Digital Inclusion Network Lecture Series III: CiviConnect

On January 29th, the CiviConnect Groningen team will present the first preliminary results from the door-to-door survey conducted in two Groningen neighborhoods, as part of the lecture series of the Digital Inclusion Network. This project, a collaboration between the Centre for Media and Journalism Studies, the Department of Cultural Geography and the Department of Spatial Planning and Environment, was funded by a grassroot grant of the Jantina Tammes School.

The CiviConnection project investigates the relationship between socio-spatial characteristics of neighbourhoods and digital infrastructures. As digitalisation reshapes community interaction, civic engagement increasingly moves online, with digital platforms complementing—or even replacing—traditional public spaces. Nationally, digital participation remains centralised, offering citizens limited roles. At the local level, however, digital tools present opportunities for two-way communication between residents and local authorities, fostering a more inclusive and dynamic civic environment.

This pilot project is designed as the cornerstone of a long-term collaboration focused on mapping the link between existing inequalities (such as in facilities, neighbourhood design, and financial resources) and civic participation, both in offline neighbourhood settings and within digital civic infrastructures, such as participatory budgeting, community petitions, crisis response networks, and care networks. By collecting data in two neighbourhoods with contrasting social dynamics—the interdisciplinary research team aims to visualise how socio-spatial characteristics relate to digital civic infrastructures.

We invite everyone who is interested in urban infrastructure development and digital inclusion to join us for the presentation and discussion, from 13.30-14.30h in the Lila room on the first floor of the House of Connections (no sign-up necessary). More information about the project can be found here.