Stakeholder involvement in technological design: Lessons learned from the MERMAID and TROPOS projects

Shared multi-use of ocean space is associated to overcoming several complex technical, regulatory, financial, environmental and socio-economic problems. In achieving this goal several stakeholders of relevance need to participate in the design and implementation of multi-use platforms. This chapter reviews and discuss the participatory approaches employed in the MERMAID and TROPOS projects. The discussion draws on the methods employed in each case, the objectives and obstacles encountered resulting in useful conclusions for participatory design.