DATE & TIME
2 October 2025, 11:00 – 12:15
TRACKS
TRACK 1: Living Labs for Grand Societal Challenges
TRACK 2: Living Labs for Policies, Governance, collaboration and innovation ecosystems
TRACK 3: LLS for Inclusive Soci(et)al Engagement
TRACK 4: Living Labs for Business and Emerging Technology
TRACK 5: Living Labs Operation, Methods, Tools, and Impact
ROOM
TARGET AUDIENCE
TYPE OF SESSION
Description
This session explores how Living Labs can evolve from isolated, sector-specific initiatives into integrated, cross-sectoral regional ecosystems driving systemic, regenerative change: ecologically, socially, and economically. It addresses key questions: How can Living Labs become engines of long-term regional transformation? What forms of collaboration, governance, and capacity-building are needed to break silos and scale impact? Participants will be inspired by real-life cases where Living Labs moved from pilots to systemic change drivers. Together with speakers and the audience, the session will explore the structural, policy, and financial innovations needed to embed Living Labs in thriving regional ecosystems. Aimed at practitioners, planners, researchers, policymakers, and civil society actors in sustainability and innovation, the session features short speaker inputs, a moderated panel discussion, and interactive tools like live polls and Q&A. This format encourages reflection and shared learning, linking local innovation to broader regenerative transitions our societies urgently need.
Agenda
Timeslot | Item | Speakers |
|---|---|---|
| 11:00 – 11:05 | Welcome & Introduction |
|
| 11:05 – 11:40 | Presentations of Speakers |
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| 11:40 – 12:00 | Panel Discussion |
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| 12:00 – 12:10 | Interactive Q&A and Live Poll |
|
| 12:10 – 12:15 | Key Takeaways & Closing |
|
Speakers
Georgia Ayfantopoulou
Research director, CERTH/HIT
Georgia Ayfantopoulou
Research director, CERTH/HITGeorgia Ayfantopoulou is CERTH/HIT's Research Director. She is head of the Research Department ‘’Infrastructure, Networks, Mobility & Logistics’’ with high expertise in Traffic Management, Transport Systems Management, Use of Telematics Applications in: Maritime, Road and Combined Transport, GIS, Vehicle Fleet Management, Operations Research and in Road Safety. She has been assigned as Project Coordinator, Technical and Evaluation Manager for several EU as well as Greek projects. She manages Thessaloniki Smart Mobility Living Lab, which is an efficient member of ENoLL.
Artur Serra
Deputy Director, i2Cat
Artur Serra
Deputy Director, i2CatArtur Serra Hurtado is Deputy director of i2cat research center and Former Vicepresident of ENoLL. He is conducting now the research project Catalunya Collaboratory, based in the vision of universal innovation ecosystems. He was co-leading with Antonia Caro, the new Horizon Europe project INTEGER (2022-2024), integrating social innovation into the European Innovation Ecosystems in three European regions: Catalonia, Krakow and Hamburg. Currently he is the head of the ENoLL Action Oriented Task Force on Social Innovation, promoting the collaboration between the ENoLL and the European School of Social Innovation (ESSI) supporting a more human-centric innovation ecosystems. Finally, he is leading a cooperative project with FDSUT, Fondation pour le Developement du Service Universel de Telecomunications de Senegal promoting the first national network of Living labs in this African country.
Panagiotis Ptochoulis
Head of Department for Strategic Planning & Programmes’, ANKO Western Macedonia S.A -Regional Development Agency of Western Macedonia
Panagiotis Ptochoulis
Head of Department for Strategic Planning & Programmes’, ANKO Western Macedonia S.A -Regional Development Agency of Western MacedoniaPanagiotis Ptochoulis is a Topography Engineer and holds MSc in Planning and Management of Local and Regional Development. Since 1999 he is working for ANKO, being Head of Department since 2011, working as project manager for the implementation and administration of National and European Projects in several Programmes (FP6, INTERREG IVC, INTERREG EUROPE, HORIZON, INTERREG MED, BALKAN MED, INTERREG GREECE - ALBANIA, INTERREG GREECE - NORTH MACEDONIA). Also, he has coordinated the elaboration of Development Studies and Strategic Plans for Regional, Prefectural and Local Authorities, along with sectoral master and operational plans. In the field of his activities is also the Technical support of Regional, Prefectural and Local Authorities according to administrative issues. Since 2021 he is representing the Grevena - Kozani UNESCO Global Geopark, in which ANKO is Co-ordinating Body, in the Management Delegation of the European & Global Geoparks Networks (EGN, GGN). He also worked for a decade as scientific expert teaching Topography at the Geotechnology and Environment Department of the former Technological Educational Institution (now University) of Western Macedonia.
