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Together with 10 partners, the AIT is coordinating "YouthDecide 2040", a project on the future of democracy in the EU. Citizens from all generations and politicians are jointly shaping desirable futures for 2040, combining democracy research and participatory futurology in order to master current social and technological challenges. After all, stable political framework conditions have a positive effect on economic development.
Impetus for society, science, business & technology
"The YouthDecide 2040 - Visions of Democracy project has an impact on numerous areas of society, science, business and technology. Among other things, it offers young people valuable experience in conflict resolution, collaborative learning and the linking of different sources of knowledge," says project manager and senior scientist Michael Bernstein from the AIT Centre for Innovation Systems & Policy. Scientifically, it provides important insights into generational differences and the changing expectations of democratic systems. Stable political framework conditions also have a positive effect on the economy of European democracies. The visions developed in YouthDecide 2040 are intended to help shape the research and innovation strategies of the EU and its member states. In this way, the project contributes to the development of new technologies and supports democratic societies in making value-based decisions about future technologies.
Participatory shaping of the future with a focus on young people
YouthDecide 2040 relies on an innovative method of participatory futures research that focuses in particular on youth participation and the development of democratic innovations. The scenarios are created according to the seed-based approach - a recognised method that enables young people to actively help shape desirable visions of the future. As social challenges are constantly changing, it is important that democracies react to potential threats at an early stage and develop targeted strategies for a positive future. YouthDecide 2040 uses a multifaceted and inclusive approach that incorporates the different values and ideas of the participants and thus promotes a broad social perspective.
Interdisciplinary research expertise
The YouthDecide 2040 consortium consists of 11 renowned partners with expertise in the fields of democracy research, futurology, participatory deliberation, co-creation and strategy development - many of them with strong roots in the social sciences and humanities. As a cross-sectoral project, the consortium also includes partners from various youth representatives and organisations. Our partners include: European Democracy Youth Network (EDYN), Strategic Design Scenarios, WeDo Project Intelligence Made Easy SL, Missions Publiques, Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI), Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, European Partnership for Democracy (EPD), European University Institute, European Youth Forum (YFJ) and Make.org.
YouthDecide 2040 invites committed young people from all over Europe to play an active role in shaping the future of democracy. Starting in June 2025, one-and-a-half-day workshops will be held in various regions of Europe, where participants will work together to develop visions for democracy in 2040. Travel and accommodation costs will be covered. Applications can be submitted until the end of May.
More information and registration at: https://yd2040.eu/open-call