Demos Helsinki is a Nordic non-profit research and development organisation, an independent think tank. Demos Helsinki does futures studies, creates strategies and conducts open innovation with companies, cities, governments and communities. The think tank employs partners in Sweden and Finland and an international network of experts, academics, entrepreneurs and civic groups. Demos Helsinki has offices in Finland and Sweden
Contents
Believing in human driven, open organisations and the civil society, Demos Helsinki remains autonomous by acquiring its own project funding. This independence sets it apart from many other think tanks in the Nordic area that operate on subsidies and grants.
Demos Helsinki was founded by Roope Mokka and Aleksi Neuvonen in 2005. Tuuli Kaskinen has worked as the Executive Director since 2013.
Activity
Demos Helsinki guides businesses and other organisations to a better future by linking emerging human motivations to ongoing structural change. It is known for its ability to co-create scalable concepts and to convene organisations previously unknown to each other. Demos Helsinki has published widely on the future of society, culture and economics. They have also been awarded prizes on for example innovative resource smart business models, urban and metropolitan visions, public awareness campaigns, as well as new concepts for public spaces and innovative public services.
The work of Demos Helsinki is regularly featured in international media through publications like The Guardian, Monocle, The Economist, The Atlantic, Süddeutsche Zeitung and in books, such as The Collaboration Economy: How to Meet Business, Social, and Environmental Needs and Gain Competitive Advantage by Eric Lowitt.
History
Demos Helsinki started its operations in 2005 by conducting a research for Sitra, The Finnish Innovation Fund, on the future of public services and the changes in sources of wellbeing. Results of the research were published in 2006, under the title Yksilön ääni – Hyvinvointivaltio yhteisöjen ajalla (only available in Finnish). In 2007 Demos Helsinki kicked off Ilmastotalkoot, the biggest privately funded climate change campaign in Europe. In 2010 Demos Helsinki wrote the final report for Finland's country brand. During 2011–2012 Demos Helsinki was part of a European Commission consortium that created a roadmap for strategic action AND created four alternative scenarios for future lifestyles. In 2014 Demos Helsinki opened a Nordic management consultancy, Demos Effect, that offers strategy and innovation services to companies globally.
Awards
Demos Helsinki's work has received awards in various fields. In 2007, Demos Helsinki came second in the international Greater Helsinki Vision 2050 –idea competition and in 2012 HOAS-laboratory was granted an innovation award from Tekes and Asuntomarkkinat. The World Design Capital 2012 Pavilion, that Demos Helsinki created the concept for, won the annual Rakentamisen ruusu –architectural award granted by the construction board of the City of Helsinki. In 2013 in Davos, World Resource Forum awarded a presentation from Demos Helsinki as the best presentation in the Sustainable Business and Industry -category. The same year team with Demos Helsinki members was awarded third prize in Apps4Finland Open data innovation contest in the Decipher category.
Contacts to other Demos think tanks
Demos Helsinki is not affiliated with Demos UK, nor Demos in New York or Demos Hungary. Demos Helsinki has, however, previously collaborated with Demos UK.