Co-creation Process Research Articles

Exploring co-creator’s experiences: a multiple case study addressing workplace sedentary behaviour

Abstract Co-creation is an innovative approach for addressing complex public health issues. Co-creator’s experience of participating in co-creation can impact engagement yet research investigating co-creation experience is limited. A better understanding of co-creation experiences can inform optimal design and implementation of the co-creation process. This study’s objective was to conduct a cross-case analysis of co-creator’s experiences from 3 co-creation processes aimed at addressing workplace sedentary behaviour within 3 different small-to-medium sized companies in Scotland. Thirty-one co-creators were involved in the case study companies from Oct 2022 to Jun 2023. Data sources included observations, interviews, and researchers’ reflections. A multiple case study design enabled the exploration of co-creator’s experience across cases. A within-case thematic analysis was conducted to develop a deep understanding of cases before comparing findings between cases using Miles and Huberman’s guide to cross-case analysis. Preliminary findings indicate co-creation experiences are associated with events occurring before, during and after the co-creation process and are influenced by company context (i.e., company structure, resources and demands) and co-creation context (i.e., design and facilitation of the process). Co-creators had various motivations for their involvement. During the co-creation process there was a range of common experiences such as a sense of belonging, enjoyment and frustration. After co-creation, there was an overall sense of satisfaction accompanied by positive outcomes, including an intention to adopt healthier behaviours. Insights into co-creator’s experiences support the use of co-creation for addressing workplace sedentary behaviour. The findings have implications for researchers planning co-creation processes at small-to-medium sized companies. Tailoring co-creation to co-creator’s needs and wider company context can enhance its innovative potential. Key messages • This study’s significance lies in its qualitative cross-case analysis of co-creation experiences which enhances research rigour and enables contextualised generalisation. • The innovative potential of co-creation can be enhanced by tailoring it to meet the needs and preferences of the co-creators and considering the wider company context.

11.D. Scientific session: Participatory approaches and co-creation in complex interventions to reduce inequity in health

Abstract Health disparities are linked to social inequalities, necessitating health researchers to address the health gaps that exist between different social groups, particularly in the realm of health interventions. This workshop delves into the significance of co-creation processes and participatory approaches in complex health interventions to reduce social inequities in health outcomes. Through empirical cases illustrating co-creation processes in intervention research, the workshop aims to enlighten the audience on the continuum of participatory approaches. The MRC/NIH framework of complex interventions highlights the importance of engagement with relevant stakeholders throughout the research phases to enhance the likelihood of developing or identifying interventions that can positively impact health outcomes. However, the extent and nature of stakeholder involvement may vary depending on the specific context and stage of the research. While stakeholder involvement has been a longstanding focus, the concept of co-creation, where stakeholders actively participate in the entire process of intervention development, implementation, and evaluation, has emerged more recently. This shift from creating interventions for the target population to collaborating with them in the intervention’s creation has led to the emergence of more inclusive health interventions that are contextually relevant and tailored to the local settings where they are intended to create change. Yet, introducing participatory approaches in intervention research may raise new questions about decision-making and power dynamics. While interventions led solely by experts and researchers may overlook the empowerment and capacity-building potential among stakeholders and intervention sites, co-creation processes have the capacity to empower stakeholders and address health inequities effectively. However, challenges persist in ensuring equal collaboration between researchers and participants, especially in disadvantaged groups. This workshop aims to prompt reflection on ethical issues arising from traditional health intervention approaches and approaches to ensure participants’ ownership of interventions when they are adapted in new contexts. Moreover, this workshop will discuss the design of participatory interventions: What methods can we use to co-create? What stakeholders to involve? At what stages of the intervention should co-creation occur? The workshop program begins with an introductory presentation of participatory approaches and co-creation in health intervention research, with examples from a school-based intervention. Next, three empirical cases of co-creation processes introduced in interventions in different contexts are presented. Finally, the audience is invited to a take part in a discussion focusing on how participatory approaches among disadvantaged populations can potentially contribute to reduced social inequity in health. Key messages • The involvement of stakeholders in the development, implementation and evaluation of health interventions can take many forms, and what is meaningful for the specific context needs to be considered. • Co-creation approaches in health interventions empower participants and address unequal power dynamics between those who deliver and those who receive health interventions.

