Democracy x
At Democracy x, we work where major challenges lack a shared direction. When the green transition lacks public participation. When new technology is developed outside the democratic process. Or when crises lead to a sense of powerlessness rather than collective action.
The Three Major Societal Challenges
We are mission-driven in our work to develop long-term programs addressing three major societal challenges.
1. Planetary Boundaries
Whether we’re talking about the climate, nature, and biodiversity, or what we should eat in a more sustainable future, we need to take a completely different approach if we are to succeed in creating a sustainable society.
We have exceeded 6 out of 9 planetary boundaries. If this critical trend is to be reversed, we must recognize that it is as much a cultural challenge as it is a technological one. After all, it is not just about sacrifice, but also about sowing the seeds for new ideas about the good life. From local communities to national dialogues.
In the transformation toward a society in harmony with nature, the challenge for decision-makers and elected officials is therefore to use democratic methods to get everyone on board. Involving people early on can increase both sustainability and speed.
It’s actually quite simple. In a rusty democracy, the wind turbines don’t get built. Good green intentions are stifled by inertia and headwinds.
2. Technological acceleration
Technology in our society helps determine how we organize welfare, politics, health care, and democratic participation—and how we interact with and understand one another.
The development and use of technology often take place without any debate or assessment of its consequences or desirability. The rapid pace of change makes it difficult for lawmakers to keep up with developments and ensure that societal considerations remain the guiding principle. This obscures the many crucial choices that technological possibilities present us with.
We are working to develop the methods and work processes that help decision-makers, researchers, citizens, and technology developers come together in a shared consultation: What do citizens consider to be an acceptable use of new genetic technologies? What concerns employees when it comes to AI for decision support? If misinformation is a growing problem, how can we use artificial intelligence to give citizens the tools to separate fact from fiction?
These are the big questions we tackle in a practical and concrete way every day. For us, it’s not just a matter of what we can do with new technology. It starts with what we want to do.
3. Democratic build-up
It is not only technological breakthroughs and looming environmental crises that challenge democracy. Democracy itself is also being put to the test these days. Things are creaking both abroad and at home.
Complexity, inertia, and creeping polarization threaten new progress and erode trust among people and in the authorities. However, where we see inertia or polarization today, decisiveness and new progress can emerge—if only the issue is addressed systematically.
Especially at a time of growing uncertainty and major societal challenges, it is worth remembering that democracy did not emerge in calm times; it was born in the midst of a storm. That it is not just about distributing benefits, but also risks and dignity. There has not been a greater need for a democratic rearmament since World War II.
SEE WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW
News and Events
The Ocean Under the Microscope: The Hidden Chemistry and Impacts Beneath the Surface
Become an expert in citizen engagement
A new local cooking school in Brøndby aims to help residents cook more—together
Invitation to a Workshop on Technology in Elderly Care
What is our approach?
Our toolkit of democratic methods combines 30 years of experience with the latest research.
Working closely with Danish and international authorities, researchers, organizations, and local communities, we develop and refine methods for overcoming inertia and disagreements and driving new progress.
We seek to push positive social tipping points
when, together with researchers and practitioners both here and abroad, we seek to understand and promote the dynamics and tools that can bring about positive social tipping points—both locally and nationally—in the sustainable transformation of our food system.
We use engagement methods
that bridges the gap between decision-makers in public authorities and the private sector, experts, and individuals and groups affected by decisions.
We are the tenth-largest recipient of EU research funding in Denmark
and help researchers and authorities direct technology development and research towards society's needs.
We are working to promote participation
understood as the commitment and ability of citizens, members and employees to act together on common problems and dreams in committed communities.
We work to create long-lasting solutions
on agendas that are fractured by many interests.
We create public meetings and connections between people
We take a systemic approach
and helps stakeholders rethink or supplement the underlying theory of change or habitual ways of thinking, and unlock the potential needed to bring about positive social tipping points.
We like to ask why the problem exists in the first place?
HOW DO WE DO IT?
PROJECTS
We help municipalities, businesses, and organizations align their strategies and plans with citizen engagement.
We offer customized and ready-made programs and initiatives that support your efforts to engage citizens in the green transition. We help you invite citizens to participate—not just as stakeholders in the consultation process, but as co-creators who can contribute.
Below are examples of some of the projects and programs we run.
We are creating Green Neighborhood Communities throughout Denmark
At Democracy x, we run the secretariat for Green Neighborhood Communities, where “practivists” across Denmark come together in local communities and take concrete steps to support both the climate and biodiversity—from green community dinners to planting pocket forests.
Democracy x and Green Neighborhood Communities use community organizing methods to connect citizens and local communities with municipal climate initiatives. In just a few years, we have supported and developed Green Neighborhood Communities into a dynamic grassroots movement that has grown to over 300 communities, led by passionate local advocates across the country.
We help municipalities throughout Denmark launch Green Neighborhood Communities and channel residents’ commitment and drive into climate action and local community building.
In October 2025, Green Neighborhood Communities received the Nordic Council’s Environment Prize.
We are organizing the Citizens' Climate Meeting
The Citizens’ Climate Meeting is a pathway to genuine citizen involvement in the revision of the municipality’s climate plan, laying the groundwork for dialogue, ownership, and action.
The Citizens’ Climate Meeting can serve as a first step toward involving citizens in the implementation of the ambitions outlined in the municipalities’ climate plans—including fostering changes in consumption patterns, eating habits, etc.
