# Next State (DAFZA)

> A 21st century free zone in an age of technological revolution and climate breakdown

Source: https://darkmatterlabs.org/feed/next-state-dafza  
Date: 2017-06-05  
Units: Neighbourhood Futures, Civic Tech  
Team: Indy Johar  
Partners: Dubai Airport Free Zone, Radicle  
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/  
Attribution: Dark Matter Labs, https://darkmatterlabs.org

Next State was a research and speculative design project to outline the strategic case for economic free zones in the context of a fourth industrial revolution and climate breakdown. Taking the three areas of digital sovereignty, networked supply chains and collaborative working practices.

Whereas in the past, free zones have been focused on regulatory exemption and reduced tariffs, we flipped this model, we explored the future technology stack that companies and governments might need to develop high value, humane economies. An innovation testbed for digital regulation, programmable enterprises and open digital infrastructure.