments that can influence the future of mobility. It is a great way for participants to practice this way of thinking, and such a session also brings up topics and discussion points that the Municipality of Amsterdam can incorporate into its future explorations and concessions.
During our 24th Knowledge and Demo Day, Joaquim Moody hosted a work session for a diverse group of participants various organizations and domains. In three groups, we analysed an emerging public Transport challenge using the Mobility Radar approach and creatively thought about solutions. In the following paragraphs, I summarize what we discussed with the group.

Method
The starting point is a number of current challenges in public Transport: staff shortages, funding shortages, accessibility, the energy transition, and the growing demand for public Transport.

Each group selects one of the challenges and then 'dissects' it. Using a worksheet, you look at the following topics: What basic need underlies this challenge? What are examples of how or where you see this challenge currently? What macro changes play a role in the emergence of this challenge – in the long and short term? And how do these macro changes affect which basic needs are important and how they are fulfilled?

Next, you start creating a solution for this challenge and trend. Examples of solutions are: a service, a product, a regulatory adjustment, or an informative campaign. You also need to consider how you would deploy it and who exactly the target audience is.

Results

Accessibility
One of the groups analysed the challenge of public transport accessibility. This needs to be adequate for everyone, now and in the future. Accessibility involves affordability, the digital skills required, travel costs, and physical accessibility. This challenge mainly revolves around the basic needs of connectedness, independence, and control. The macro changes playing a role are migration (increasing number of people to be transported) and aging (more people wanting to travel independently but requiring extra assistance – particularly in digital and physical aspects). Therefore, more space and special assistance will be needed for a growing group of travellers.
The group proposed focusing more on 'micro public transport' and 'on-demand public transport' and making bus and train compartments more flexible. This would make people less dependent on a rigid system and travel environment. The group argued that air travel can serve as an example, where you can specify exactly where you want to sit, whether you need extra space, and if you require extra assistance. These needs deserve more attention in public transport as well. This can be tested with prototypes in train cars and buses and is intended for the target groups: the elderly, people with disabilities, and parents with young children.

Staff Shortages in Public transport
The challenge of 'staff shortages in public transport' is reflected in developments such as cancelled schedules, high work pressure, high absenteeism, strikes, and less social control in public transport (due to less staff). The basic needs affected by this challenge are the need for social status, financial security (for the driver), and a pleasant, healthy workplace. Macro changes playing a role include the large number of job opportunities in other sectors, increasing aggression and hardening in society, worsening public perception of public transport, and aging. As a result, working in public transport has become less prestigious, less safe, relatively less well-paid, and there is little influx of new, young employees.
The group proposed a campaign to improve the image of working in public transport. Currently, too few people choose this profession. However, with campaigns similar to those by the Defense Department, it could be made trendy and attractive again. Influencers or famous Dutch people could also play a role in this. The target audience to be enthused includes young starters and people considering a career switch.

The Growing Demand for public transport
Finally, the third group presented their worksheet regarding the challenge of the growing demand for public transport (and the decline in public transport investments). This is reflected in the decline in service quality, travel options, and the fact that less equipment is available. This affects the basic needs of comfort, connection, and being able to be oneself). Macro changes exacerbating these challenges include the decreasing space for mobility, individualization as a societal development, and increasing travel costs. This leads to a kind of public transport anxiety, aversion, and aggression, which is already happening and is only getting worse, the group noted.

The group proposed recognizing the societal role of public transport more, which would lead to more respect and funding. We should also further 'de-peak' travel times by better aligning telecommuting days or departure times for employees. This can be tested with pilots in specific (travel) areas or with large employers. The target audience can be seen as all travellers together.

Follow-Up
Joaquim will use the presented analyses and solutions as inspiration for further research and use the feedback on the method and workshop to improve such sessions in the future. Enthusiastic participants also wanted to use this method for sessions with students and international delegations, illustrating its success!
During the upcoming Knowledge- and Demo Day, we will have another session on mobility with a similar approach, but this time we will work with the scenario studies made by the Province of North Holland. Thinking about the future using trends, scenarios, and moonshots is essential in every domain, especially when done with a diverse group and maintaining connection.

Creating social value for all is one of Amsterdam Smart City's core values. That's why we invited Dave van Loon and Marieke Doorninck from our partner Kennisland to lead a knowledge session on social innovation. In their words, social innovation can help us approach processes differently, encouraging people to think in new ways.

What is Social Innovation?

“Those who are closest to the issue know the most about it,” said Marieke. Therefore, Kennisland designs solutions for complex societal issues together with those involved. According to Kennisland, social innovation is about creating better outcomes for people, contributing to an inclusive and sustainable society. It involves the development and implementation of new strategies, concepts, ideas, and organizations that provide solutions for major societal challenges. Collaboration is essential in this process; it is not about individual actions but about collective efforts within a specific context. “Social innovation is not so much about finding the best solution,” emphasized Dave, “but about the process where the right people come together and collectively decide what the best solution is.” This also implies a shift in power: giving the lead role to others instead of those who have always had it.

