UNDP Accelerator Labs – We design, test and scale solutions to complex issues

We design, test and scale solutions to complex issues

Faced with one of the most rapidly declining populations in the world, Serbia needs to redefine what it takes to be a thriving, productive society. We bring a new framing to depopulation, one of the most significant global trends of the future.

Depopulation Data Challenge

As an example of collective intelligence in action, we established new partnerships that leveraged alternative data sources – such as mobile data, social networks data, job ads data, satellite data – to shine a new light on the complex challenge of depopulation in Serbia.

Digital Nomads

We are investigating the value that digital nomads and other types of digital professionals bring to the development of a place, and testing how to maximize it.

Circular Migration

We are exploring how to rebuild trust and develop innovative ways to bridging Serbian society at home and abroad. We work with the Returning Point to co-create solutions that accelerate new links with Serbia’s diaspora.

Politika: “Belgrade Among Favorite Cities for Digital Nomads”

Article in the Politika daily on our research about digital nomads, profiling Belgrade as a desirable remote work destination among digital professionals on the European level (Serbian only)

What digital nomads have to teach us about emigration

Blog by Kristina Jazinka Nikolic (Head of Experimentation) on digital nomads, and other emigration trends related to Belgrade and Serbia

Stories of Return Video

Video “Stories of Return” as a visual representation that highlights how the Accelerator Lab captured Serbian reparts’ stories and their user journeys including both bottlenecks and happy moments experienced during the process of returning to Serbia from abroad

Short-termism – the greatest threat for our future?

Blog by Drasko Draskovic (Head of Exploration) on short-termism and anticipation of global risks

2nd Accelerator Lab B-day recording

On occasion of the second birthday of UNDP Accelerator Lab in Serbia, we talked with the winning teams of Depopulation Data Challenge. These solutions contribute to gaining new insights about in-country migrations, economic migrations, out-migration and scientific diaspora, as well as spatial aspects of depopulation, which will shed light on this phenomenon from different angles and enable the creation of new proposals for formulating demographic policies.

Depopulation Data Challenge video: “We invite you to participate in our Depopulation Data Challenge!”

Video invitation for the Depopulation Data Challenge by Francine Pickup (UNDP Serbia Resident Representative)

Associated Press: “Shrinking country: Serbia struggles with population decline”

Associated Press article on depopulation, covering our work with the Depopulation Studio