Researching the transformation of cities in the context of digitalisation.

Explore all our work

We apply a transformative research approach on the topic of Digital Cities. Using this approach, we analyse the current and multifaceted challenges a city may face, as well as develop innovative solutions and advocate for the sustainable transformation of urban living spaces. In the face of increasing urbanisation, cities have an increasingly important role in shaping global change.

Our goal is to facilitate this transformative power. Together with local and global partners, we develop digital tools that are applied and explored in virtual and urban spaces. Our methods capture existing complexities and make them comprehensible for different target groups without simplifying reality.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals guide our work.

  • We aim to shape social, ecological, and economic developments such that cities can become more adaptable, climate-neutral, and liveable. In addition, we develop innovative governance tools that enable us to understand further, model, and collaboratively steer complex urban systems.

  • We cooperate with experts in civil society, politics, economics, administration, and science and engage in a data-based exchange with informed partners. In doing so, we question power relations and try to include marginalised groups. In our projects, we are interested in debates about public welfare-oriented measures and their implementation.

  • Our idea of digital political decision-making processes promotes the inclusion of citizens and media literacy as we believe it is crucial to the democratic development of societies. Our research process aims to engage citizens as sovereign partners.

  • We advocate for the disclosure of urban data to make it more accessible. However, we also pledge for an ethical approach to personal data and know that data protection is essential for enabling collaborations.

  • We create mixed realities and produce physical as well as virtual spaces. In the process, we pay attention to the design and aesthetics of our research as well as its results to inspire stakeholders to take action, to generate practical knowledge, and to make a large impact.

Featured Work

In collaboration with local and global partners from civil society, politics, business, and academia, the team develops digital tools that are applied and explored in virtual and urban spaces. These tools capture existing urban complexities and make them understandable and accessible to different audiences without oversimplifying reality.

Top-down view of three hands pointing at a large interactive touchscreen displaying a map interface with German text.

Cockpit Social Infrastructure (CoSI)

Two men at a conference or event, one wearing a virtual reality headset, the other smiling. The foreground shows the back of the man with the headset, whose shirt reads "Innovation for Better Quality of Life in Cities and Communities."

The UN Innovation and Technology Accelerator for Cities (UNITAC Hamburg)

A person's hand is placing LEGO bricks on a mirrored surface that reflects the surrounding trees and sky.

Finding Places

Group of people gathered around a large digital touchscreen displaying a city map, some pointing and others observing.

Connected Urban Twins