Claudia Schreider
Scientific staff, Karlsruhe Transformation Center for Sustainability and Cultural Change (KAT) of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
Claudia Schreider
Scientific staff, Karlsruhe Transformation Center for Sustainability and Cultural Change (KAT) of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)Claudia Schreider is a research associate at the Karlsruhe Transformation Center for Sustainability and Cultural Change (KAT) at the Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS) at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). Her research focuses on sustainability research, real-world laboratory research and sustainable urban development, transdisciplinary science and education for sustainable development. She is part of the real-world lab Quartier Zukunft in Karlsruhe's Oststadt district and works on various projects at the interface of sustainability, university development and urban research. She is also a co-founder of Frankfurt's Transition Town - Stadt im Wandel.
Miguel Angel Herrera
Mayor of Genalguacil (Malaga, Spain)
Miguel Angel Herrera
Mayor of Genalguacil (Malaga, Spain)Miguel Angel Herrer is the Mayor of Genalguacil (Malaga, Spain), leveraging his entrepreneurial acumen to revitalize the municipality. Genalguacil is now one of the three real world labs with Galway and its International Arts Festival (Ireland) and Nowa Huta and its C.K. Norwid Cultural Center (Poland). These labs are supported by the HE project Pacesetters. Notable achievements include the reopening of the Museum of Contemporary Art and spearheading cultural initiatives, positioning Genalguacil as a hub for contemporary art in Andalusia Today, the Genalguacil Pueblo Museo project stands as a benchmark for rural innovation and combating depopulation in Europe, underscoring Miguel Ángel's commitment to sustainable development and cultural promotion.Finally last May 2025, Genalguacil was accepted as a member of Red Innpulso, the network of cities of science and innovation in Spain.
Antonio Trasobares
Director of the Catalan Center for Forestry Technology
Antonio Trasobares
Director of the Catalan Center for Forestry TechnologyAntonio Trasobares is director of the Catalan Center for Forestry Technology. The Center for Forestry Technology of Catalonia is associated to the European Forest Institute, sited in Finlandia, with an office in Barcelona. Besides CTFC direction, Antoni is coordinating the FIRE-RES project, the largest R&I project in Europe on the mitigation of extreme wildfire events by the promotion of resilient landscapes and the bioeconomy, and has been a key catalyzer for the development, adoption and implementation of the 2030 Circular Bioeconomy Strategy in Catalonia. He is the leader of a European and international network of living labs on fire resistant territories in the EU and also regions in North Africa and Latin America.
Jordi Ascensi Sala
Head of Technology, Andorra Research and Innovation
Jordi Ascensi Sala
Head of Technology, Andorra Research and InnovationJordi Ascensi Sala serves as Head of Technology at Andorra Research + Innovation (AR+I), the principality's premier research and innovation agency that hosts the Andorra Living Lab. His research focuses on the ethical implications of technology in human communities, leveraging data science to enhance understanding of society and environment, while spearheading initiatives to develop Andorra as a country-scale Living Lab. He represents Andorra as a technical expert and focal point for prestigious international organizations including UNESCO and the Council of Europe. With over 25 years of experience in Strategy, Innovation, and Project Management across Information Technology platforms, networks, and systems, Jordi has worked across diverse sectors and geographical regions. His academic credentials include a Telecommunications Engineering degree from UPC-Barcelona Tech, an MBA from HEC Montreal, an Executive Master in Marketing Management from EADA Barcelona, and a Master's Degree in Philosophy from the Open University of Catalonia.
Dr Toñi Caro
CEO, EOh-for-Good
Dr Toñi Caro
CEO, EOh-for-GoodDr. Toñi Caro is a seasoned capacity builder with over 25 years of experience in European R&I strategy, institutional innovation and international project leadership. She has led or contributed to more than 100 EU-funded initiatives and serves as an expert evaluator for Horizon 2020, COSME and Horizon Europe. As founder of Eoh-for-Good Ltd, she supports systemic transformations for the common good. Her expertise lies in enabling multi-actor co-creation and implementing next generation living labs through tested, participatory methodologies. She is a member of the Board of Directors of ESSI, active in the ENoLL Research community and regularly engaged by the European Commission in high-level expert groups on innovation ecosystems and digital transformation. Dr. Caro empowers institutions to turn complexity into actionable, inclusive solutions with high societal impact.