Co-Creating Tailored Solutions to Combat Sedentary Behaviour: Insights from Scottish SMEs

Abstract Background Prolonged sedentary behaviour (SB) poses health risks for office workers, especially in small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often overlooked by current interventions. This abstract aims to report and examine solutions developed through co-creation for SB in SMEs. Methods Three Scottish SMEs, a construction company (n = 150) and two charities (n = 100; n = 30), participated in a co-creation process to create SME-specific actions on SB. Each formed an action group of employees (n = 9-12) as co-creators. The process consisted of between 6-8 workshops (each 1.5h) depending on the company, with workshops improved during the process based on formative reflection from co-creators. The co-creation workshops, facilitated by two researchers, initially involved jointly mapping the company’s current situation and building knowledge and awareness of SB. Further workshops focused on action planning, including brainstorming, feasibility, piloting, and final action(s) development. Following the co-creation of actions, researchers identified the Behaviour Change Techniques (BCTs) underlying the developed actions. Results Each company created a set of actions unique to them, e.g. standing desk promotion, a games room, and innovative meeting strategies. Regarding the BCTs, all companies included adding objects to the environment, physical restructuring, prompts or cues, and addressing health or social and environmental consequences. Additionally, they all incorporated ‘step challenges’ with behaviour self-monitoring and feedback techniques. Two companies offered incentives or rewards; one emphasized role modelling, and another included social support. Conclusions The three companies created tailored actions through the co-creation process. While there were some commonalities, the differences in actions and BCTs among companies underscore the necessity for solutions tailored to the organizational context and the importance of involving employees in creating solutions. Key messages • Co-created actions to combat SB used diverse strategies, emphasising a multifaceted approach to address workplace SB. • Variability among SMEs’ co-created actions underscores the importance of stakeholder involvement to tailor solutions to organisational contexts.

Development of a risk-stratified shared decision-making tool for colorectal cancer screening

Abstract European guidelines stress the importance of informed decision-making in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. However, tailored tools that facilitate decision-making for underserved people and general practitioners (GPs) in Flanders are lacking. This study aimed to develop a tailored shared decision-making (SDM) tool for CRC screening, specifically a video decision aid, using a co-creative process. The development involved two rounds of focus group discussions with underserved people and five local quality group meetings with GPs in various parts of Flanders, Belgium. Qualitative data were analyzed using a Modified-Grounded Theory Analytical (M-GTA) approach to identify key themes. Findings revealed four core themes. The first theme, ‘Recognizing the Barriers to Screening’, identifies challenges such as a lack of time, staff, and tools for GPs, as well as language and literacy barriers for underserved people. The second theme, ‘Learning from Existing Tools’, highlights successful elements like visuals and simple language and limitations such as low accessibility and poor navigation. The third theme, ‘Determining the Content and Design,’ reveals that GPs seek user-friendly tools for at-home viewing, while underserved people value personalized and clear information about CRC risk factors and screening costs. The final theme, ‘Identifying Strategies for Integration,’ stresses the importance of a structured, collaborative care approach for the successful integration of the tool. The proposed modifications for the SDM tool include enhancing its accessibility with multiple language options, using simple and relatable visuals, and providing personalized risk discussions for underserved people and GPs. Nonetheless, further testing is needed to confirm the effectiveness of the SDM tool in supporting preventive talks and informed decision-making in CRC screening among these target groups. Key messages • A structured, collaborative care approach is needed for successful SDM tool integration during preventive talks with underserved people. • Further testing is needed to confirm the tool’s effectiveness in supporting informed decision-making in CRC screening for underserved people.

Voices from the co-creators: perspectives on collaborative innovation

Abstract Lauren will offer firsthand accounts from co-creators in Scotland involved in the development of an intervention targeting sedentary behaviour in adults. This presentation provides a unique insight into the co-creation process, highlighting the collaborative journey, challenges encountered, and successes achieved. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore real-world experiences and lessons learned from those immersed in the co-creation of interventions.

