Shared knowledge, shared decisions
CivicLab is the participation laboratory of the InnoK Knowledge Management Institute — participatory planning, research and a methodological workshop for local governments, civil-society organisations and residents.
Our mission
Involving communities in local decision-making
CivicLab is the participation laboratory of the InnoK Knowledge Management Institute. We pursue a single question: how can local communities be made meaningful participants in shaping shared matters and preparing decisions in their own environment?
CivicLab grew out of InnoK's urban-development work. Working on district projects, we kept running into the same wall: professionally flawless plans failed because residents didn't understand why they were made and didn't feel they owned them. The solution isn't better communication — it's that local communities must be involved as early as possible, while the decision is still on the drawing board.
„Where shared decisions are made."
The ecosystem
The three laboratories of InnoK
The same institute, three different perspectives. Urban systems, methodology and participation can only work effectively together.
UrbanLab
Together we build the liveable cities of the future. Urban, economic and local development.
urbanlab.hu → Methodology and researchLivingLab
Where we test the future. InnoK's research, experimental and methodological laboratory.
livinglab.hu →CivicLab
The laboratory of participation. Community participation, deliberation and the preparation of shared decisions.
You are hereOur principles
What we believe in
Keep the question open
We only bring a matter to a meeting where the decision can still genuinely be shaped. We don't ask for an opinion on a question that's already settled.
Everyone gets a chance
It isn't the loudest or the most available who get heard. By our own methodology, even those who would never attend a town-hall meeting are included.
Informed opinion
Community meeting participants receive background materials and can consult an expert on the topic at hand.
It must have consequences
Every recommendation gets a public answer. If something isn't implemented, the reasoning is available to anyone as well.
How does it work in practice?
The four principles take shape in the methodology of the community meeting — from framing the question to public feedback. See the methodology →
Team
Who works on CivicLab?
László Rónavári-Kedves, MBA
Managing director, institute director
Dr. Márton Cseh
Project manager for EU projects
Dóra Stefuska
Head of the secretariat
Would you like to involve residents in a decision?
We design participatory processes for local governments, institutions and civil-society organisations — from framing the question to the recommendation that gets implemented.