Waag Futurelab
Waag Futurelab is a Dutch research foundation that uses art, science and technology to design technology aligned with public values. It runs thirteen research labs, the Public Stack Academy training program, and art-science residencies across Europe.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersAmsterdam, Netherlands
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Waag Futurelab does
Waag Futurelab is a Dutch research foundation founded in 1994 by Marleen Stikker and Caroline Nevejan, operating at the intersection of art, science and technology to investigate the cultural, economic and ecological assumptions embedded in technology. The organization runs from a landmark 15th-century building at Nieuwmarkt 4 in Amsterdam with a second site in Leeuwarden, and operates thirteen thematic research labs covering digital fabrication (FabLab), biotechnology (Open Wetlab), textiles (TextileLab), smart-citizen sensing, urban ecology, future internet, commons, open design, maker education, future heritage and space/earth observation. Its unifying intellectual asset is the "Public Stack" six-dimension framework used to assess and design technology aligned with public values, deployed through the Public Stack Academy, open toolkits and Creative Commons-licensed publications.
The business model blends multi-year structural public funding with project-based research grants and selective commercial training. Core revenue streams are Dutch Cultural Basic Infrastructure funding from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (2025-2028), a four-year grant from Amsterdam Fund of the Arts, EU project funding across Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ (Mobifree, RenAIssance, S+T+ARTS, Enforce, Algo-Resist, Tracks4Crafts), project grants from CLICKNL and Grant for the Web, fee-based Academy and Public Stack Academy programs, and venue hire of historic spaces (Theatrum Anatomicum, Maker's Guild, Mason's Guild). Waag serves a heterogeneous mix of citizens and civil society, government and municipal officials, artists and designers, research institutions, educators and textile-industry professionals, with named engagements across the Municipality of Amsterdam, Tilburg University, Port of Amsterdam, WETSUS, Waterschap De Dommel and Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences.
Distribution is built around a community-led model: a dedicated Mastodon node (~500 active users), monthly Waag Open events, art-science residencies, the Public Nodes program for decentralized social media, the three-year National Design Debate partnership with Next Nature Museum during Dutch Design Week, and open-source knowledge commons. The organization holds no commercial product pricing, no patents or trademarks, and operates under Dutch Supervisory Board governance with a five-person board chaired by Hans Rob de Reus.
Waag Futurelab firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Waag Futurelab
- Legal name
- Waag Futurelab
- Website
- https://waag.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Waag Futurelab is a Dutch research foundation that uses art, science and technology to design technology aligned with public values. It runs thirteen research labs, the Public Stack Academy training program, and art-science residencies across Europe.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Waag Futurelab industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Technology Research & Education Services
- NAICS
- Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Educational Support Services (611710), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Makerspace, Innovation Lab & Fab Lab Operations (Tools, Safety, Programming) (EDAEAGAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios) (EDAMADAC), Advanced Project-Based Learning & Portfolio Mentoring (STEM/arts portfolios, maker projects) (EDANAKAI), Higher Education Course Design & Online Program Development (EDAGAKAB)
Keywords
Where Waag Futurelab is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Amsterdam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Waag Futurelab business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Institutional Funding (Government Grants): Waag is a Dutch foundation receiving structural funding from government bodies. In 2025-2028 period, supported by Cultural Basic Infrastructure of Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (assigned role of Futurelab within this structure). Also receives four-year grant from Amsterdam Fund of the Arts as part of Plan for Arts 2025-2028.
- Project-Based Research Funding: Executes many projects funded by public institutions including European Commission, CLICKNL (Creative Industry), and Grant for the Web. EU-funded projects include Mobifree, RenAIssance, S+T+ARTS, Enforce, Algo-Resist, and others.
- Venue Hire: Offers venue rental of historic Waag building spaces including Theatrum Anatomicum (55-60 capacity), Maker's Guild workshop space (25-30 seats), and Mason's Guild meeting room (10 seats). Includes technical support and vegetarian catering.
