INSTITUT DE RECHERCHE ET D'INNOVATION

Their core work

IRI is a research centre housed within the Centre Pompidou in Paris that investigates the philosophical, social, and political dimensions of digital technologies. They study how software, platforms, and digital infrastructure reshape civic life — from internet governance and decentralisation to urban democracy and public engagement. Their work bridges critical theory (philosophy of technology, digital studies) with applied research on citizen participation tools, blockchain-based governance, and smart city co-creation. They are fundamentally a thinking institution that produces conceptual frameworks and participatory methods for democratic digital transformation.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

IRI's early H2020 work (2016–2018) was heavily theoretical — focused on the philosophy of internet governance, decentralisation, anonymity, and critical software studies. By 2019–2021, their focus shifted toward applied democratic technologies: blockchain for urban commons, gamification for public engagement, augmented reality for e-participation. The trajectory is clear: from analysing digital systems philosophically to designing participatory tools that put citizens at the centre of urban governance.

IRI is moving from critical analysis of technology toward active co-design of democratic digital infrastructure for cities and territories, making them increasingly relevant for smart city and GovTech projects.

How they like to work

IRI operates exclusively as a participant — they have never coordinated an H2020 project. With 29 unique partners across 11 countries, they are well-networked for an organisation of their size, suggesting they are sought after for their distinctive intellectual perspective rather than project management capacity. Their mix of MSCA-RISE (researcher exchange) and RIA (research and innovation) projects indicates they contribute conceptual depth and cross-disciplinary thinking to consortia rather than technical deliverables.

IRI has collaborated with 29 distinct partners across 11 countries, a broad network for just 4 projects. This suggests they are embedded in diverse European research communities spanning digital humanities, urban studies, and technology governance.

What sets them apart

IRI occupies a rare niche: they are one of very few European research centres that combine rigorous philosophy of technology with hands-on participation in digital innovation projects. Housed within the Centre Pompidou — a major cultural institution — they bring a critical humanities lens to technical consortia that are often dominated by engineering perspectives. For any consortium needing to address the social, ethical, or democratic implications of a digital solution, IRI adds credibility and depth that purely technical partners cannot.

Highlights from their portfolio

• CO3
  Largest single funding (EUR 352K) and most applied project — combined blockchain, AR, gamification, and social networks to co-create open public services with citizens.
• NEXTLEAP
  Addressed foundational questions of internet decentralisation, anonymity, and governance — topics that have only grown more relevant since the project ended in 2018.
• ReaLsMs
  A 5-year MSCA-RISE project (2017–2022) on 'Real Smart Cities' that critically examined what smart cities actually mean for citizens, blending philosophy of technology with urban studies.