A real practice question
Start with a problem owner, involved users and an existing work process.
From idea to evidence
From a promising idea to a testable application.
A demo shows what might be possible. A well-designed practice trial shows who it works for, under which conditions and where its limits lie. This creates useful evidence for the next decision without promising implementation or scale in advance.
What a good trial delivers
Evidence that supports the next decision.
The practice question, not the technology, determines what needs to be investigated.
Evidence over assumptions
Record usefulness, limitations, required controls and preconditions.
Learning for the decision
Make findings reusable so an organisation can stop, adapt or explore a next step.
From proposal to practice trial
A bounded route towards an honest assessment.
The route is determined for each innovation. These five steps guide the joint process.
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01
Share your proposal
Describe the problem, intended users, development stage and evidence already available.
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02
Select one concrete case
Assess whether the innovation fits a recognisable public question and bounded work moment.
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03
Agree the conditions
Make roles, data use, controls, evaluation criteria and publication arrangements explicit.
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04
Test with professionals
Explore usefulness and limitations using appropriate sample or practice data.
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05
Make the next decision
The participating organisation decides whether to stop, adapt or investigate a follow-up.
Clear from the outset
Clarity before the trial begins.
An exploration is not a procurement procedure, sales channel or promise of scale. We agree in advance what the trial should and should not demonstrate.
Appropriate data
Do not share confidential project information or personal data during the initial conversation.
Professional assessment
The authorised professional remains responsible for assessment and decision-making.
Rights agreed in advance
Ownership, usage rights and any publication are discussed before the trial.
No automatic contract
Participation does not guarantee access, a contract, implementation or a follow-up.
An honest stop decision
A pilot may also show that the innovation is not yet a suitable fit.
Frequently asked questions
Before you propose an innovation
How mature must our innovation be?
The innovation does not need to be finished, but it must be concrete enough to identify a user, application and intended result. A concept, prototype or existing application may fit when there is a testable practice question.
Does a pilot automatically lead to a contract or scale?
No. An exploration or pilot provides information for the next decision. Procurement, implementation and scaling are separate decisions for the participating organisation.
Can we immediately test with real municipal data?
This is assessed for each case. Purpose, necessity, access, security and privacy must be clear first. Where possible, a trial starts with sample data or a limited data set.