by Magdalini Chatzaki (FORTH-ICS)
ERCIM has launched a new Working Group on Inclusive Digital Futures: Developing Technology and Culture to embed inclusion at the core of digital research, education and innovation. It brings together researchers, administrators and leaders to drive systemic and lasting change across the ICT ecosystem.
As computer science shapes almost every dimension of contemporary life, questions of social responsibility have become central to technological progress. Digital systems are no longer neutral tools. They influence how societies function, how economies evolve and how cultures are expressed and transformed. This raises fundamental questions about who designs these systems, whom they serve and which values they encode.
The Inclusive Digital Futures Working Group responds by placing these questions at the heart of computer science, informatics, mathematics and ICT research and innovation. It starts from the premise that technological development and social progress are inseparable. If digital systems are to meet the needs of diverse societies, the ways in which they are conceived, built and governed must reflect that diversity.
Many ERCIM member institutions already host valuable initiatives in this area. Yet such efforts often rely on individual commitment and remain dispersed because of limited coordination and shared resources. Their long-term impact is therefore constrained. The Working Group seeks to overcome this fragmentation by promoting a more coherent and sustainable approach that integrates inclusive thinking across research, education, administration and leadership.
A central aim is to provide a common platform for exchange. By bringing together researchers, administrators and decision-makers, the Group encourages dialogue across roles and disciplines. This collaborative setting supports the development of organisational cultures and research practices in which inclusion is treated not as an add-on, but as a guiding principle. The ambition is to move from short-term initiatives towards structural change that becomes part of everyday practice.
The creation of the Working Group also strengthens ERCIM’s wider mission. It signals a clear commitment to responsible research and innovation, enhances institutional reputation and supports international competitiveness. By increasing the visibility of existing work and enabling the sharing of best practice, the Group helps address persistent imbalances in participation across ICT disciplines. It also aligns closely with European Union policy priorities and funding frameworks that link excellence in research with social impact.
Strategically, the Group contributes to the development of human capital within ERCIM. It supports the Fellowship Programme by helping to attract and retain talented researchers from a wide range of backgrounds. It also positions ERCIM as a European reference point for inclusive excellence in digital research. Through channels such as ERCIM News, the Group’s activities can reach a broad audience, extending their influence well beyond the immediate network and strengthening connections among member organisations.
Research
Research is a core pillar of the Working Group’s activity. Members are encouraged to develop collaborative projects, organise workshops and events, and pursue interdisciplinary work that addresses both technical and cultural dimensions of inclusion. Indicative areas include human computer interaction, digital accessibility, end user applications for the web, mobile platforms and gaming, digital health, cyber security, social media and discrimination, artificial intelligence, machine learning, ambient intelligence, the internet of things and big data analysis and management, with particular attention to intersectional perspectives.
Education and awareness raising form a second pillar. The Group aims to support early career researchers, facilitate the exchange of expertise across ERCIM members and communicate research insights to the wider public. In addition, it seeks to contribute to policy development by producing roadmaps and guidelines that help organisations and research teams make their practices and outcomes more inclusive.
By linking technology and culture, the Inclusive Digital Futures Working Group highlights that progress in digital systems depends as much on organisational and societal change as on technical innovation. Its long-term vision is to ensure that future technologies advance scientific and economic goals while contributing to fairer and more representative digital societies.
Invitation to join
Researchers, practitioners, administrators and leaders from across ERCIM and beyond who are interested in shaping inclusive digital futures are warmly invited to join the Working Group and contribute to its activities. For further information or to express interest, please contact the Working Group Chair.
Link:
https://ercim-ide-wg.ics.forth.gr/
Please contact:
Magdalini Chatzaki, FORTH ICS, Greece
Working Group chair