- Academy Educational Programs: Offers courses for education and professionals through academy.aaag.org including intensive residential courses, one-off workshops, and customized training programs like the 4-day Public Stack Academy.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels11 records
Waag Futurelab product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Waag Futurelab operates a portfolio of eleven thematic research labs and a professional Academy that collectively deliver technology-and-society research, professional training, public programming, and fabrication facilities. Its signature paid offering is the Public Stack Academy, a four-day training program plus customized organizational workshops that teach technology decision-makers how to evaluate technology choices using Waag's proprietary Public Stack framework. The organization also delivers venue hire in the historic Waag building, artist and journalist residencies, and Creative Commons-licensed research publications.
Product overview
Waag Futurelab is a Dutch research organization (Futurelab) focused on technology and society, operating a portfolio of research labs and educational programs. The organization does not offer commercial products but provides public research services, educational programs, and community facilities. Key offerings include: the Academy platform with the Public Stack Academy professional training program; multiple themed research labs (FabLab for digital fabrication, Smart Citizens Lab for citizen science and sensing, TextileLab for textile innovation, Urban Ecology Lab, Future Internet Lab, Commons Lab, Open Wetlab, Maker Education Lab, Open Design Lab, Future Heritage Lab, and Space Lab); public programming including Waag Open monthly events; and research publications shared under Creative Commons license. The Public Stack model serves as the overarching framework for examining cultural, economic, and ecological assumptions embedded in technology across all programs. Work is shared under CC BY-NC-SA Creative Commons license.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Public Stack Academy
Quantifiable outcome
- 120+ testers engaged in Mobifree project researching de-Googled mobile ecosystems
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Waag Futurelab
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Waag Futurelab technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Waag Futurelab partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.
- MakeSocialsSocialAgain CoalitionmajorCoalition with Bits of Freedom, PublicSpaces, DeGoedeZaak, and Noorderlicht calling for governments and citizens to transition to open, public, decentralized social media platforms.
- Amsterdam University of Applied SciencescoreCollaboration on Public Stack Academy development. Joint development of professional training program for technology governance.
- Tilburg UniversitymajorAlgo-Resist project partnership - organizing workshops for municipal officials on ways to resist potentially problematic applications of technology.
- WETSUSmajorEuropean Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology in Leeuwarden. Partner for S+T+ARTS AQUA MOTION water-related art installations including Michael Pinsky's Your Shit Smells Like Roses at Water Bar.
- WaterCampus LeeuwardenminorCollaboration on water technology and art-science projects in Leeuwarden area.
- Municipality of LeeuwardenminorPartner for Water Bar installation and S+T+ARTS AQUA MOTION programming.
- Next Nature MuseummajorThree-year partnership (2026+) for National Design Debate during Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven. Annual platform for critical reflection on design and technology.
- Det Digit Art HousemajorJoint residency program for artists/researchers at Det Digit Art House in Knegsel, focusing on regenerative technology, permacomputing, and degrowth philosophies.
- EuroskymajorEuropean PDS hosting provider. Waag moved Bluesky data to Eurosky's Personal Data Server for greater control over data sovereignty and digital autonomy.
- Port of AmsterdammajorCo-funded Michael Pinsky's art-science residency. Provided network access and port facility access for material flow research resulting in All the Tyres from Iceland installation.
- Waterschap De DommelminorWater management authority for Dommel river in southeastern Netherlands. Partnered on Arcangelo Constantini's Vortex Harmonies installation for water reoxygenation.
- Society for Promotion of Natural Technology (PKS)minorAustrian organization. Collaborated on Vortex Harmonies project, bringing Schauberger's vortex water revitalization philosophy into artistic practice.
- Commons NetworkminorCoalition partner calling on Amsterdam city council for digital independence and explicit technology policy.
- CybersoekminorCoalition partner for Amsterdam digital autonomy campaign. Works on digital inclusion and alternative digital infrastructure.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Waag Futurelab competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Creative Commons: Global nonprofit that built the licensing framework Waag uses for all its publications. Comparable as a public-interest technology organization promoting knowledge commons, though Creative Commons is more policy/licensing oriented while Waag is research-and-practice oriented.
