Shared Futures
The University of Essex
Problem
Communities, particularly those in divided regions or transitional urban areas, often lack accessible, imaginative platforms to collectively visualize, discuss, and redesign physical shared spaces or alternative economic models.
Solution
Shared Futures is a pioneering initiative that harnesses digital technologies sustainably to support communities and governments in transitioning toward a post-capitalist social economy—both locally and globally.
At its core is an open-source community platform, currently being piloted in diverse regions, that enables individuals, collectives, and public authorities to explore alternative economic models, reimagine their local areas through these lenses, and collaborate to turn radical ideas into practical realities. By combining digital innovation with principles of cooperation, equity, and ecological responsibility, Shared Futures offers a bold, practical pathway to systemic transformation.
Sustainable Development Goals addressed
Some facts:
The Project Management Platform is Shared Futures’ flagship product, designed to support NGOs receiving public funds, grassroots community initiatives, and mental health-focused projects in managing and reporting their work more effectively. It provides a unified space for planning, delivery, collaboration, and transparent reporting, especially for organisations working with limited digital tools or technical capacity. As of 2026, it has reached:
- Regions across Ireland and Northern Ireland – supporting cross-community and reconciliation-focused projects
- 14 regions in Essex – enabling mental health initiatives and local partnerships
- 5 regions in Bristol – helping health and wellbeing teams coordinate and scale their work
UKRN Services CIC
A combination of inconsistent research practices, training gaps, low confidence and rising external scrutiny threatens UK institutional standards, research funding and reputation.
The 1928 Institute
The University of Oxford
The 1928 Institute targets a lack of representation, systemic data gaps, and under-addressed discrimination facing the British Indian community.
The 1752 Group
University of York
Sexual misconduct by staff is under-reported and under-researched. Higher education institutions in the UK need to be leading the change to prevent cultures of abuse, respond effectively and without inflicting further harm, ensure robust, student-centred reporting and investigation procedures, and implement policies and procedures to eliminate the sexual misconduct of academic, professional services, contracted and temporary staff.
Tabletop R&D
Queen Mary University of London
Game designers, developers and publishers often have questions about their games which requires custom answers, such as evaluation of different strategies, game balance, frequency and types of actions played, victory conditions triggered most often, etc.