Mission

Technological innovation, geopolitical shifts and sociocultural changes make for a fluid and complex world; established models, theories and paradigms offer less guidance. To navigate this shifting landscape, we offer a space for free thought where public and private decision-makers can playfully explore uncertainty through our team’s transdisciplinary research, speculative methods and imaginative future scenarios.

Together, we identify and develop transformative opportunities for your organization and society.

Vision

We believe transdisciplinary research and scenario thinking nurture free thought, the foundation for shaping an open, just and sustainable society.

FreedomLab Fellows

Discover our community of fellows (alumni and guest authors), including scholars and industry professionals specializing in technology, social sciences and philosophy.

Julia Rijssenbeek

Alumna

Julia Rijssenbeek

Alumnus

Aoife McInerney

Alumna

Haroon Sheikh

Alumnus

Nora Neuteboom

Alumna

Jelle van Baardewijk

Alumnus

Vivian Elion

Alumna

Leonardo Werner

Guest author

Vlad Enasescu

Alumnus

Martine Dirkzwager Wu

Alumna

Jules Macome

Guest author

Victória Ferreira

Alumna

Maya Turolla

Guest author

Rafael Rienks

Alumnus

Myrthe Tiemessen

Alumna

Elio Martorelli Nilsson

Alumnus

Federica Rito

Alumna

Tenets

At the heart of our work lies a clear philosophy, one that shapes how we think, act and create ideas for the future. We’ve distilled it into eleven guiding principles that you can explore below.

We reframe the present by analyzing the past and speculating about possible futures

We explore the upside in dystopias and the downside in utopias

We look for beauty in science and truth in the arts

We are highbrow about lowbrow culture

We are serious about being playful

We strive towards objectivity by acknowledging our subjectivity

We hope to move forward by acknowledging traditions

We seek the grand narrative through countless constructed narratives

We are disciplined in moving between and beyond disciplines

We find certainty in embracing uncertainty

We see tech in nature and nature in tech

History

We were founded in 2003 by our sister organization Dasym as a research department, and focused on research on major long-term trends and developments. In 2014, we evolved into a thinktank with a more outward-facing character, responding to growing demand from both private and public organizations for our thematic insights.

Ecosystem

We are part of Rasile Group, an ecosystem of changemakers in finance, real estate, energy and concept development.

In the Media

Our team members occasionally collaborate with our network on multimedia productions. Explore our latest Dutch and English content below.

Cosmolab: Technodiversity

Roundtable conversation

China Knowledge Network

Een toekomst die werkt

Book

Stichting Toekomstbeeld der Techniek

Met vasthouden aan vlees maakt Nederland zich kwetsbaar

Article

NRC

Synthetische biologie

Podcast episode

Radio Horzelnest

Wacht ons de infocalypse?

Video interview

De Nieuwe Wereld

Toekomstperspectieven deel 2: Generative AI

Video interview

De Nieuwe Wereld

Dutch

Toekomstperspectieven deel 1: Virtualisering

Video interview

De Nieuwe Wereld

Dutch

Ethics of Socially Disruptive Technologies: An Introduction

Book

OpenBookPublishers.com

English

Scenariodenken als speelruimte

Article

Het Financieele Dagblad

Dutch

Het Filosofisch Café: Van wie is de natuur?

Lecture

TU Delft

Dutch

Team interviews

Dive into our interview series below, where you can get an in-depth look at our team members' and fellows' research, undertakings and interests.

Beyond the end of history

Researcher Pim Korsten discusses emerging alternatives and philosophical perspectives on the alleged endpoint of history

On the peculiar nature of media

Researcher Sebastiaan Crul zeroes in on how media technology permeates our lives

Rethinking our relationship with technology and nature

FreedomLab Fellow Martine Dirkzwager Wu explains how cosmotechnics and planetary thinking can help us live in harmony with the non-human

In search of microscopic and macroscopic visions

Freedom Fellow Julia Rijssenbeek explains how biology and planetary thinking will lay the foundation for a sustainable future

Deep Transitions: a framework, a mindset, the future

Team Lead Sjoerd Bakker discusses the systemic transformations needed to combat the great challenges of our time

Partners

Utrecht University

Netherlands Institute of International Relations Clingendael

Dutch Blockchain Coalition

Wageningen University & Research

The Netherlands Study Centre for Technology Trends (Stichting Toekomstbeeld der Techniek)

NRC Handelsblad

Data Sovereignty Now

NEMO Science Museum

Entelligence

Eindhoven University of Technology

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

University of Amsterdam

Bocconi University Milan

Brainwash

The John Adams Institute

Innopay

Artis Royal Zoo

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Full Name, Title
Company

About Us

FreedomLab Fellows

Tenets

In the Media

Team interviews

Partners