We assist with and ensure:
- Targeted recruitment of citizens
- Hosting an Engaging Climate Conference
- Concrete input from citizens that can be used directly in the policy-making process
- That the Climate Summit will serve as the starting point for local green communities
- Involvement in community life through participation in a community bazaar
We train green ambassadors to spur local action
In every municipality, there are climate-conscious citizens who dream of making a difference but lack the skills to turn their motivation into action in collaboration with others. We help you identify and train the key individuals who can help drive citizen-led climate initiatives and spur the green transition from the grassroots level.
The program lasts 18 weeks and consists of two parts:
- Workshop series for municipal employees: Two 2.5-hour workshops.
- Citizen Engagement Program: Three 3-hour workshops for local enthusiasts and selected staff members.
The program is a comprehensive course package that your municipality purchases for its own employees and residents. Municipal employees and local advocates participate together and gain concrete tools to foster norm-shifting, climate-friendly behavior and a shared foundation for lasting change.
We connect residents to the municipality through a local organizer
Democracy x helps a number of municipalities involve their residents in the green transition and climate action through what we call a local organizer. When your municipality hires a local organizer, you ensure that citizen-led climate action is firmly rooted in a person with local knowledge, a network, and motivation.
Here's how we do it:
- Democracy x helps you recruit the right organizer in your municipalities through our green network of local activists
- Together with you and the local organizer, we’ll identify the municipality’s opportunities and potential for organizing local enthusiasts
- Together with you and the organizer, we'll develop a plan and set goals for the project
- Democracy x is responsible for the professional development of the local organizer and provides ongoing feedback
- The local organizer will become part of our network of organizers throughout Denmark, where we share experiences and ideas with one another
- You have a dedicated contact person at Democracy x who regularly follows up with you on the work and initiatives
We prepare analyses
… which strengthens citizen-centered climate action and broadens our understanding of how to engage Danes in the green transition. It is important for us to always build on a strong professional and analytical foundation as we work to involve Danes in climate action. That is why, in addition to many years of experience, our work is also based on both national and international research as well as our own analyses.
Previously available analyses:
A White Paper on Consumption, Behavior, and Public Participation in the Green Transition
A New Tool to Engage Danes in the Green Transition
Toward Social Trends in Danes' Eating Habits
Citizen-Led Green Transition in Brøndby
In Brøndby Municipality, local climate communities are thriving, with citizen-led initiatives such as community dinners, garden walks, school forests, and repair cafés. Despite its size, the municipality has four times as many members in the grassroots movement “Green Neighborhood Communities” as the national average. How has this engagement been fostered?
Latest Releases
Citizens' Visions for the Digital Communities of the Future
Contact: Sigrid Vedel Neuhaus, svn@demx.dk
Barriers to climate and environmental policies that promote sustainable development
Contact: Bjørn Bedsted, bb@demx.dk
In Search of the Silent Majority: An Analysis of the Danish Population’s Perspectives on Democracy and Sustainability
Contact: Aske Palsberg, aspa@demx.dk
The Voices of Young People in the Conversation About Generative AI
Contact: Nicklas Bang Bådum, nbb@demx.dk
Toward Social Trends in Danes' Eating Habits
Contact: Rasmus Mikkelsen, rm@demx.dk
Employees
Lise Coermann Mathiesen
Political Advisor and Spokesperson for Green Participation
40115732
Board of Directors
Birgitte Kofoed Olsen
Chair of the Board
Ph.D., Partner, Carve Consulting
Else Sommer
Member of the Board of Directors, appointed by the Board of Directors
Professional Board Member
Jens Friis Lund
Member of the Board of Directors, appointed by the Board of Representatives
Professor, University of Copenhagen
Bjørn Hansen
Member of the Board of Directors, appointed by the Board of Directors
Deputy Director, BUPL
Lia Leffland
Member of the Board of Directors, appointed by the employees
Academic Director, Academy of Technical Sciences
Rasmus Øhlenschlæger Madsen
Member of the Board of Directors, appointed by the Board of Representatives
Deputy Director, Dagbladet Information
Stine Skot
Member of the Board of Directors, elected by the employees
Project Manager
Niels-Kristian Tjelle Holm
Member of the Board of Directors, elected by the employees
Project Manager
About Democracy x
Democracy x is a for-profit foundation established to support societal actors in addressing the major challenges related to democracy, technology, and climate.
Our services must be funded, but the money goes solely toward salaries, operations, and development—we are not required to generate a profit for anyone.
We are a group of about 50 specialists in citizen engagement, facilitation, and social change.
Democracy x was founded in 2023 when the Danish Board of Technology and DeltagerDanmark merged.
The Danish Board of Technology
Since the 1980s, the Danish Board of Technology has been a leading force in developing and promoting democracy’s ability to bring together citizens, experts, stakeholders, and decision-makers on issues such as technological breakthroughs and the green transition.
The Danish Board of Technology was also a leading international organization with some of Europe’s foremost experts in citizen engagement and participation.
You can read more about the Danish Board of Technology here at tekno.dk.
ParticipantDenmark
Since the mid-2010s, DeltagerDanmark has established itself as an expert in organizing communities and strengthening the ability of citizen groups, public authorities, and organizations to achieve professional and political goals through the participation of citizens, members, and employees.
Among other things, DeltagerDanmark has trained opinion leaders, passionate advocates, union representatives, managers, and others to build organizations’ capacity for action and impact.
DeltagerDanmark has helped launch new organizations such as Modstrøm and Grønne Nabofællesskaber and developed the National Climate Action Day.