Joint venture with the University of Amsterdam
Together we are developing a platform where governments, businesses and other organizations collaborate with citizens on new ideas, research and policy. To give the company a face, we recently did a Brand Sprint.
From project to partnership
Since 2015, Unc Inc has been working with the Department of Sociology at the University of Amsterdam to create a platform for large groups of people to participate in scientific research. However, we discovered that the potential of the platform extends far beyond science. Convinced that the platform can contribute to the collective development of new ideas and democratic decision-making, we therefore started a joint venture at the beginning of this year to increase its application and social impact.
Investing in impact
The joint initiative is part of a development in which we look for ways to increase the social impact of our work with an open mind. We often start as a supplier, sometimes become CTO or creative director, and if necessary we help find funding. Sometimes we stop as suppliers and become shareholders: with shared ideals, anything is possible. Besides the University of Amsterdam, we put this vision into practice with a group of partners united in the Circular Service platform or with Mediacollege Amsterdam. This is how together we make our initiatives viable and independent.
Participating in collective challenges
That citizen participation is important for our shared future is beyond doubt. Over 17 million people in the Netherlands live in a small area. We will have to ensure that in the future our country will still be pleasant, safe and healthy for everyone to live, work and play in. It is therefore important that we think about how we can properly address major issues such as housing, energy transition, accessibility, climate change and circular economy.
Making citizens part of the solutions
The issues are big and often intertwined. In order to formulate local answers to these major social issues, new forms of cooperation are needed between local government, the business community, knowledge institutions, social organizations and citizens. Broad social involvement is a prerequisite for the success of joint ambitions. This ensures that different perspectives, knowledge and creativity are brought to the table, it enhances the quality of solutions and mobilizes collective action and intelligence.
Launch in early 2021; stay tuned!
At this time, we are launching three pilot projects to accelerate further development of the platform. Thus, we hope to bring the platform to the market in early 2021 with a SaaS model. If you want to know more, contact Artie Ramsodit, interim director of this initiative, or keep an eye on our channels.
Want to do a Brand Sprint yourself?
In a two-day workshop we will work with your team to develop a sharp positioning, a catchy brand story, a clear content strategy and a powerful communication concept for your brand. Something for you?