- IRCAM: French public research institute for music and acoustics, pioneering art-science integration. Comparable to Waag's Open Wetlab and art-science residency model as a publicly funded institute blending research, technology, and creative practice.
- IDEAS Orlando / ICAT: Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology at Virginia Tech, blending art, science, and technology research. Comparable to Waag's Open Design and Maker Education Labs as a multi-disciplinary creative technology research outfit, though university-anchored rather than foundation-anchored.
Broad incumbents
- Mozilla Foundation: US-based nonprofit focused on open internet, trustworthy AI, and digital rights. Comparable to Waag's Future Internet Lab and MakeSocialsSocialAgain coalition work, but operates globally with substantially larger resources and a more explicitly advocacy-driven posture.
- MIT Media Lab: Leading academic research lab at the intersection of technology, design, and society. Comparable through its multi-disciplinary lab model and maker/biotech research orientation, but operates at vastly larger scale with university backing rather than foundation grants.
Direct peers
- Tactical Tech: Berlin-based NGO working on the social and political impacts of technology. Comparable to Waag's Future Internet and Commons Labs in its focus on digital autonomy, data sovereignty, and public-interest technology research.
- Nesta: UK innovation foundation operating at the intersection of technology, society, and public policy. Highly comparable to Waag as a grant-funded research/advocacy organization running labs, fellowships, and applied research programs with a mission-driven foundation structure.
- Ars Electronica: Austrian research and cultural institution focused on art, technology, and society. Comparable to Waag through its Futurelab, art-science residencies, public programming, and Creative Commons-style knowledge sharing, with similar public-funding dependence.
- Research Institute for Arts and Technology (V2_ Lab for the Unstable Media): Rotterdam-based art and technology research lab. Highly comparable to Waag as a Dutch public-interest technology lab running art-science residencies, experimental fabrication, and critical technology research with public funding.
Others
- PublicSpaces: Dutch coalition of public organizations promoting ethical internet and digital autonomy. Comparable to Waag's Future Internet Lab and coalition advocacy work, functioning as a partner organization within Waag's broader network (e.g., MakeSocialsSocialAgain coalition).
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Waag Futurelab social profiles
Digital presenceWaag Futurelab financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Waag Futurelab leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
Waag Futurelab funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Waag Futurelab M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Waag Futurelab
What does Waag Futurelab do?
Waag Futurelab operates a portfolio of eleven thematic research labs and a professional Academy that collectively deliver technology-and-society research, professional training, public programming, and fabrication facilities. Its signature paid offering is the Public Stack Academy, a four-day training program plus customized organizational workshops that teach technology decision-makers how to evaluate technology choices using Waag's proprietary Public Stack framework. The organization also delivers venue hire in the historic Waag building, artist and journalist residencies, and Creative Commons-licensed research publications.
Is Waag Futurelab a public or private company?
Waag Futurelab is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Waag Futurelab founded?
Waag Futurelab was founded in 1994. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Waag Futurelab based?
Waag Futurelab is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Waag Futurelab make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Institutional Funding (Government Grants) is the primary driver. The others are project-Based Research Funding, venue Hire and academy Educational Programs.
Who are Waag Futurelab's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Creative Commons, IRCAM and IDEAS Orlando / ICAT. Broad incumbents are Mozilla Foundation and MIT Media Lab. Direct peers are Tactical Tech, Nesta, Ars Electronica and Research Institute for Arts and Technology (V2_ Lab for the Unstable Media). PublicSpaces is listed as an others.
Does Waag Futurelab have an API?
No public API is recorded for Waag Futurelab.
What industry is Waag Futurelab in?
Waag Futurelab's product category is Technology Research & Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAEAGAI, Makerspace, Innovation Lab & Fab Lab Operations (Tools, Safety, Programming), with a secondary code of EDAMADAC, Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios). Its NAICS code is 5417 and its SIC code is 8731.