We have written about one of the tools, the entrepreneurial ecosystem quick scan tool in this Inclusive Innovation Guide.
Stories from 8 HUB-IN cities
Organisations and city authorities need to share data to make the most of it.
Organisations in cities collect many types of useful data, including data about:
- places (geospatial data) and things like traffic lights and public transport
- services (like transport timetables and service opening hours)
- physical assets (like building ownership, or IT system documentation)
- vulnerable people and their needs (for example NHS or police data)
- addresses and information about development plans
Ways to share data include:
- in person (at meetings or events)
- in print
- via physical media like USB sticks or DVDs
- privately over the internet
- on a website in an open format with an open license
- using an application processing interface (API)
- using a third party that can offer additional services and analytics
Case study – CityVerve Manchester
CityVerve uses Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to improve city services. IoT refers to a network of devices including vehicles, appliances, and other technology that can collect data and share it with other devices in the network. If you have a smart speaker connected to a lamp in your home, then that is an example of the Internet of Things.
CityVerve focused on 4 main themes:
- culture and public spaces
- health and social care
- energy and the environment
- travel and transport
It created a ‘platform of platforms’ that allowed the city and other organisations to access multiple sources of data with controlled access. This enabled them to analyse data from different sources, fostering collaboration and innovation.
Outcomes
The project has:
- changed the usual relationship between a public body and its suppliers from customer/vendor to collaborate partnership
- broken down barriers by connecting different sources of data, which has led to new and solutions that wouldn’t be possible if the data were kept separate
- brought new ideas via collaboration with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
Source
/
A collaboration between citizens and government to monitor corruption around rice subsidies and rice production programmes in San Miguel in the Bohol province of the Philippines.
The project involved citizens including farmers, agricultural technicians and local government officials in corruption and production monitoring efforts.
Factors for success
The assessment identified 2 main local factors that helped the BULHON project succeed:
- High levels of participation in community activities like village assemblies, and dense social networks between people. These mean that information spreads effectively through communities, and problems can be shared and solved together
- Local government officials being well embedded in their communities, with the boundaries between government and community being helpfully blurred and government officials readily available to everyone
Results
The research also identified positive impacts the project had for the local community, as well as achieving its main goal on corruption:
- Citizens who took part in the monitoring felt motivated and empowered, gained respect in their communities, improved their self-esteem and even made new friends
- Even people who did not take part in the monitoring themselves felt that the local government was ‘looking out for them’ and felt more able to come forward with issues
- Both farmers and local government officials felt that local government services improved, and farmers better understood the services on offer
- Because of improved techniques and use of resources, rice production actually increased in San Miguel
- Citizens, farmers and local government said that their attitudes to each other had improved
Source
An example of their impact is the #Right2CleanAir Road Show, which came out of the second phase of their work.
They partnered with the Thailand Clean Air Network to raise awareness and encourage action in different ways, including:
- A ‘Clean Air Blue Paper’ evidence-based case for policy change
- 10 online and offline sessions in English and Thai, on topics like:
- economic costs of air pollution
- the impact of air pollution
- gaps between current and proposed solutions
- Creative responses to things like:
- gaps in the current system
- democratizing the access to air quality
- A petition to parliament signed by over 25,000 people in support of a Clean Air Act
How they work
They take a whole-systems approach to designing for complex issues.
- Co-initializing – Groups with diverse perspectives work together to gather and share information about the problem
- Co-sensing – Examine the data to uncover the driving forces behind the issues, and identify points where they could intervene
- Co-creation – Prototype, test and iterate on ideas developed in the first 2 stages
- Co-evolution – Groups come back together to share what they’ve learned, with each other and with new connections they have made
Source
The study involved 13 peer researchers (also known as community researchers) and 38 community members experiencing energy poverty.
Findings
Key findings were:
- Awareness of what people need to do to transition their household to a net zero is low
- The expense of green choices could make inequality in the energy market worse
- Private rental and social housing tenants do not have the power to make green adaptations to their homes
- Low-income consumers will not be able to transition to net zero unless barriers to smart technology are removed
- Energy companies need to get better at proactively identifying and supporting vulnerable consumers
Recommendations for Ofgem
They recommended that Ofgem (the energy regulator for Great Britain) should:
- make energy companies offer a ‘green social tariff’
- encourage energy companies do more to identify and support vulnerable consumers, backed up by Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- explore how tenants can be given more power to make green energy changes to their homes
- commission research into how low-income consumers can feel more confident with smart technology
- drive more inclusive communications practices in the energy sector
Outcomes
Iterative workshops led to:
- a communication strategy
- 3 roadmaps for:
- increasing awareness of green energy options
- identifying and helping vulnerable consumers
- promoting access to green technology among low-income groups
Source
It:
- is volunteer-led and citizen-driven, with over 500 members
- has a flat governance structure with no director
- uses micro-grants to pay for materials, and volunteers to run events like panel discussions, design workshops and pop-ups
- investigates and creates prototypes for local problems chosen by the community
Topics they’ve tackled
Their first project was on Bangkok’s waste management system. There was no grand plan upfront.
