Generally speaking, an open call can be defined as a publicly disseminated invitation for submissions in the form of a tender or application. This invitation typically outlines the specific requirements and criteria for participation, and it seeks contributions from a broad and diverse audience. Open calls offer a powerful tool for organisations seeking to:
“Open calls democratise opportunity. They serve as a powerful talent scouting tool, fostering innovation by enabling a diverse range of voices and perspectives to contribute.”
Overall, open calls act as a catalyst for innovation and collaboration, stimulating advancements across various sectors. This collaborative spirit not only benefits the organisations seeking solutions but also empowers participants to contribute their expertise and ideas to positive change.
While open calls offer an effective tool for soliciting diverse ideas and fostering innovation, there are some drawbacks. Managing a large influx of proposals can strain resources, requiring a well-defined evaluation process to separate strong contenders from weaker ones. Additionally, the varying quality of proposals and the uneven expertise of participants necessitate a robust selection system.
Long-term sustainability also merits careful consideration, as open call programmes do not guarantee lasting solutions. Strategies for implementation beyond the pilot stage and securing ongoing funding are crucial. Finally, collaboration challenges can arise due to differing priorities among participants and the open call hosts. To address these challenges, clear communication channels and transparent knowledge-sharing become essential for bridging these gaps. Despite these hurdles, open calls remain a valuable tool for fostering innovation.
While both public and private sectors utilise open calls to catalyse innovation, their underlying goals can diverge. Public institutions often prioritise tackling social challenges and allocating resources efficiently, using open calls to seek diverse solutions for issues like healthcare access or environmental protection.
Private companies, on the other hand, leverage open calls to access a wider talent pool and cost-effectively find commercially viable solutions. Despite these differences in focus, both sectors benefit from the influx of fresh perspectives and expertise that open calls provide, ultimately fostering innovation across various domains.
For the open call applicants, participation allows them to present their offerings and connect with potential clients beyond traditional channels. Furthermore, exposure to the challenges outlined in the open call can spark internal innovation and even lead to collaborative partnerships with other companies or individuals with diverse skills.
Open calls also offer a cost-effective way to identify potential clients and showcase a company’s expertise – possibly leading to additional funding and a competitive edge in the market.
Photo: Silja Minkkinen / Helsinki Partners
Within the context of the CommuniCity project, the open call format perfectly aligned with its mission to bridge the digital divide and empower marginalised communities. By fostering collaboration, local focus, and the inclusion of diverse expertise, the open call increased the likelihood of identifying and implementing truly innovative solutions. These solutions have the potential to make a real difference in the lives of residents within participating cities.
By granting cities an active role in the open call process, the CommuniCity project guaranteed a direct link between proposed solutions and the specific urban challenges faced by participating communities. Local stakeholders and professionals, wielding their profound understanding of these city-specific challenges, collaborated closely with the piloting teams working to address them.
Furthermore, the open format transcended geographical boundaries, attracting a wider pool of talent beyond the established networks of the partnering cities. This influx of diverse expertise – from individuals specialised in certain artificial intelligence technologies to those with profound experience in social sciences – enriched the innovation landscape. This synergy between local focus and European wide reach fostered a more fertile ground for groundbreaking technological innovations, where established approaches were challenged by unconventional thinking.
Moreover, the open call served as a catalyst for collaboration. Cities, NGOs, technology providers, and residents brought together their skills and worked side by side to tackle the challenges of their respective cities. For example, cities could leverage the technological expertise of technology providers, while piloting teams gained access to professionals and residents from participating cities. This collaborative spirit not only strengthened the development of solutions but also laid the foundation for successful implementation through combined resources and expertise.
While open calls aim to be accessible and encourage participation, a carefully defined formal process ensures professionalism, fairness, and ultimately, that the selected proposals address the goals of the open call. The following are the central phases of the open call:
