The Governance Lab

The Governance Lab (The GovLab) aims to improve people’s lives by changing how we govern. We are seeking new ways to solve public problems using advances in technology and science. The GovLab builds, studies and implements experimental, technology-enabled solutions that advance a collaborative, networked approach to re-invent existing institutions and processes of governance to improve people’s lives. Our work is predicated on the following hypotheses: (1) Institutions that govern themselves more collaboratively solve problems faster and with greater success. (2) Greater engagement leads to more legitimate democratic governance and also to better solutions for citizens. GovLab operates as a network of networks. Housed at New York University and funded by grants from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the GovLab encompasses two major initiatives: GovLab Research and GovLab Academy.