Digital technology has revolutionised the way democracy is conducted – and public services provided. But has it really yet delivered the paradigm shift in the way quality public services are defined and delivered that the technology seems to embody. These days, a host of new thinking has emerged around the concept of “co-creation” – where citizens and governments work together to build better, more effective citizen services – and “design thinking” – a complex process in which governments rework the way services are provided starting with citizen needs and real-world experience.

But how do we turn co-creation into a reality for Europe’s 508 million citizens?

The Lisbon Council is part of the multi-disciplinary, 12-partner Understanding Value Co-Creation in Public Services for Transforming European Public Administrations (Co-VAL) consortium, which is co-financed by the European Union. Bringing unique knowledge to the project and working in their distinctive fields, the coalition partners aim to find new ways of co-creating public services. Armed with new analytical tools and broad-based citizen surveys, it produces cutting-edge research and explores the cutting edge of unique “value co-creation” models for delivering better public services and improving citizen-state relations. The Co-VAL partners are University of Alcala, Athens Technology Center, Corvinus University of Budapest, University of Edinburgh Business School, University of Konstanz, Inland Norway University of Applied Science, University of Lille, The Lisbon Council, Maastricht University, Pricewaterhousecoopers Advisory spa, Roskilde University and SDA Bocconi School of Management.

Visit the Co-VAL Website