Democracy

Fellows have now been chosen for the new Europe-wide fellowship program dedicated to increasing inclusion and diversity in digital society. The selected projects will receive six months of consulting and financial support which will allow them to further develop their ideas and strengthen civil society perspectives within the process of digitalization. Jointly launched by the Bertelsmann Stiftung and Superrr Lab, the initiative takes place in cooperation with the Allianz Kulturstiftung and Goethe-Institut.

How can progress be actively created against the backdrop of a multidimensional world? "United in a Fragile World - Defining the Fineline between Progress and Improvement" focusses on the differentiation of both term in order to overcome current challenges and to build a better future.

Ten years after the devastating tsunami and triple core meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant on March 11, 2011, Japan is still struggling with the fallout.

Transnational Citizens’ Dialogues

On February, 10^th, Christian Bluth, together with Katharina Gnath and Ignacio Garcia Bercero, launched his book on Europe's new trade strategy. The book elaborates how the world is changing along various political and non-political megatrends and how EU trade policy can respond appropriately. Particularly important are improved risk management and more commitment to stability in the international trading system.

Declining growth, high debt levels, sustainability setbacks, a rising risk of poverty, democracy under pressure and dwindling reform capacity. An international examination of governance by us shows that far too many EU and OECD countries were poorly prepared as the pandemic broke out in early 2020.

Digital, but still face to face. Socially distanced, but still up close. Citizens link up with one another in small groups in a video conference, where they recount their experiences and develop joint suggestions for improvement. Between June and December 2020, Bertelsmann Stiftung—in cooperation with ten pilot municipalities—conducted local and transnational Digital Citizens’ Dialogues. We take stock of the outcome here.

The impact investing market in Germany showed significant growth in 2020 with a volume of € 2.9 billion, compared to only € 69 million in the previous study from 2016. New players with investments across all asset classes and SDGs are stimulating the sector and want to tackle pressing social issues.

Another EU summit, another crisis; nothing new. The European heads of state and government are meeting this Thursday and the EU’s seemingly ever-expanding crisis agenda has reached the rule of law. Poland and Hungary are blocking the implementation of the EU budget and the European recovery plan. They protest against the idea of linking the allocation of EU funds to compliance with the rule of law in the Member States. Will there be another face-saving compromise for all, or is it different this time?

Now, more than ever, we need to ask ourselves: What visions for the future should guide our lives today? What role should digital innovation play in these visions? How can we ensure that algorithms, artificial intelligence and other technologies foster inclusion, diversity and cohesion? “The New New” fellowship, a six-month stipend offered by the Bertelsmann Stiftung and Superrr Lab, provides individuals and teams from across Europe the opportunity to explore what visionary, just and inclusive digital futures might look like. Apply now (until January 6^th 2021)!