MindLab is a cross-ministerial innovation unit which involves citizens and businesses in developing new solutions for the public sector.MindLab is a cross-ministerial innovation unit which involves citizens and businesses in developing new solutions for the public sector.

About MindLab

International design conference at MindLabInternational design conference at MindLab

Public managers, academics and design practitioners met at MindLab to better understand how design approaches can be used to re-imagine the public sector. Read the summary, see presentations and videos from the seminar.

EU interest in MindLabEU interest in MindLab

The Commissioner for research, innovation and science visited MindLab. Following the meeting MindLab were invited to speak to the EU Innovation Convention in Brussels. See video
Additionally, MindLab gave en exclusive keynote to the 27 ministers of research and innovation. See presentation

Keynote from How Public Design?Keynote from How Public Design?

Philip Colligan from NESTA shows three cases from their Public Services Lab, where methods from design and co-production have been applied to support the development of public services.

Booklet: How Public Design seminarBooklet: How Public Design seminar

Against the backdrop of economic crisis governments across the globe must re-think public services at less cost. In the political context of public organisations, how does design offer a way forward? Download the booklet.

Designing beta public serviceDesigning beta public service

NESTA´s Laura Bunt visited MindLab´s conference and reflects on the power of beta to reframe the relationship between citizen and state. Bunt sees beta as finding the courage to be imperfect.
> Read the blog post

Article in the Guardian: Innovation, a new paradigm for public governance?Article in the Guardian: Innovation, a new paradigm for public governance?

Innovation can be confusing. Phd at MindLab Jesper Christiansen shares his thoughts on some of the problems and the solutions in the Guardian. > Read article

Innovation on the shopping listInnovation on the shopping list

New procurement processes in municipa-lities and regions can provide better public service and at the same time aid smaller companies. MindLab helped the Danish Go-vernment initiative, the Business Innovation Fund, to understand the decision making processes of municipalities and regions in connection with purchasing. > Case

Away with the Red Tape. A Better Encounter with GovernmentAway with the Red Tape. A Better Encounter with Government

The Danish government’s “Away with the Red Tape” plan has put the citizen and deregulation at the top of the agenda. Three studies of young citizens present solutions that improve citizens’ overall experience of the public sector. > Case

Co-creating Big SocietyCo-creating Big Society

MindLab participated in a discussion of the UK Government’s Big Society vision in relation to co-creation of public services. Read The Guardian’s report and the summary from the newspaper’s own Public Services Summit. Also watch the video from a speech on public sector innovation at the Overseas Development Institute.

Blog post in the GuardianBlog post in the Guardian

What does it mean to design public services? asks Philip Colligan from NESTA. He participated in the conference “How Public Design?” at MindLab and has posted his thoughts in the Guardian.
> Read more

PhD-thesis: Absurdity and the Sensible DecisionPhD-thesis: Absurdity and the Sensible Decision

Nina Holm Vohnsen has completed her PhD-thesis on the implementation of specific points in the Action Plan on Sickness. Read the thesis.

Read more about the project.


From MindBlog:

Top 3 Co-production Aha! Moments

What is Co-production and why should we care about it? Exchange student Satsuko VanAntwerp used her time in MindLab researching on the international trend and gives her Top 3 Co-producion Aha Moments.

(Satsuko VanAntwerp, 01.02.2012)

Two governance challenges

There is a lot of talk about innovation in the public sector – and with good reason; but a new way of thinking should never be an end in itself.

(Christian Bason, 02.01.2012)

What can public sector managers learn from Steve Jobs?

I have always thought that there are limits to what public sector managers can learn from their private sector colleagues, but after reading the new biography of the late Steve Jobs, Apple’s founder and CEO, I have come to think differently.

(Christian Bason, 21.12.2011)

Public sector innovation must move from strategy to action

Innovation strategies are currently being developed throughout the public sector – five examples of what this means.

(Christian Bason, 25.11.2011)

Small adjustments, massive outcomes

Is the radical innovation of public services the Holy Grail for us working with public innovation? Experiences from UK Cabinet Office suggests that it is not always the case.

(Jakob Schørring, 21.10.2011)

Easy innovation?

Creating an innovative group of people is easy. Where comes the hard part?

(Rasmus Kolding, 21.06.2011)

Strategic design in Helsinki

Finnish design is more than Marimekko’s colourful flower universe and Aalto’s strict functionalism. Finland is in many ways a spearhead nation when it comes to strategic design. MindLab has visited Helsinki.

(Runa Sabroe, 17.06.2011)

Global impressions – part II

From The Australian Centre for Social Innovation, to Melbourne’s VPS Innovation Action Plan, to Sydney-based strategic design firm Second Road, Australia is in many ways leading innovation in public and social services.

(Christian Bason, 01.03.2011)

Making the big society work: Is trust the missing ingredient?

Will the Coalition Government’s vision prove resilient enough? And more fundamentally, how to make the grand idea a reality while public service budgets are cut so massively?

(Christian Bason, 11.02.2011)

Global impressions – Part I

During the global launch of my book “Leading public sector innovation: Co-creating for a better society” I’ve had the opportunity to connect with government colleagues in several countries to discuss where public services are heading.

(Christian Bason, 12.01.2011)

New book: Leading public sector innovation

Building the innovative public organisation isn’t a destination, it’s a journey.

(Christian Bason, 27.10.2010)

Keep guessing

Public servants are routinely guessing what their boss thought would be an appropriate course of action. That practice is hardly an effective innovation-driver.

(Christian Bason, 15.09.2010)