derIntegration

derIntegration is a German initiative and knowledge platform dedicated to the integration of systems, services, and communities through research, policy guidance, and technology development. It pursues inclusive design, interoperability, and ethical governance across public administration, education, and social services. The organization publishes guidelines, develops open-source tools, and conducts training to support municipalities, agencies, and NGOs.

History and scope: derIntegration was founded in 2010 in Berlin by a coalition of computer scientists, sociologists, urban planners, and civic technologists. It operates as an eingetragener Verein (registered association) and coordinates regional chapters in several German cities. Its funding comes from European Union research programs, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, and philanthropy.

Activities and outputs: It maintains an Interoperability Framework for Public Sector IT (IF-PSIT), a set of open standards and best practices for data exchange, accessibility, and privacy by design. It publishes the Digital Inclusion Toolkit, a resource for designing inclusive digital services. It also runs the Urban Integration Lab, a research and pilot program exploring synergies between urban development and social integration. The organization hosts conferences, collaborates with universities, and offers professional training.

Governance and impact: As a nonprofit, derIntegration is governed by a board of directors, with an executive director and an ethics/advisory council. Projects are executed through cross-sector partnerships with municipalities, universities, and industry. The initiative is cited as a practical resource in policy discussions on digital government and social inclusion, though critics note reliance on project-based funding and voluntary time.