Navigating co-creation dynamics: lessons from Denmark

Abstract Knud will delve into the adaptation of co-creation processes within the Danish context. Drawing from extensive experience Knud will explore collaborative initiatives with both the private/civil sector and municipalities, offering insights into the intricacies of cross-sectoral cooperation. Delegates will gain valuable perspectives on navigating diverse stakeholders and fostering effective partnerships in co-creation endeavours. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from Denmark’s innovative approach to collaborative problem-solving and community engagement.

10.Y.2. Unlocking innovation: trustworthy co-creation for tackling complex public health challenges

Abstract Background Public health interventions often have limited effects, with few achieving large-scale implementation. Moreover, these interventions frequently fail to replicate their effects in real-world settings, possibly due to an overemphasis on generating universal knowledge through theory building and testing in controlled conditions. An alternative approach involves developing interventions within specific contexts, fostering collaborative knowledge generation, and establishing equitable partnerships. Co-creation offers a transformative strategy for addressing complex public health issues by generating real-world solutions. However, utilizing co-creation in public health presents challenges, including a lack of guidance on implementation and evaluation in public health settings. This underscores the need to integrate real-world co-creation with rigorous research to establish a reliable methodology grounded in both scientific evidence and participatory principles. Workshop This Pecha Kucha-style workshop will explore the essence of an evidence-based co-creation methodology developed through rigorous research by the European-funded H2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network, Health CASCADE, and its partners. Emphasizing the significance of fostering innovative solutions to public health challenges, the workshop will provide key considerations for designing co-creation projects. It will also examine the role of enabling technologies in optimizing hybrid intelligence for effective co-creation, highlighting their contribution to collaboration enhancement. Perspectives from co-creators will be presented to offer unique insights into their experience of the co-creation process. Additionally, the workshop will elucidate the adaptation of co-creation processes within the Danish context, exploring collaborative efforts across sectors and shedding light on cross-sectoral cooperation intricacies. A moderated panel discussion will conclude the workshop, facilitating deeper engagement with the presented topics. Delegates will gain insight into applying co-creation in health promotion and behaviour change research, navigating prevalent challenges through Health CASCADE’s systematic approach, and discovering strategies for fostering effective and inclusive co-creation. They will also acquire strategies and resources to overcome potential obstacles, fostering more effective and inclusive approaches to complex public health challenges. Key messages • Co-creation presents a powerful approach to addressing complex public health challenges by fostering collaboration, creativity, and inclusivity across diverse stakeholders and communities. • Effective and trustworthy implementation of co-creation requires an understanding of its principles and methods, enabling technologies, and strong partnerships across sectors and institutions.

8.N. Scientific session: Transferability and adaptation of vaccination interventions: Learning from underserved communities

Abstract Removing barriers in the health system that make it difficult for cultural, religious or ethnic minorities to access vaccinations is an urgent concern in order to prevent infectious diseases in the future. Childhood vaccine uptake for MMR and HPV in most underserved communities is lower than in the general population. The project RIVER-EU (Reducing Inequalities in Vaccine uptake in the European region - Engaging Underserved communities) engages the migrant community in Greece, females with a Turkish or Moroccan migration background in the Netherlands, the Ukrainian minority in Poland and marginalized Roma communities in Slovakia to remove health system barriers to vaccination. Barriers include, e.g., lack of culturally and linguistically appropriate information, financial barriers, insufficient capacities, coordination and delivery of health care. Based on a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach we selected and adapted potentially transferable evidence-based interventions in partnership with the communities. First, we pre-selected 6 useful interventions from a realist review on 36 effective vaccine uptake interventions. Second, we assessed them in depth for their transferability. Building a bridge between evidence on interventions and community needs is not an easy task: We involved various stakeholders in a longitudinal process under consideration of contextual conditions in the primary intervention context and the context of the respective underserved community. We co-created knowledge through 25 workshops and 39 interviews or focus groups for decision-making and determining need for adaptation of selected interventions. The aim of this workshop is to present the results of this co-creative process in each country. Special attention is payed to facilitators and barriers for transferability of evidence-based interventions from the perspective of underserved communities, and contextual commonalities and differences that lead to a specific intervention tailoring. This workshop will contribute to an improved understanding of how to consider contextual needs underserved communities have to remove health system barriers to vaccination on the one hand and suitable evidence on interventions to improve their situation on the other hand. The workshop will include five presentations of eight minutes and a questions and answers session to involve the audience. First, an introductory presentation on transferability of interventions for HPV and MMR vaccine uptake to underserved communities in specific contexts will be given. Then each country will present the intervention(s) to address health system barriers adapted to their context. Thereby, we will underline common key elements that have potential for transferability in all countries. After all presentations, we will discuss the need for context-based decision-making on evidence-based interventions and intervention tailoring to improve vaccine uptake for cultural, religious or ethnic minorities. Key messages • Improving vaccine uptake in underserved communities requires local solutions with tailored interventions. Trusted partnerships with various stakeholders are key to reducing health system barriers. • Participatory approaches to evidence-informed decision-making build bridges between evidence on interventions and needs of underserved communities to understand the transferability of interventions.

