Marleen Stikker and Christine Dedding kick off the Week of Participation with a talk on the impact of digitization on social economy, labor market and society.
Digitalization is not just a technological development, it is a social reality that unfortunately is far from accessible to everyone. During the Week of Participation (Oct 6-9, 2025), Waag Futurelab, together with De Omslag, is organizing a program for professionals working in social enterprises and/or daycare providers. How can we make the digital world more accessible? What impact does digitization have on the social economy, labor market and society, and why is the use of fair and open digital technology important?
Kick-off
The opening keynotes on Monday, Oct. 6 (10 a.m.-12 p.m.) will be delivered by Marleen Stikker (internet pioneer and founder of Waag Futurelab) and Christine Dedding (Professor Amsterdam UMC, Chair of Participation, Diversity and Equity). They will talk about why technology is never neutral, how AI and digital tools are changing our society and labor market, and what you can do to help build a digital world that does allow for empowerment and inclusion. The lectures will be followed by a panel where Marleen and Christine will engage in conversation with social entrepreneurs.
You can attend this program live at the Waag building or online. You can sign up for the online session through De Omslag's website (in Dutch). A limited number of tickets are available for the session at the Waag through this website.
The Waag building is not accessible to visitors with mobility impairments. View our accessibility information.
Although Participation Week focuses on social enterprises, this talk is of interest to people outside the sector - for example, designers, scientists, policy makers and software developers. Wondering if this event is for you too? If so, contact info [at] deomslag [dot] nl.
Week of Participation program
Also visit one of the other programs during the Week of Participation:
Mon Oct 6 13:00-16:00 Digital innovation in practice
On location at Waag, by invitation.
Are you working for a social enterprise/daycare organization? Mail for an invitation to info [at] deomslag [dot] nl.
Di 7 Oct 10:00-12:00 How do we bridge the digital divide? (Cybersoek and Waag Futurelab)
Online session
Di 7 Oct 14:00-16:00 Participatory and accessible design (SWINK, extraordinary digital specialists and Meetellen in Amsterdam)
Online session
Wed Oct 8 10:00-12:00 With technology everyone can work (KIT - knowledge alliance inclusion and technology)
Online session
Wed Oct 8 15:30-17:30 Prompts in participation practice (Vrijwilligersacademie and Anzanote)
Online session
Do 9 Oct 10:00-12:00 Whose data is it anyway? (Danny Lämmerhirt of Waag Futurelab)
Online session
Check out the full programme (in Dutch).
Digital Omslag Hub: training program for professionals
The Participation Week program continues with the Digital Omslag Hub, a training program for professionals working at social enterprises and/or day care providers that includes monthly sessions with changing themes, mentoring sessions, study trips, a hackathon and more. The program is a deepening of the online sessions from Participation Week.
Interested? Sign up here for updates.
Want to learn more about digital developments and participation? Read more about the Digitale Omslag Hub.
