Waag Futurelab

Waag Futurelab is a foundation based in Amsterdam that focuses on strengthening critical reflection on technology, developing technological and social design skills, and promoting social innovation. The director of Waag Futurelab is Marleen Stikker, an internet pioneer and co-founder of De Digitale Stad.

Waag reinforces critical reflection on technology, develops technological and social design skills, and encourages social innovation. It works with a transdisciplinary team of designers, artists, and scientists, utilising public research methods in the realms of technology and society. This is how Waag enables as many people as possible to design an open, fair and inclusive future. Waag Futurelab contributes to the research, design and development of a sustainable, just society.

The organisation was founded in 1994 as the "Society for Old and New Media" by Stikker and Caroline Nevejan, emerging from De Digitale Stad. In 1996, the name was changed to Waag Society after moving to the Waag building in Amsterdam. In 2021, this was changed to Waag Futurelab.

Waag's work can be summarised into three components: research, public programs, and academies.