Open Council
Schema Labs is a Greek non-profit organization dedicated to designing and deploying technology solutions that strengthen transparency, civic participation, and effective governance in the public sector. Through the development and maintenance of open-source digital tools, Schema Labs supports municipalities and public institutions in becoming more accessible, accountable, and responsive to citizens’ needs.
Introduction & utilization of donation
With the support of the Helidoni Foundation starting in November 2024, Schema Labs launched its flagship project, OpenCouncil, an initiative designed to modernize civic engagement by making local government processes more transparent and understandable to citizens. OpenCouncil addresses a critical gap between municipal decision-making and public awareness by transforming city council meetings into accessible, meaningful content.
The grant has enabled Schema Labs to build a robust and scalable technology infrastructure, develop core AI-powered functionalities, and initiate the first real-world deployments of OpenCouncil. To date, the organization has signed and begun implementation with seven municipalities across Greece, including large urban centers such as Athens, while also initiating subscription-based revenue streams that contribute to long-term sustainability.
Through this support, Schema Labs has been able to refine OpenCouncil’s tools for automated transcription, analysis, and dissemination of council meetings, ensuring that citizens can easily follow decisions that affect their communities. The project promotes inclusive civic participation by distributing content through widely used digital channels and creating a searchable public record of local governance activity.
Looking ahead, OpenCouncil is designed to generate lasting impact beyond the funding period. By embedding transparency and accessibility into everyday municipal operations, the project empowers citizens to engage more actively in democratic processes while helping local authorities improve communication and trust with their communities.
At the organizational level, the grant positions Schema Labs on a clear path toward operational sustainability by mid-2026, allowing it to continue developing open-source public-interest technologies at scale. More broadly, the project contributes to a healthier civic technology ecosystem in Greece, fostering innovation that aligns democratic values with sustainable business practices.
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