What does it really mean to measure impact in ways that matter to people and the planet?

In this roundtable, we dive deep into how ethical data practices and open-source tools can help reshape the way cities measure and create social impact. We explore new approaches to metrics that go beyond GDP and financial indicators—looking instead at collective resilience, local production, digital sovereignty, and community empowerment. From participatory models to free and open-source software, this conversation brings together voices pushing for systems change at the urban level. If you’re working on city transitions, data ethics, sustainability, or digital commons, this is for you. Topics we explore:

• How to design transparent, non-extractive metrics
• Why open-source tools matter in urban innovation
• What measuring collective resilience could look like
• The risks of relying only on financial indicators
• Real examples of community-driven digital transformation

This session is part of our ongoing work to make the Fab City vision real: a future where cities produce (almost) everything they consume by 2054.