Harnessing technology for co-creation: maximizing the collaborative potential

Abstract Quentin will introduce the role of enabling technologies in maximizing hybrid intelligence for effective co-creation. This presentation sheds light on how technological advancements, particularly artificial intelligence, shape the co-creation landscape, emphasizing their pivotal contribution to enhancing collaboration. Through Quentin’s insights, delegates will understand how technology can optimize the co-creation process, facilitating communication, data integration, and collective problem-solving. Explore the transformative power of technology in driving innovative co-creation initiatives and unlocking new possibilities for collaboration in addressing complex challenges.

Bridging the gap: mapping co-creation methods for public health impact and innovation

Abstract Background Co-creation offers a promising approach to public health innovation, particularly for tackling complex issues. However, the lack of a standardized methodology limits its reliability and reproducibility, especially across diverse contexts. This study explores co-creation methods used by researchers and practitioners, aiming to shed light on their implications for public health. Understanding this methodological landscape can enhance the effective implementation of co-creation processes to address complex challenges. Methods Utilizing the Systematic Methods Overview approach, we examined co-creation methods. Data were gathered from the Health CASCADE Co-Creation Database and grey literature using an artificial intelligence-assisted recursive search strategy and a two-step screening process. We conducted textual, comparative, and bibliometric analyses to evaluate methodological underpinnings and relationships between methods. Results Analysis of 2,627 academic articles and grey literature sources identified over 900 co-creation methods. While surveys, focus groups, and group discussions were prevalent, participatory methods were underutilized. Notably, 91.3% of methods co-occurred, with a predominant combination of qualitative approaches. Furthermore, a significant discrepancy between research and practice was evident, with only 10.2% convergence. Conclusions This study revealed a critical gap between co-creation in research and practice, emphasizing the need to bridge this methodological divide for advancing co-creation as a reliable approach in public health. The over-reliance on qualitative methods raises concerns about tokenistic engagement and undermines meaningful public participation in co-creation. Addressing this trend is vital to preserve the essence of true co-creation and maximize its potential for addressing complex public health challenges. Key messages • Mapping the diverse methods of co-creation in public health reveals both richness and disparities in approach, from surveys to participatory methods. • Addressing the discrepancy between co-creation in research and practice is vital for establishing a reliable and effective approach to tackling public health challenges.

Navigating complexity: an evaluation framework for assessing co-creation in public health

