Examples of Demos Helsinki Projects

Democracy and Participation

The Voice of the Individual – Welfare State in the Age of Communities

Finnish project name: Yksilön ääni – Hyvinvointivaltio yhteisöjen ajalla
Partner: Sitra The Finnish Innovation Fund
Year: 2006
Demos Helsinki was asked to assess current welfare society policies in a
holistic manner, focusing especially on the possibilities of preventive
policies in promoting well-being. The thorough study on the topic
included interviews, case studies, desk research and workshops.
Publication: The Voice of the Individual – Welfare State in the Age of Communities
(a report in Finnish ’Yksilön ääni – Hyvinvointivaltio yhteisöjen
ajalla’), Sitra 2006

Academy for Knowledge Based Society

Finnish project name: Tietoyhteiskunta-akatemia
Partner: The Finnish Parliament's Committee for the Future 
Year: 2009
In 2008, the Parliament’s Committee for the Future opened discussions
on
the next steps of knowledge based society. The first step was to
arrange a two-day seminar for MPs and ICT experts. After the seminar
Demos Helsinki was asked to create policy recommendations for the next
steps of a knowledge based society. The study was based on a discource
analysis of expert writings and talks around social implications of the
future ICT. The work included developing a concept of the next phase of
the knowledge society based on the analysis.
Publication: The Sharing Society (report in Finnish ’Jakamisen tietoyhteiskunta’), Eduskunnan tulevaisuusvaliokunta, 2009

Well-being

Intergenerational Forum

Finnish project name: Sukupolvifoorumi
Partner: Ministry of Employment and Economy
Year: 2009
The minister of labour policies asked Demos Helsinki to deliver a
project for increasing the quality of life and intergenerational
balance at work. In order to tackke such a complex personal issue we
needed to engage a large number of stakeholders and the public in the
widest possible sense. For this purpose we created a methdology that
combines web 2.0 tools and mass-seminar methods. The project engaged
tens of thousands of people and created an unprecented public
discussion in the quality of life. Our recommendations for action in
the issue were delivered to the minister, who will take all of them
forward.
Publication: A Manifesto for Good Work – Work Is Not Just Work
(A pamphlet in Finnish 'Hyvän Työn Manifesti - Työ ei ole vain työ'),
Ministry of Employment and Economy 2009

Low-Carbon Society

The Change of Values as an Opportunity

Finnish project name: Arvojen muutos mahdollisuutena
Partner: Prime Minister’s Office
Year: 2008
Demos Helsinki was asked to study the changes in citizen attitudes towards
climate change and assess different instruments in changing them. The
work was done for the future report of the Finnish Government on
climate and energy policy. The study was based on compiling the
existing data on climate attitudes available as well as researching
value and behaviour change in historically similar issues, especially
in national health. The report included an evaluation of the
effectiveness of different communication strategies and provided policy
recommendations.
Publication: The Changes and the Changers
of Climate attitudes (a report in Finnish ’Ilmastoasenteiden muutos ja
muuttajat’), Prime Minister’s Office 2008

Gatekeepers

Finnish project name: Portinvartijat
Partner: Sitra The Finnish Innovation Fund
Year: 2008
Demos Helsinki was asked to define the most effective way to cut the energy
consumption of the Finnish citizens. For the purpose of the study, a
stakeholder identification tool was created. The report envisaged a way
of activating stakeholder groups that play a key role in defining  the
energy need of the Finnish lifestyle by directing consumers’ choices.
The study led to an ongoing project called Peloton for activating new kinds of
stakeholder groups.
Publications:
•    Gatekeepers – How to Make Energy Saving possible  (a report in
Finnish ’Portinvartijat – Eli miten tehdä energiansäästöstä
mahdollista’), Demos Helsinki 2009
•    Gatekeepers changing consumers' behaviour in energy consumption,
article for the conference ’Future of the Consumer Society’, May 2009,
Tampere, http://www.demos.fi/files/FFRC2009_Neuvonen_REVISED.pdf 

The Programme for Sustainable Consumption

Finnish project name: Kestävän kulutuksen ohjelma
Partner: The Ministry of Environment
Year: 2009
Demos Helsinki was invited to popularise the findings of four different
groups of enviromental scientists. This included both defining the most
uncontroversial yet potential findings as well as stakeholder groups
and messages for them. The work was based on workshops with scientists,
press and stakeholders.

Low-Carbon Restaurant

Finnish project name: Vähähiilinen ravintola
Partner: Fazer Amica Ltd.
Year: 2009
In this project for Fazer Amica, the leading company in staff and student
dining in the Nordic and Baltic countries, Demos Helsinki conducted a
life cycle analysis and calculated the carbon footprint of a
restauraunt lunch. After this, Demos Helsinki organised work shops for
the client’s personnel to develop ways for reducing the environmental
impact of Fazer Amica’s services and for communicating the carbon
footprint and its reduction aspirations to the clientele and achieve a
positive client response