The team behind the project

The iDEM project team has 11 partners.
There are 2 universities:
Universitat Pompeu Fabra and University of Leeds.
There is 1 research institution:
NEXUS.
There are 6 civil society partners:
Plena Inclusión Madrid, ANFAAS, Fundación Cibervoluntarios, AAIT, Institut Municipal de Persones amb Discapacitat, Sindicatura de Barcelona.
There are 2 industry partners:
CAPITO and MAC.

We want our technology to help people.
Our technology uses natural language processing.
Natural language processing means computers understand human language and create human language.
Some people cannot participate in democracy because the language is too hard.
We want to make it easier for them to participate.

Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) leads the project.
2 departments work together:

  • Department for Communication Technologies Engineering
  • Faculty of Law
They bring knowledge from two areas:
  • theory and social science: They study democracy and new technologies for citizen participation.
  • technology: They have experts in automatic text simplification.

Capito is an expert in making texts easy to understand.
Capito also offers training courses and develops digital tools.
These tools help people understand information better.
Many people find public information hard to understand.
Capito wants to change this.
Understanding information helps people live the way they want.
Capito wants a society where no one is left out.

Nexus does research in social science.
Nexus designs processes for people to work together.
They do this in many countries.
They use user-centred design.
User-centred design means that people and experts design together the tool. Nexus designs ways to make decisions.
This helps people agree on solutions.
Nexus creates and leads these processes.
They work on big projects with many people.
They focus on clear communication and cooperation.
Nexus studies how people can change society.

The University of Leeds (UOL) knows a lot about translation and text classification.
They also develop algorithms for languages with few resources.
Algorithms are instructions that computers use to work.
This helps translate between different languages.
The University of Leeds opened in 1904.
It is one of the largest universities in the United Kingdom.
It is part of the Russell Group of research universities.
They are famous for their research and teaching.
The University of Leeds has a plan for 2020 to 2030.
The plan is called 'Universal Values, Global Change'.
This plan aims to use research and education to make a better future.
They want to work together to make society more just.

MAC is a company in Ireland.
They develop new products and services in software, electronics, and communications.
MAC has finished over 450 big projects.
It is a very successful technical company that works in different countries.
MAC will put into place the technical solutions of iDEM.

Plena Inclusión Madrid is a non-profit organisation.
They started their work in 1978.
They offer services and defend people with intellectual disabilities´ rights.
Their goal is social change.
They work with about 120 groups and foundations.
These groups help people with intellectual disabilities and their families.
They want to improve their quality of life.
They also want a fair and supportive society.

ANFFAS brings together around 200 groups in Italy.
These groups help people with disabilities.
ANFFAS wants people with disabilities to know their rights.
They want these rights to be respected and used.
ANFFAS works to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities.
They help people with disabilities use their abilities well.

Fundación Cibervoluntarios is a non-governmental organisation in Spain.
They work in several countries.
They want everyone to have the same chances with technology.
They give free training in digital skills.
This way, they help people use technology.
They want people to be independent and know their rights.
They also want to improve job chances and social participation.
Fundación Cibervoluntarios has more than 3,500 volunteers.
They work with more than 2,500 organisations in Spain.

ActionAid Italia has helped people use their rights for over 50 years.
They create spaces for people to participate in democracy and speak up.
They work in all different kinds of places.
For example, Italian suburbs or small African villages.
Their employees, activists, and volunteers work hard together.
They follow the goals of Agora 2028: It wants to improve democracy around the world.

The Barcelona City Council helps people with disabilities use their rights.
They do this through the Municipal Institute for People with Disabilities (IMPD).
This part of the council started in 1979.
IMPD works for the rights of people with disabilities in Barcelona.
They should be included in all parts of society.
IMPD offers some direct care services.
They work with the City Council and other groups.
They promote accessibility and inclusion.
IMPD wants people with disabilities to access all city spaces.
They want them to join all activities and services.
They want them to have the same chances as other people.

The Barcelona Ombudsman’s Office helps protect human rights.
The office defends the rights and freedoms of people in Barcelona.
The Ombudsman's Office checks the actions of the city government and public services.
They focus on rights in the European Charter for Safeguarding Human Rights.

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