Abstract Background Co-creation aims to democratize research and bridge the gap between research and practice. Key characteristics like empowerment and meaningful participation shape sustainable outcomes. However, existing frameworks like Arnstein’s Ladder of Citizen Participation broadly overlook individual method contributions. This study aims to address this gap by creating and validating a framework for intrinsic evaluation, guiding stakeholders and researchers in genuine co-creation of public health interventions. Methods We systematically screened and extracted frameworks aligned with five key co-creation characteristics to identify and evaluate methods. Through iterative testing, we identified key features for distinguishing methods and integrated them into a novel framework. Co-creation experts validated and refined this framework using the closed card sort method, qualitative assessment, and group discussions. Results The Co-Creation Rainbow framework includes key features from 20 existing frameworks, with an Individual-to-Collective Continuum, five sections (Informing, Understanding, Stimulating, Collaborating, and Collective Decision-making), and three overarching themes (Engage, Participate, and Empower). Analysis showed successful categorization of 436 methods and revealed a significant disparity in co-creation practices between researchers and practitioners. Conclusions The Co-Creation Rainbow framework provides a structured approach to evaluating and reporting co-creation processes. Acknowledging co-creation’s diversity, the framework aids in tailoring approaches for meaningful participation. By offering a unified language for diverse co-creation methods, the framework also facilitates transparent evaluation, enhancing the reliability and reproducibility of co-created public health interventions. Key messages • Employing a universal language across diverse co-creation methods is pivotal in fostering transparent evaluation, thereby bolstering the reliability of co-created public health interventions. • Effective collaboration of key stakeholders necessitates the use of suitable methods. By integrating diverse perspectives, public health interventions gain relevance, efficacy, and sustainability.

FOSTERING USER INVOLVEMENT IN COLLABORATIVE INNOVATION SPACES: INSIGHTS FROM LIVING LABS

Innovation studies have shown a growing interest in collaborative approaches, particularly user co-creation within innovation spaces. This qualitative study delves into the intricate dynamics of user involvement in fostering user-centric innovation within living labs. Through interviews with 22 informants across 14 countries from 2021 to 2022, this study presents a comprehensive framework outlining four pivotal phases of involvement: recruitment, motivation, co-creation, and relation. Through a nuanced exploration of the critical factors shaping each, the research illuminates ongoing debates and consensus surrounding the orchestration of the co-creation process and the vital role of living labs in cultivating innovations. By offering insights into the co-creation process with users, the study underscores the approaches adopted by living labs to achieve sustainable outcomes in user-centric innovation. These findings provide valuable knowledge that can aid practitioners in navigating challenges related to user engagement, thereby advancing user-centric innovation initiatives.

Breakdown of the co-creation process on social media: developing the value co-washing framework and stakeholders dynamics

Purpose Social media platforms facilitate brand-consumer interactions by leveraging principles from nudging, value co-creation and social identity theories. This study aims to investigate how these interactions mask harmful practices and accelerate market access, perpetuating extreme consumerism. Specifically, the authors explore how value flow on social media, across distinct stakeholders, leads to value co-washing, revealing their collective unsustainable behaviours and related effects. Design/methodology/approach The authors use a mixed-methods approach, conducting content and sentiment analysis on nine TikTok videos featuring products from a leading Chinese company and analysing 19,816 user comments. Findings The value co-washing framework is developed across three building blocks: brands, creators and users. Findings uncover a paradigm shift in stakeholders’ dynamics, highlighting how social media collaborative engagements foster value co-washing. User involvement is categorized into three distinct clusters – brand lovers, saga creators and boycotters. The analysis identifies nine thematic patterns, including value co-creation, brand promotion, audience retention and calls for responsibility. Sentiment analysis reveals a dominance of neutral sentiments, reflecting a widespread unawareness and social adherence to value co-washing. Originality/value The proposed framework innovatively maps how distinct stakeholders contribute to extreme consumerism through value co-washing, providing foundational insights into the underlying mechanisms of consumer behaviour.

Consumer Attitudes Towards GenAI Advertisements

This research focuses on the attitudes of potential consumers towards generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) advertisements, employing a multi-experimental approach based on engagement to shed light on how e-marketers should leverage novel technological tools in the age of human-AI co-creation to enhance brand favorability. The experimental findings indicate the continued adaptiveness of concepts such as in-group bias, IKEA effect, and social identity theory in the GenAI era, demonstrating that (a) consumers' awareness of AI authorship (b) their level of participation in the co-creative process and (c) their perceived authenticity, significantly influence their attitudes. This study expands the boundaries of theories previously confined to human populations and provides pioneering practical guidance for AI co-creation in the realm of electronic commerce.