Key Principles of Social Innovation Include:

• Creating social value (not just economic)
• Considering different perspectives and values
• Making policies and solutions through action
• Mobilizing involved citizens to build a socially sustainable future

Social innovation provides answers to complex social problems that cannot be solved by the government and business sector alone. The concept refers to new strategies, concepts, ideas, and organizations that provide solutions for major societal challenges. Additionally, it’s about creating a positive cycle of learning and improvement, involving all relevant actors in the issue.

Social Innovation In Practice

How does social innovation work in practice? Dave provided a successful example from Kennisland: ‘Amsterdam zoekt Schoolmakers' (Amsterdam is looking for Schoolmakers). This was a crowdsourcing campaign and incubator for new school initiatives. In this project, every Amsterdammer had the opportunity to submit a plan for a new school to accommodate the expected growth in student numbers. The challenge eventually resulted in over 124 initiatives for new schools and served as the starting point for a broader dialogue about education in the city. “This is a good example of social innovation because radical innovators and system representatives could learn from each other,” said Dave. A very interesting project that stimulates bottom-up innovation and shows what is possible.

During the session, other successful examples of social innovation were shared by the audience. One of these examples was the wellbeing dashboard, developed by students from the Hogeschool van Amsterdam in collaboration with residents of the ‘G-buurt’ in Amsterdam Zuidoost. This dashboard monitors the residents' wellbeing and actively involves them in co-creation sessions.

Social Innovation and Amsterdam Smart City

Collaboration is essential in addressing complex issues within the Amsterdam Smart City network. A good example of this is grid congestion. The problem is so complex that collaboration between grid operators, governments, energy suppliers, businesses, and citizens is necessary.

According to Marieke, it’s essential for people to truly feel the urgency of the problems. This sense of necessity motivates them to embrace social innovation and come to solutions together. She concluded the session by emphasizing that the great challenges of our time can only be addressed through collective efforts.

Do you want to learn more about social innovation or get in contact with Kennisland? Leave a comment below and we’ll connect you with Dave and Marieke!

Our network decided earlier this year to explore the possibilities of floating urban development. The Netherlands is known for its water management, with impressive projects like the Delta Works and the reclamation of Flevoland. But our innovation in water management doesn't have to stop there. The pressure on space in the Netherlands is increasing, and we want to achieve a lot with the limited space we have. This includes generating sustainable energy, agriculture, and building 100,000 homes per year. Can we better utilize the space on the water? This report takes you through the workshop on energy provisions in floating districts.

We started with a presentation about the project by the City of Amsterdam. Then, we divided into pairs to work on these dilemmas. We were encouraged to visualize our ideas as much as possible, which resulted in interesting and useful drawings.

Dilemmas

In this workshop, Bianca Bodewes and Sije Kloppenburg from the City of Amsterdam guided us through their research on a floating district with 1,500 units. These units are largely intended for housing, while the other part will be used for amenities. This ambitious project brings some dilemmas with it.

Density

Should the floating district have high density (units close together) or low density (units spread out)? High density promotes social cohesion, reduces the need for amenities, improves mobility, and encourages a mix of social, economic, and cultural groups. On the other hand, low density has a smaller ecological impact and insures peace for inhabitants.

Position of Amenities

The second dilemma was the positioning of amenities. Where do you place these in a floating district? One option is a large central area in the middle of the district. The group also came up with an interesting idea of a long 'central' area in the middle, making this shopping street easily accessible from many locations. Another idea was a ring structure with housing in the center and amenities on the outer edge.

Storage

How do you handle energy storage? If you want a fully flexible district, you can't use a Thermal Energy Storage (TES) system, and the heat pump has to run year-round. If you want to store energy, you need to be connected to a static system. The group came up with a middle ground: one shared TES for multiple units, with flexible connections to it.

Stacking

The last dilemma was about stacking: do you build multiple floors or choose single-story units? High-rise buildings reduce the available roof space per unit, limiting the potential for solar energy generation. On the other hand, shared heating in high-rise buildings reduces energy loss.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many aspects to consider when developing floating districts. The workshop provided valuable insights, and it was fascinating to brainstorm on this topic. Each group visualized their ideas, and interestingly, everyone came up with a similar concept: a ring structure with a residential area in the center. We look forward to the next session on this topic.

The information from this brainstorming session will be further incorporated into the exploration of this project. The first step will be to write a technical requirements list. This will require making decisions on the above (and likely many more) dilemmas.