The Counterintuitive Institute

The Counterintuitive Institute is a pioneering, fully female-led research organisation, dedicated to challenging the status quo and driving positive societal change in a world of constant turbulence and deepening uncertainty. We work to fill the known and unsuspected gaps in evidence, policy, strategy, action, and impact by co-creating knowledge, co-constructing solutions from the ground up, and fostering broad-participation collaborations in Bulgaria, the EU, and beyond. We focus on: *Substantive equality & Women’s rights: We advocate for a holistic approach that goes beyond legal equality and addresses structural and systemic barriers. We prioritise the rights of all women, regardless of their background, race, ethnicity, ability, age, and other characteristics. *Changing & Emerging forms of violence: We research and address emerging forms of violence, and the impact of technology on violence experienced in offline life. We strive to develop strategies for preventing and addressing these forms of violence in order to empower and protect those affected. *Feminist & Ethical technologies: We are committed to ensuring that technologies are developed and used in a way that promotes gender equality and respects women’s rights. We advocate for people-centred, inclusive, feminist, and ethical perspectives in tech.