Designing an Intervention to Improve Medication Safety for Nursing Home Residents Based on Experiential Knowledge Related to Patient Safety Culture at the Nursing Home Front Line: Cocreative Process Study.

Despite years of attention, avoiding medication-related harm remains a global challenge. Nursing homes provide essential health care for frail older individuals, who often experience multiple chronic diseases and polypharmacy, increasing their risk of medication errors. Evidence of effective interventions to improve medication safety in these settings is inconclusive. Focusing on patient safety culture is a potential key to intervention development as it forms the foundation for overall patient safety and is associated with medication errors. This study aims to develop an intervention to improve medication safety for nursing home residents through a cocreative process guided by integrated knowledge translation and experience-based codesign. This study used a cocreative process guided by integrated knowledge translation and experience-based co-design principles. Evidence on patient safety culture was used as an inspirational source for exploration of medication safety. Data collection involved semistructured focus groups to generate experiential knowledge (stage 1) to inform intervention design in a multidisciplinary workshop (stage 2). Research validation engaging different types of research expertise and municipal managerial representatives in finalizing the intervention design was essential. Acceptance of the final intervention for evaluation was aimed for through contextualization focused on partnership with a municipal advisory board. An abductive, rapid qualitative analytical approach to data analysis was chosen using elements from analyzing in the present, addressing the time-dependent, context-bound aspects of the cocreative process. Experiential knowledge was represented by three main themes: (1) closed systems and gaps between functions, (2) resource interpretation and untapped potential, and (3) community of medication safety and surveillance. The main themes informed the design of preliminary intervention components in a multidisciplinary workshop. An intervention design process focused on research validation in addition to contextualization resulted in the Safe Medication in Nursing Home Residents (SAME) intervention covering (1) campaign material visualizing key roles and responsibilities regarding medication for nursing home residents and (2) "Medication safety reflexive spaces" focused on social and health care assistants. The cocreative process successfully resulted in the multifaceted SAME intervention, grounded in lived experiences shared by some of the most important (but often underrepresented in research) stakeholders: frontline health care professionals and representatives of nursing home residents. This study brought attention toward closed systems related to functions in medication management and surveillance, not only informing the SAME intervention design but as opportunities for further exploration in future research. Evaluation of the intervention is an important next step. Overall, this study represents an important contribution to the complex field of medication safety. RR2-10.2196/43538.

Beyond Empathy: Unveiling the Co-Creation Process of Emotions through a Wearable Device

Emotions fluctuate during the process of social interaction. Although the co-creation of emotions through organizational behavior has been discussed theoretically in existing research, there is no method to demonstrate how emotions are co-created. Instead, previous studies have paid much attention to empathy, in which a person’s emotions are contagious. In contrast to self-report, which is a traditional method that can only assess emotions at a single point in time and adapts to empathy, biometric technology has made it possible to analyze emotional fluctuations over time. However, previous studies have focused only on understanding the emotional fluctuations of individuals separately. In the present study, we developed a system to measure the co-creation of emotions using a wearable device. The pulse rate was converted into valence as a positive–negative emotion, and the fluctuations in valence were analyzed by cross-correlation. We demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed system through triangulation by integrating biometrics with observation and self-report. The proposed system was verified to measure the co-creation of pair and group emotions using real-world data beyond laboratory settings. The present study contributes to business administration by proposing a critical concept for measuring the co-creation of emotions based on a constructionist approach.

Co-Creation and Implementation of a Healthy Snacks Policy in Primary Schools: Data from Sintra Grows Healthy.

Policy interventions in the school food environment can improve dietary behaviors. However, the literature describing its development and implementation is scarce. This manuscript aims to describe the process of co-creation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of a Healthy Snacks Policy, in the scope of Sintra Grows Healthy intervention. Through a community-based participatory research methodology, the co-creation of the Healthy Snacks Policy comprises six stages: snacks evaluation, feedback sessions, class assemblies, school community assemblies, school cluster policy approval, and process evaluation. Within one school year, a Healthy Snacks Policy was co-created, approved, incorporated in the school regulations, implemented, continuously monitored, and evaluated. Regarding snacks evaluation, 1900 snacks were evaluated at the beginning of the school year and 1079 at the end of the school year. There were three feedback sessions, twenty-two class assemblies, and three school community assemblies. Most teachers perceived that children began to consume healthier snacks (72%); 66% of the children were considered to have started eating healthier; and most families said "yes or sometimes" when asked whether their children started requesting healthier snacks (70%), trying new foods (63%), and noticing improvements in their eating habits (74%). The co-creation of a Healthy Snacks Policy establishes an approach to effectively implement existing guidelines for school food supplies, complying with national priority implementation recommendations.

