Agirre Lehendakaria Center

DEVELOPMENT PERIOD

2013 - Present

WHAT IS IT?

Sociology and political studies centre at the forefront of open innovation platform design and outreach.

MAIN PARTICIPATING ENTITIES

  • University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)
  • AC4-Columbia University
  • Euskampus
  • Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa

Description

Social innovation laboratory ALCK  uses open innovation platforms to drive community transformation, leveraging culture as a force for change. It was set up by the Euskampus Fundazioa in 2013 to examine and understand the Basque socio-economic transformation from an interdisciplinary, systemic approach.

Its mission is to tackle some of the most complex challenges facing society, applying the results of its research into systemic transformation. In this way, ALCk strives for a better understanding of the role of culture in innovation processes, with an aim to transforming present and future reality.

ALCk is strongly immersed in the values and behaviours of each community, the breeding ground for improved, effective solutions, co-designed with engaged stakeholders and buttressed by local intelligence, acting in a global, sustained manner. Accordingly, we believe in building and running a powerful global partnership network, a constellation of stakeholders working together to drive mutual learning, and a platform for knowledge exchange.

Systemic transformation methods based on open innovation platforms allow us to break with the traditional dichotomy between observation and action, by incorporating a permanent community listening service that creates real-time response and feedback. These methods also use co-creation spaces to co-design portfolios of interconnected initiatives, and prototyping, developing a process by which new solutions can be tested at five levels of impact

ALCk investigates in innovation, acts to transform, and shares to contribute.