They just started doing what they could with the resources they had. Then they built on momentum and enthusiasm using small grants to keep going and expanding their work.
Phase 1
In the first phase, they worked on:
- people’s mindsets
- single-use plastic
- food waste and recycling
Phase 2
In the second phase 3 months later (with support from the Royal Society of the Arts) they added:
- air pollution
- unsustainable fashion supply chains
Phase 3
Next (with support from The Incubation Network) they worked on:
- ocean plastics
- food system
Source
This case study shows you the importance of helping diverse forms of life to thrive, by emphasizing the links between all life.
Planetary governance means systems of rules, practices, and processes that aim to support, manage and protect the Earth’s interconnected living systems.
Who was involved
Researchers, educators, strategic designers, policy makers, political strategists, lawyers, scientists, artists, technologists, activists, and field-based practitioners are all involved.
Impact
The initiative addressed common crises, such as climate change and pandemics. By promoting the concept of ‘planetary’ over ‘global’ the project encouraged thinking beyond national borders.
Outcomes
Source
This case study shows you how bringing artists into your policymaking process can have beneficial effects on your policy and policymakers.
They ran a pilot initiative called MANIFEST, which invited 3 UK artists to contribute to policymaking.
Impacts
They found that the artists’ work affected policymaking in a number of ways:
- Promoting policy innovation
- Exposing unnoticed aspects of policymaking
- Uncovering human elements in the policy system
- Allowing for and prompting reflection
- Visualising policy issues, which helped engagement
- Improving the wellbeing of policy professionals and stakeholders
What they learned
Policy professionals were:
- enthusiastic about the chance to see how the artists worked
- inspired to be more creative in their own work
- Interested in using artworks to help make decisions (in consultations, workshops and across government)
The pilot took place in 2023, and they began a second round of
Source
This case study gives you an international perspective, and shows you various ways you can:
- raise awareness of inclusive innovation in marginalized communities
- support them through training and implementing diverse innovation models
Aims
The project wanted to improve:
- economic inclusion for disadvantaged groups in society
- environmental sustainability
- social equity, to address inequalities in income, education, and health
Focus
They focussed on:
- marginalized communities, to make sure no-one is left behind
- diverse innovation models including social enterprises, community-driven innovation, and partnerships
- issues such as poverty, education, and healthcare
- building capacity in programs that empower local communities and entrepreneurs, so they can take part in the innovation process
- sustainable development goals (SDGs), to reduce inequalities and promote sustainable economic growth
Innovation models
The partnership implemented various inclusive innovation models to raise awareness and skills. They:
- created social enterprises that addressed local issues such as poverty, healthcare and provided job opportunities for marginalized communities
- supported community-driven innovation projects that involved local stakeholders in the design and implementation of solutions to their problems
- encouraged collaboration between governments, private sector, and civil society to make the most of resources and expertise
- trained people in skills like entrepreneurship, technology, and project management to help them drive innovation
- offered mentorship and support to entrepreneurs and community leaders
Source
This case study shows you the importance of continuous learning, training, and engagement in fostering inclusive innovation.
By learning from diverse communities and stakeholders, Transport for London (TfL) has been able to create a transport system that is more inclusive and more responsive to the needs of all passengers.
They did this by:
- raising awareness
- educating staff
- engaging with diverse communities
Their plan covers 3 core areas:
- representing the diversity of the city of London
- improving diversity and inclusion in the workplace
- teaching skills and opportunities
Diversity and inclusion training
They introduced comprehensive diversity and inclusion training programs for all employees. These cover topics such as unconscious bias, cultural competence, and inclusive customer service.
Engagement with diverse communities
They consulted disability advocacy groups, ethnic minority communities, and other underrepresented groups to inform policy and service improvements.
Some of the groups TfL engage with are:
- Independent Disability Advisory Group (IDAG)
This consists of 13 members with professional expertise, lived experience of disability and expertise of the barriers to accessing public transport - Bild (previously the British Institute of Learning Disabilities)
They surveyed autistic people and people with learning disabilities as well as their carers about the barriers they face when travelling around London - Learning Disability Transport Forum (LDTF)
They work with adults with learning difficulties and disabilities - TfL Youth Panel
TfL’s advisory panel of around 30 young volunteers who all live and travel in London and give feedback to TfL to help shape policies - Inclusive Transport Forum
Made up of London and national accessibility groups and advocates who provide insight from lived experience, to help TfL understand how policy and projects may impact disabled people using public transport
Awareness campaigns
TfL educated the public about the importance of respecting all passengers. They specifically addressed the needs of disabled passengers, the importance of giving up priority seats, and the impact of hate crime on public transport.
Outcomes and impact
By focusing on Awareness and Learning, TfL has been able to create a more welcoming and accessible environment for all passengers. It has led to significant improvements in the inclusivity of London’s public transport system.
Source
