# DAO Research Trends: Reflections and Learnings from the First European DAO Workshop (DAWO)
## 7 Conclusions  
The first European DAO Workshop 2024 has been important in advancing our understanding of Decentralized Autonomous Organizations and highlighting current trends in DAO research. The discussions at DAWO24 identified several key areas critical to the continued evolution of DAOs, revealing both significant progress and important gaps that require further attention from the research community. Through systematic meta-analysis of the workshop contributions, we identified four critical research streams that are shaping the future of DAOs: governance mechanisms, technical frameworks, value assessment, and legal dimensions. One of the central themes at DAWO24 was the analysis of governance mechanisms within DAOs. The workshop emphasized the need for robust governance frameworks that balance power, ensure transparency, and effectively resolve conflicts, thereby maintaining inclusivity and fairness within DAOs. Furthermore, participants at DAWO24 underscored the need for scalable, secure, and user-friendly technical frameworks that support the deployment of decentralized applications (DApps) and improve the overall functionality and sustainability of DAOs. The evaluation of the value that DAOs bring to both participants and society at large was also a critical topic of discussion. Current research shows promising applications across various sectors, from creative industries to cyber-physical systems, though standardized evaluation methods remain underdeveloped. Finally, the workshop explored the legal and regulatory dimensions of DAOs. DAWO24 participants delved into the potential for legal recognition of DAOs and discussed how regulatory frameworks could be adapted to foster innovation while ensuring stakeholder protection. While the workshop provided valuable insights, it is important to acknowledge certain limitations in its scope. The conference primarily focused on organizational structures, which, while valuable, meant that certain crucial aspects of the DAO ecosystem received less attention. Technical aspects of DAO implementation and development were not extensively covered, and discussions around financial implications, such as the disruption of traditional finance systems and emerging financial models, were limited. Additionally, this review is limited in scope as it exclusively synthesizes research presented at DAWO24, rather than incorporating a broader systematic review of DAO literature. As a result, relevant themes and debates from outside this workshop may not be fully captured, such as the role of DAOs in regulatory compliance, case studies of failed DAOs, the intersection of artificial intelligence with DAO governance, or comparative analyses with traditional cooperative models. These limitations reflect the natural constraints of any focused academic gathering, but also highlight opportunities for future workshops to broaden their scope. Looking forward, our review points to several crucial research directions that require immediate attention. Future research must focus on developing governance mechanisms that can effectively scale while maintaining decentralization principles, alongside creating standardized frameworks for measuring DAO performance and societal impact. Additionally, researchers need to investigate technical solutions that balance security with accessibility, while working toward the establishment of comprehensive legal frameworks for cross-jurisdictional DAO operations. These interconnected challenges highlight the complexity of advancing DAO research and underscore the need for coordinated efforts across multiple disciplines. Furthermore, the findings of this review provide a foundation for future work that can address practical implications for policymakers, industry leaders, and developers, contributing to a deeper understanding of how DAOs can influence policy, industry practices, and development strategies.