A theoretical framework for value co-creation analysis in carbon sink projects

With the maturation of the carbon market, carbon sink projects have become a thriving business model, and the value co-creation of carbon sink has become a hot topic in interdisciplinary research. However, the theoretical foundation for value co-creation of carbon sink is limited, and existing theoretical frameworks do not fully cover resource allocation, power dynamics, and interaction mechanisms among different actors in project operations. Therefore, this study, based on the theory of value co-creation and supplemented by residual rights theory and circuit of capital theory, has established a comprehensive theoretical framework to consistently understand the driving factors, co-creation process, and outcomes of resource transformation in projects. Using the Forest Ecological Bank in Fujian Province, China as a case study, we applied our theoretical framework for analysis. The results show that our theoretical framework can depict the complete process of value co-creation of carbon sink, reveal the roles played by diverse actors, and capture the project's dynamic changes. The research findings can provide guidance for the sustainable development of carbon sink projects in areas such as strengthening cooperation and partnerships, creating incentive mechanisms, and enhancing the role of third-party institutions.

Transformation Pathways: Drumul Taberei Neighbourhood - a Positive Energy District?

Abstract Positive Energy Districts (PED) have surged in prominence amidst Europe’s ambitious climate targets and the fluctuating energy landscape, influenced notably by geopolitical uncertainties such as the Ukraine conflict. Aligned with European and national priorities, which emphasises the renovation of its housing stock as part of the Renovation Wave initiative, PED emerges as a viable solution for urban areas. However, the challenge remains in how PED can address energy poverty, promote renewable energy, and align with renovation priorities of the outdated infrastructures (including buildings). The KINETIC project addresses PED transformation challenges at the neighbourhood level by deploying an intensive co-creation process for identifying key transformation directions. The Romanian DEMO area (along with DK and IT study cases) is the Drumul Taberei neighbourhood in Bucharest Sector 6, a dense neighbourhood composed of multifamily buildings realised in the 60s and 70s during the communist regime. The area needs comprehensive regeneration and renewal initiatives. If proven feasible through mathematical modelled data paired with strategic integrated planning, the outcomes of KINETIC for the Drumul Taberei neighbourhood will be able to revolutionise the future rehabilitation project of collective housing districts in Romania, and beyond. The paper will outline PED transformation pathways stemming from initial co-design workshops involving local stakeholders. It will also explore collaboration and investment prospects between municipality-housing associations and NGOs. Given the privately owned housing estate and state-funded rehabilitation, the project will assess innovative models to meet PED’s ambitious goals.

Learning to Listen Properly: Participatory Digital Projects at the German Maritime Museum Based on Iterative Co-Creation

At the German Maritime Museum, the user-centered approach of the digitization department has emerged as a driving force for implementing an open and participatory strategy. The department establishes long-term cooperations with various focus groups and partner institutions. These are particularly valuable for the continuous improvement of our digital infrastructures. At the heart of our participatory work lies a Goal-Directed Design approach, which focuses on understanding user needs and motivations. This approach helps us to maintain clarity in complex and heterogeneous projects and to communicate with non-technical users, enabling them to participate in the discussion of future use scenarios. In such co-creative processes, we have found web-based applications—especially Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)—to be particularly valuable due to their accessibility and flexibility. This paper illustrates our interdisciplinary design-led working process through a case study in school education. Additionally, it explores how the German Maritime Museum as a whole has developed further through increased participation: close transdisciplinary collaboration allows us to embed our practical methodological knowledge across the organization. This consistent commitment to participation is already reshaping the museum, giving it new citizen-centered roles.