René Lührsen

As part of my doctoral research, I am interested in how governments, public administrations, civil society and private actors collaborate and create synergies through digital technologies.

At the Hertie School and Leuphana University, I conducted accompanying research on the open social innovation initiatives WirVsVirus and UpdateDeutschland - two pioneering efforts to tackle societal challenges through collective digital action.

Building on this, and supported by a Hans Böckler Foundation scholarship, I examined the Sovereign Tech Agency, a government organization dedicated to strengthening critical digital and open infrastructure.

My approach centers on listening to people, engaging in dialogue, and fostering learning within society. I aim to understand how openness and collaboration can serve the public interest in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. I try to approach my work critical and reflective, yet optimistic, pragmatic, and forward-looking.