MINDS: Maastricht Interdisciplinary Network on Digitalisation and Society
Digitalisation is rapidly changing the way we work and live. Technological innovations in artificial intelligence, robotics, data, and computing power are nothing short of revolutionary. These amazing developments raise many urgent societal questions.
MINDS unites a multidisciplinary group of expert researchers from across Maastricht University and empowers them to join forces and answer questions on the societal impact of digitalisation and automation. Minds is an ecosystem that enables and encourages researchers by providing structural incentives to collaborate and produce top-tier fundamental research of great societal relevance. Furthermore, by facilitating opportunities to work with policymakers and civil society and business stakeholders, MINDS enables researchers to co-create policies that work.
Fast facts
- Maastricht Institute Network on Digitalisation & Society
- Multidisciplinary group of researchers from Maastricht University
- Inter-, trans-, multidisciplinary research on digitalisation and automation
- Co-creation of research with governments and social partners
MINDS in action
MINDS aims to stimulate research projects on the societal impact of digitalisation and automation. We strive to foster inter-, trans-, and multidisciplinary research on digitalisation and automation at Maastricht University and stimulate co-creation of research with governments and social partners. To reach our objectives, MINDS organises three core activities.
First, we maintain an active network of researchers studying the consequences of automation and digitization, have a structural opportunity to meet and discuss ongoing research and research opportunities, learn from peers in other disciplines, and explore the potential for collaboration;
Second, we coordinate a continuous and systematic search for funding opportunities for research on the societal consequences of digitalisation, ai, and automation, and initiate strategic collaborations to help secure funding. To stimulate this, our MINDS support team keeps an up-to-date overview of relevant funding opportunities in the areas of digitalisation, automation, ai, robotisation, and big data, both pro-actively and in close collaboration with MINDS’ researchers and funding officers. These opportunities are discussed monthly in the network. If collaboration is relevant, joint applications are initiated.
Third, MINDS works with BISS to connect Maastricht University researchers to policymakers at key positions in various levels of government, strategic representatives of significant business and labour unions, and relevant networks, with the objective to shape research programs, co-create policies and disseminate our research results to maximize their impact.