Project description
Time to rethink remote work
The evolving landscape of remote work is not merely an organisational shift but a transformative force impacting individuals, business models and societal structures. As remote work becomes more and more common, its multifaceted effects, exacerbated by recent global shocks, underscore the need for nuanced policy responses. In this context, the EU-funded REMAKING project aims to redefine our understanding of remote work. By delving into four distinct case studies across seven countries, REMAKING seeks to provide policymakers with a comprehensive framework to navigate the challenges and opportunities inherent in this remote work revolution. Rooted in analyses of megatrends and recent shocks like technological changes, the pandemic and geopolitical events, the project will frame policy actions that foster socio-spatial transformations and local development.
Objective
Today, RW is mostly conceived as an arrangement enabling flexible work organization. However, REMAKING contends that RW can be more than that. If the multiple effects induced by RW on individuals, business models and the socio-economic sphere are properly understood and addressed by policymakers, it might become a lever contributing to shaping ongoing social, economic, and spatial structural changes.
At the basis of REMAKING there is a profound consideration of the ongoing megatrends (i.e. digital transformation, flexibilization of production models) that have initiated RW and of the recent shocks (i.e. the pandemic and Russia’s war in Ukraine) that have consolidated the diffusion of different forms of RW. Through this angle, the multiple effects induced by RW call for rigorous analyses to support decision-makers in balancing opportunities and problems linked to RW for a potential rethinking of territories, namely in rural areas. REMAKING aims at delivering a policy-oriented framework reflecting the new and multi-faceted realities of RW, facilitating policymakers to adopt place-based policies balancing the opportunities and risks of RW and sharing practices to foster mutual learning on RW in the novel scenario of megatrends and shocks. These objectives will be achieved through participatory research activities across 4 case studies, each addressing a different form of RW (digital nomadism, post-pandemic, high-skilled in hi-tech sectors and enforced remote workers). The 4 case studies encompass overall 7 countries(Italy, Greece, Portugal, Germany, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Ireland): for each country, 1 second-tier city and 1 rural area will be studied. REMAKING generates an impact on socio-spatial transformation processes across second-tier cities and rural areas in terms of improved planning, design and implementation of multi-level policy, promotion of territorial socio-economic resilience and development, and advanced understanding of RW multiple impacts.
Fields of science
- social scienceseconomics and businessbusiness and managementbusiness models
- social sciencessocial geographyurban studies
- social scienceseconomics and businessbusiness and managementemployment
- social scienceseconomics and businesseconomicspolitical economy
- social sciencespolitical sciencesgovernment systems
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation ActionsCoordinator
40126 Bologna
Italy