First, the project's management and coordination mechanisms were established, including personnel recruitment and procurement planning. Ethical requirements were addressed by formulating data management plans for research work (D2.4 - M6), and the Open Research Data Pilot (D1.1 - M6). Also, the Ethics Committee of Tallinn University of Technology approved the project's ethical considerations (D2.3 - M31); the participant information sheets and consent forms were translated into Greek and Bhutanese and approved (D2.1 - M33); a simplified version of the unexpected findings policy was also approved (D2.2 - M49); a Continuous Risk Assessment was adopted with an approved Risk Register (D2.5 - M33); the final Ethics Advisor report was approved (D2.6 - M57), confirming compliance with ethical standards.
The research was organised into three interwoven modules: (a) innovation and democratisation; (b) sustainability; and (c) pilots. Due to COVID-19 disruptions, focus shifted to desk-based research and case studies including online data collection and engagement with the wider network. Also, two Ph.D. students joined the project team in 2021, focusing on i. sustainable construction practices and ii. organisational practices in commons-based communities.
- Innovation and democratisation module: Indicative activities included: producing a visually enhanced handbook (T1.1 - Μ9); conducting participatory research on patterns of organisation protocols in the Greek pilot community (T2.1 - M18); as well as analysing support systems for grassroots innovation communities (T2.1 - M18), peer production from a state theory perspective (T3.3 T4.3 - M27) and value as a commons (T3.3 T4.3 - M45). Also, synergy was launched with CoG “HETEROPOLITICS: Refiguring the Common and the Political” and ERC StG project "PROSPERA: Prosperity without growth" to establish joint insights on innovation from commons-based perspectives.
- Sustainability module: Indicative activities included: communications with life-cycle assessment (LCA) experts (T2.3 - M7); a synthetic report on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and local manufacturing technologies (T1.3 - M9); three articles on sustainability assessments of wind turbines, 3D printers, and buildings (T2.3 - M44); inputs to research and policy for environmental sustainability through reflexive approaches (T3.3 T4.3 - M62); evaluations of the roadmaps formed in WP3 looking at the case of the Wind Empowerment Association (T3.3 T4.3) (working paper - planned for M66). Also, synergy was launched with the Wind Empowerment Association, Polycare Institute, WIkiHouse initiative, and the international platform Materiom.
- Pilot module: Pilot communities in Greece and Bhutan engaged stakeholders, conducted workshops to collaboratively design and manufacture agricultural tools of daily use, and influenced local initiatives such as technology parks and energy cooperatives in the Greek pilot.
Beyond-academia dissemination: COSMOLOCALISM extended its academic impact by actively engaging stakeholders and the public through diverse activities (e.g. citizen science, public outreach, and consultation efforts). For instance, the Principal Investigator (PI) authored a trade book using football as a medium to envision a post-capitalist future, aiming for inclusive discussions beyond traditional academic settings. The PI initiated the AnotherFootball Foundation to promote COSMOLOCALISM's essence through sports. These efforts are part of TheOtherSchool, COSMOLOCALISM's beyond-academia dissemination coordinated by the PI.
