Date of label : 29/10/2024
Group of people on a boat in Ghent
Summary
In Ghent (BE), Comon unites diverse stakeholders in discussions to make human-centred socio-technological solutions for the city’s challenges. By promoting innovation, collaboration, inclusivity, and continuous learning, Comon enables citizens, researchers, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to tackle complex issues through concrete actions. Its open lab approach bridges the gap between technology and society, fostering a dynamic ecosystem where unconventional collaborations thrive, knowledge is shared, and marginalised voices are amplified. Comon catalyses meaningful change, by offering a forward-thinking model of sustainable innovation driven by real-world needs.
The solutions offered by the Good Practice
Comon supports Ghent's vision for inclusive, innovative urban development. Established in 2020 by Ghent University, Imec (the Flemish research centre for nanoelectronics and digital technologies) and Ghent Public Library in De Krook, Comon has a 5-phase approach: collecting challenges, exploring problems, brainstorming solutions, assessing prototypes, and evaluating outcomes.
The good practice has completed projects on Understandable Healthcare and Active Lifestyle. Problems were discussed in roundtable discussions, stakeholder interviews, workshops and make-a-thons, and public events in unusual locations.
Co-creation workshops led to prototypes like Dolox (wearable for pain patients), RingMe (multilingual phone bot for medical appointments), ExplainMed (medical documents translator), and MIA (matchmaking platform for mental health care). The Comon team tested prototypes via design sprints, real-world experiments, and community feedback.
Comon therefore:
- Drives socio-technological innovation.
- Offers workshops to build new skills and encourage entrepreneurship.
- Promotes cross-group collaboration to broaden engagement, and boosts innovation and knowledge exchange.
- Fosters professional partnerships and citizen participation.
Building on the sustainable and integrated urban approach
Comon merges interdisciplinary collaborations to create innovative urban solutions encompassing social, economic and enviornmental aspects.
Social: Comon unites citizens, researchers, policymakers and entrepreneurs to tackle societal issues. This inclusive method empowers residents and strengthens social bonds, with projects like RingMe helping non-native speakers to navigate the healthcare system.
Economic: Comon acts as a pre-accelerator for programmes like imec.iStart. It inspires entrepreneurship through workshops and make-a-thons, generating innovative ideas and nurturing prototypes towards commercial viability.
Environmental: Comon is expected to also focus on environmental challenges in the future.
Overall, Comon fosters urban resilience and well-being by intertwining them into a coherent strategy, demonstrating a scalable and inclusive model for urban development.
Based on participatory approach
Citizens and experts identify urban challenges together, through public brainstorming and interviews, to ensure projects are community-driven. Through workshops and make-a-thons, with diverse participants, innovative urban development solutions are co-created and refined, and prototypes tested at public events to gather feedback.
Ghent University provides crucial research expertise, city officials shape strategic direction in line with policy, and industry partners help bridge the gap between research and the market. Community organisations ensure projects meet specific community needs, and ensure inclusivity for underrepresented groups.
Through open dialogue and shared decision-making, Comon promotes collaboration and ensures projects reflect the diverse persectives of stakeholders, fostering intellectual and personal connections.
What difference has it made?
Comon’s impact was evaluated through 20 interviews, 4 focus groups and participatory observation, using a value framework that addressed capacity building (entrepreneurial, connective, knowledge, and instrumental capacity) and meaningful interactions.
Key Comon achievements include:
- The development of four new products - Dolox, RingMe, ExplainMed, and MIA - that continue to improve clarity and hence access to healthcare for non-native speakers and those with low health literacy.
- Extensive public participation through brainstorming sessions, co-creation workshops, and experiment cafés, that foster engaged and empowered communities and individuals.
- Engaged 4 174 people during 75 activities.
- Involved over 180 students from various disciplines in co-creation activities, to make and test solutions.
Overall, Comon effectively addressed key healthcare communication challenges in Ghent, and built capacity to create sustainable, human-centred solutions.
Why this Good Practice should be transferred to other cities
Comon offers a good example for other cities, by combining innovation, citizen engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration to tackle complex urban challenges. Through co-creation and experimentation, Comon drives digital innovation, social inclusion and sustainable development.
It supports key policy frameworks:
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 3 Good health and well-being, SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, and SDG 17 Partnerships for the goals.
- The Urban Agenda for the EU, by enhancing public participation and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The step-by-step method - identifying challenges, co-creating and testing solutions - provides a replicable framework for cities aiming to harness technology for societal benefit. Focused on accessible healthcare and health literacy, Comon addresses a critical issue across Europe.
Comon aligns with Ghent’s open innovation policy and initiatives for digital transformation, and this alignment with local policies enhances its relevance and effectiveness. Other European cities can adjust Comon’s co-creation processes to local needs and governance structures. This flexibility makes Comon a versatile model for fostering sustainable innovation.
In other cities, the first steps are to map out the available resources, find out what expertise can be mobilised, and what are the goals of each organisation. Next, the Comon framework should be customised for local governance structures and partnerships, to addresses specific urban challenges through innovation and public participation.
Comon has shared its approach with cities such as Ostend, Toronto, and Cape Town, as well as through its involvement in the EUniverCities network. Comon could also provide consultancy to other cities wanting to set up similar activities.