€6.8m grant from NWO for RSM’s CollectieveKracht and consortium

A new research project, initiated by Professor Tine De Moor of the department of Business-Society Management at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) has received backing from the Dutch Research Agenda, NWO with a €6.8 million grant for the research project Empowering Citizen COllectives in societal transitions (ECCO). RSM's CollectieveKracht platform, also founded by De Moor, will play a central role in this project. A national consortium of scientific institutions, public authorities, universities, municipalities, and funding partners will explore how citizens and governments can collaborate more equally. By developing practical tools and generating new insights, ECCO aims to build trust, empower communities and drive meaningful and lasting change from the ground up.

ECCO aims to develop practical models, methods and tools that promote equal partnerships between citizen collectives and public bodies. A key platform for this work will be exchange platform CollectieveKracht (collectievekracht.eu/ecco), a growing knowledge exchange network founded by RSM Professor Tine De Moor. For this project, a €6.8 million grant has been awarded by the Dutch Research Agenda (NWO). Prof. De Moor: “Thanks to this grant, an incredibly enthusiastic and engaged group of fellow researchers and societal partners can provide even stronger support to the citizen collectives movement. ECCO equips citizen collectives with the tools they need to tackle the challenges of the future in areas such as housing, care and sustainability.”

Harnessing local resilience

From housing pressures and climate adaptation to the energy transition, the Netherlands is grappling with complex societal challenges. Simultaneously, citizens increasingly feel disconnected from decision-making processes and government institutions. The ECCO project recognises the potential of citizen collectives to foster community resilience, local engagement and adaptive capacity in the face of change.

Towards lasting impact

ECCO marks a vital step in co-creating a future where citizens and governments collaboratively shape the future of their living environment.

With both digital and physical tools, ECCO will offer citizens accessible knowledge and skills to enhance their role in shaping their environment. It will also provide scientific insights that validate and highlight the long-term value of citizen-led initiatives.

About NWO-ORC

The project is one of 14 initiatives funded under the programme line Research along Routes by Consortia (ORC) of the NWO, which supports the cooperation between researchers and societal partners to drive knowledge-based change.

Consortium

The ECCO consortium consists of Erasmus University Rotterdam, Utrecht University, Delft University of Technology, University of Groningen, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Leiden University.

More information

Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) is one of Europe’s top-ranked business schools. RSM provides ground-breaking research and education furthering excellence in all aspects of management and is based in the international port city of Rotterdam – a vital nexus of business, logistics and trade. RSM’s primary focus is on developing business leaders with international careers who can become a force for positive change by carrying their innovative mindset into a sustainable future. Our first-class range of bachelor, master, MBA, PhD and executive programmes encourage them to become critical, creative, caring and collaborative thinkers and doers. www.rsm.nl

For more information about RSM or this release, please contact Danielle Baan, science communications and PR for RSM, on +31 10 408 2828 or by email at baan@rsm.nl.