‘Building an innovative, digital economy’

“How can we fairly distribute the benefits of digitalisation? That remains one of the biggest challenges,” says Willem Koeman, until recently Lead Digitalisation at Amsterdam Economic Board. “Because while the promises of technology are great, we must also be mindful of the downsides.” For example, how do you maintain control in a platform economy, where software increasingly directs and tracks work and performance? Lack of control can lead to less autonomy in your work, making you feel less free in your choices and responsibilities. Take healthcare, for example, a sector with staff shortages. Technology is being used here for greater efficiency. What does that mean for patients and staff?”

How did you become involved in responsible digitalisation?

Willem Koeman

“I started in 2012 with the Amsterdamse Innovatie Motor, the predecessor of the Amsterdam Economic Board. The interaction between social developments and digitalisation has always been central to my work. From my studies in Computational Social Science at the University of Amsterdam, I became fascinated by the interaction between people and technology. “Digitalisation is not an inevitable fate, but something we as a society can steer ourselves. That fascinates me. At the Amsterdam Economic Board, I worked on the responsible use of data and AI. Aiming to have these technologies contribute to a sustainable future.”

What initiatives were the highlights for you?

“I am most proud of the Manifesto Tada, launched in 2017 with more than 60 partners. This contains the guiding principles for responsible digitalisation in the Amsterdam region. It has had a strong impact, being included in coalition agreements of the City of Amsterdam, among others. It has really put the discussion around responsible digitalisation on the map.”

Trusted data sharing

“Another important initiative is AMdEX, which emerged from the Manifesto Tada. AMdEX works as a kind of digital notary, where agreements on data sharing are recorded securely and transparently. This project has created a trusted ecosystem for data sharing. It is a fundamental part of the growth fund programme Dutch Metropolitan Innovations.” “Our LEAP initiative has made important strides in making data centers in the region more sustainable. This initiative even led to the creation of the National Coalition on Sustainable Digitalisation.”

Were there lessons to be learned from less successful initiatives?

“Definitely! The Amsterdam Blockchain City initiative has produced promising networks, but we missed a common goal. It taught us that a technology alone is not enough for a successful collaboration. There has to be a concrete, shared problem. We applied this lesson to later initiatives, in which we pay more attention to shared interests and goals.”

What is the Amsterdam Economic Board’s next step in data and digitalisation?

“We are building on everything we have accomplished and continue to focus on responsible and sustainable digitalisation. One of the ongoing initiatives is the Data Commons Collective. In this we are exploring how to share data fairly for the benefit of the community. “In another promising project we are experimenting with network technology to create energy communities. This is going to help small and medium-sized energy users take ownership of their energy data so they can actively contribute to the energy transition.”

What should new partners know, when joining the Amsterdam Economic Board’s network?

“I would say: the time to get on board is now. The challenges of digitalisation and sustainability require new ideas and cooperations. The Amsterdam Economic Board has built a strong network and experience, but we cannot do this alone. New partners, large and small, are essential to collectively build an inclusive and sustainable digital future in the region.”