DemoTrans: The Interchange Between Democratic Institutions and the Globalisation of the Economy
The key challenge of DemoTrans is to investigate the interchange between democratic institutions and the globalisation of the economy, and to develop promising new approaches to re-embed democracy and capitalism.
DemoTrans is a research consortium with diverse contributors from around Europe. Researchers at UU focus on the institutional design of processes for public procurement to make corporations more inclusive, accountable, and environmentally sustainable. At the Faculty of Geosciences, research focuses on improved market consultation and supplier engagement, as well as methods and instruments for ensuring suppliers meet expected requirements while also contributing innovative and sustainable solutions. Contemporary policy issues, such as levering public procurement to contribute to open strategic autonomy, and its relationship to mission-oriented innovation policy, intersect the research.
The theoretical research and empirical findings generated from the initiative create robust recommendations for encouraging stronger democratic accountability and inclusion in economic processes. Deliverables include not only publications in scientific journals, but also practical guidance support for public contracting authorities. In this way, the DemoTrans project is creating an important impact for political, economic, societal and scientific stakeholders, as well as for the general public.
The project is funded by Research and Innovation Action (RIA) under Horizon Europe and runs from 2022 to 2026.
The DemoTrans consortium integrates key scholars and experts from KU Leuven (Belgium), Utrecht University (The Netherlands), Charles University (Prague), University of Bergen (Norway) and the Tax Justice Network.