The \u201cCoActuem per la salut mental\u201d project, an initiative promoted by the OpenSystems research group at the University of Barcelona and the Mental Health Federation of Catalonia, has received the European Union\u2019s Prize for Citizen Science 2024 in the digital communities category. With this award, the EU honours excellence in work to support communities, generate social benefits and foster an open and participatory society through the innovative use of digital technologies.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe project enables citizens to play an active role in research that directly impacts their lives, and harnesses the power of technology to include marginalised voices as active participants in mental health transformation. In this case, technology makes it easier for the population to take part in the development of a personalised approach to health. From a global perspective, the project fosters an open and inclusive civil society through community empowerment in critical engagement with digital technologies. It is therefore a worthy winner of the 2024 prize on digital communities\u201d, said the jury.<\/p>\n
The EU Citizen Science Prizes were established in 2023 to recognise the best citizen science initiatives that help to foster a pluralistic, inclusive and more sustainable society in Europe through public participation. They are awarded by Ars Electronica, under IMPETUS, a project funded by the EU in the context of its research and innovation programme. The second edition, which attracted a total of 288 entries, also awarded prizes to the \u201cINCREASE\u201d (grand prize) and \u201cdSeaPaCSos\u201d (diversity and collaboration award) initiatives. The awards will be presented next September at the Ars Electronica headquarters in Linz (Austria).<\/p>\n