E-government

Foundation research into theories and a meta-theory of e-government is carried out with prof. Victor Bekkers of Erasmus University Rotterdam and in close contact with dr. Frank Bannister of Trinity University. This research aims to develop a meta-theory that will facilitate the communication between various e-government researchers.

Transparency in government

How does Internet transparency change government? The relation between transparency and various aspects of government isinvestigated through a series of research projects. These projects focus on the relation between transparency and accountability, transparency and enforcement and transparency and trust. This research has a specific focus on transparency in the European Union (cooperation with prof. Deirdre Curtin of the University of Amsterdam).

New modes of governing pharmacovigilance

How can new modes of monitoring the effects of drugs contribute to pharmaceutical innovation? This project is of two departments of Utrecht University: governance (dr. Albert Meijer) and innovation studies (prof. Ellen Moors en dr. Wouter Boon). The project is sponsored by NWO under the program 'Maatschappelijk Verantwoord Innoveren'.

Cocreation of public policies

How can citizens and governments cocreate policies through the use of Web 2.0? In cooperation with prof. Victor Bekkers of the Erasmus University in the Netherlands and financially supported by the Alliance for Vital Government practices of cocreation on the Internet in various stages of the policy process has been investigated.

Police and social media

This research maps the use of social media by p;olice departments and individual officers in the Netherlands and other countries. The research also aims to assess the value of this use in terms of effectiveness and legitimacy. Cooperations have been developed with prof. Rene Torenvlied (Leiden University), prof. Marcel Thaens (Erasmus University Rotterdam), Peter Siep (Centre for Public Innovation), dr. Stephan Grimmelikhuijsen (Utrecht University) and Danielle Fictorie (Utrecht University).

Innovation in the public sector

Processes of innovation in the public sector are investigated empirically. Specifically, this research focuses on innovation in the police sector. A first research project focuses on the contribution of individuals to processes of innovation. A second project, with dr. Karl Lofgren of Roskilde University, consists of comparative research of innovations in policing in Denmark and the Netherlands.

Scientific knowledge for public policy

How reliable in scientific knowledge? And when is this type of knowledge questioned by society? This research aims to investigate the relation between scientific knowledge and public policy through a specific analysis of the HPV vaccination. This project is carried out with dr. Huub Dijstelbloem (WRR and University of Amsterdam) and Paulus Lips (University of Amsterdam).

Open data

Why do government put open data on the Internet? And what does this bring society? This research investigates open data s a dynamic process of open learning. Research is carried out with the NSOB (dr. Martijn van der Steen and Josta de Hoog) for the Netherlands Ministry of the Interior. At Utrecht University, Aline Bos also works on the project.

Smart cities

How can we develop smart cities that provide solutions to a range of societal problems? This research investigates cooperations between citizens, government, stakeholders and private business at a city level. More specifically, research is conducted for the City of Utrecht to investigate the contribution of cultural activities to smart cities. At the Utrecht School of Governance, Aline Bos and Danielle Fictorie work on the project.