Bringing fringe voices into the knowledge economy

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There are three principal stages to the knowledge industry. Fair Knowledge brings heterogenous and fringe voices into all sections of the knowledge economy - here we’ll give you an idea of our model of how the knowledge economy works.

1. CREATE KNOWLEDGE

These are the thought leaders, advocates, creatives, academics and scientists. They birth new ideas and might be visionaries, researchers or pragmatists. They invent things and propose new ways of seeing, of understanding and changing the world. They have very different qualities depending on the field they are playing in. Whether natural dissidents, gifted designers or trained thinkers, these people are the heart of the knowledge economy.

2. 2.DISSEMINATE KNOWLEDGE
   

This is the domain of the media; broadcast, advertising and PR. There are other important players here such as the research councils and many of the campaigning NGOs. They are involved in proliferating new ideas, but are also critical in reinforcing existing knowledge and values and keeping us all on our toes about what we think we know. Straddling both creation and application, these sectors also have the greatest ability to create the desire for new knowledge. They are the hands of the knowledge economy.

3. 3.APPLY KNOWLEDGE
   

Knowledge leads to new products and services and changes in our culture and behaviours. This is achieved through companies applying what they receive from the creators and governments applying new knowledge to regulation and to enhancing civil society. Health care is a major beneficiary of new knowledge creation. But the really momentous applications are not in things, but in thoughts; changing attitudes about the position of women in society, creating belief in human rights, bringing about harmony between different cultures, enabling tools for embracing our natural environment and making people aware of routes to happiness. It’s in the zeitgeist that such knowledge is applied and you might call this informal application. The formal institutions that enable these changes are the head of the knowledge economy.

Fair Knowledge brings heterogenous and fringe voices into all sections of the knowledge economy.

Our Theory of Change - how will the knowledge economy adapt?

1. MAINSTREAM DEMAND: Ecologies of opportunity.

The mainstream requires fresh talent and heterogeneity within its members to produce innovation, keep the organisation fresh and outward looking and manage change positively. Innovation, progress and growth are the mantra of mainstream society - this is where capacity and opportunity lie. Societies, economies and individuals at the fringe are by definition, lacking in capacity. Mainstream organisations as well as individuals ensconced in mainstream activities can offer support and opportunities to make ready those on the margins of society for contribution to the mainstream.

2. 2.SUPPLY FROM THE FRINGE: Becoming prepared.
   

This allows fringe elements, both people and thoughts, to become prepared for play. At this stage, they need information, guidance and a target for their aspirations - basically they need to become activated. Sometimes this can happen spontaneously, more often marginalised people are unaware of their potential and entitlements and require inputs from the centre.

3. 3.MARKETS OF KNOWLEDGE: Exchange of equality.
   

Then we need to create a fair playing field where the fringe and the mainstream can interact on an equal level. This is access: to mentoring, networking and critically the opening of doors and sometimes investment. Here is where the capacity of the fringe is reviewed, assessed and invited into mainstream activity to add the richness and diversity that breeds innovation and progress.

1. 1.MAINSTREAM DEMAND: Ecologies of opportunity.
   

This brings us back to the mainstream - where the inclusion of the fringe also opens up opportunities for the enhancement of the organisations own playing field.  Heterogeneity brings with it innovation and extraordinary people, keeping the company fresh and outward looking.

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