As part of OpenLivingLab Days 2026, a selection of field visits will be organized on 2 October, offering participants the opportunity to experience Living Labs in practice. Hosted by Belgian ENoLL members, these visits will provide an immersive look into real-life environments where innovation is co-created and tested.

Designed as interactive half-day sessions, they will prioritize exchange, demonstrations, and hands-on experiences, allowing participants to engage directly with practitioners and ongoing initiatives. Beyond showcasing local activities, these visits aim to foster peer learning, inspiration, and meaningful connections within the international Living Lab community. 

OLLD26 Field Visits Map

Centres of Expertise at Thomas More – Living Lab experience with LiCalab

Date: 2 October 2026

Location: Geel

Hosting Organisation: LiCalab – Living Lab experience through LiCalab in collaboration with Thomas More’s Centres of Expertise

Capacity: 45 people max 
Start & end time: 09:00 – 14:15

This field visit offers an immersive Living Lab experience at Thomas More, hosted by LiCalab (Living & Care Lab), where innovation is developed and tested in real-life settings. Participants will explore several Centres of Expertise, including LiCalab, Mobilab & Care, Sustainable Biomass and Chemistry, and Energy. The guided tour highlights co-creation spaces for health and well-being, insect and algae cultivation facilities, greenhouse horticulture, motion analysis and biomechanics labs, orthotics and prosthetics technologies, and digital tools such as VR, wearables, and monitoring systems. Through demonstrations and exchanges with researchers and practitioners, participants will gain practical insight into how Living Labs foster inclusive, interdisciplinary innovation grounded in real-world societal needs and applications

imec’s Societal Imagineering Lab at De Krook

Date: 2 October 2026

Location: Ghent

Hosting Organisation: imec-MICT-Ghent University – Living Lab experience through imec’s Societal Imagineering Lab (evolved from imec.livinglabs)

Capacity: 25 people max 
Start & end time: 10:00 – 13:00

This field visit offers an immersive Living Lab experience at imec’s Societal Imagineering Lab in De Krook, Ghent’s landmark library and innovation hub. Building on the legacy of imec.livinglabs, the lab explores the societal impact of emerging technologies through co-creation, experimentation, and user engagement in real-life settings. Participants will discover the COMON Urban Living Lab, where citizens, researchers, and local stakeholders co-create digital solutions for urban challenges. The visit will also showcase a variety of cutting-edge research environments and installations and Futures and Digital Cultural Heritage installations. Participants will furthermore gain insight into Ghent’s wider innovation ecosystem, including the Wintercircus, Ghent Tech Valley, highlighting inclusive and impact-driven technological innovation.

Living Lab Inagro & Agrotopia

Date: 2 October 2026

Location: Roeselare

Hosting Organisation: Inagro– Living Lab experience through Inagro

Capacity: 50 people max
Start & end time: 10:00 – 14:30 (lunch included)

Curious to explore Europe’s largest rooftop greenhouse, then a visit to Agrotopia is a must. Built atop the vegetable auction in Roeselare, this unique site showcases cutting-edge innovations in the cultivation of lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers. For a broader perspective on the diversity of agriculture, the Living Lab Inagro will offer an inspiring crash course during the visit. Here, you’ll discover a range of real-life, pilot-scale test sites addressing key agricultural challenges with innovative solutions. Beyond the technical insights, the visit also highlights effective collaboration practices among stakeholders, illustrating the strength of the quadruple helix approach.
Both Living Labs are hosted by the applied research and advice center Inagro, which has a 70-year-long history of translating research into practice and capturing the challenges of farmers in the region to drive new research towards more sustainable agriculture in all its facets.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp

Date: 2 October 2026

Location: Antwerp

Hosting Organisation: Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp

Capacity: 18 people max
Start & end time: TBC

Estimated travel time from Antwerp: Located within Antwerp (no transport required)

Ticket information: Attendants need to buy their own ticket

The Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) brings together seven centuries of art, from Flemish Primitives to Expressionists and internationally renowned masters. Beyond its exceptional collection, the museum is the only Flemish museum with high-level scientific status and is internationally recognised as a leading research institution. Many artworks on display are “Made in Flanders”, with 111 works included on the Flemish Government’s official Masterpiece List. KMSKA also houses its own conservation studio and actively supports innovation through its Artists in Residence programme and collaborations across the cultural sector. Complementing the museum experience, the Museum Garden offers a tranquil green oasis and welcoming meeting place in the vibrant heart of Antwerp.

Connecting Nature, Art & Wellbeing - Middelheim Museum and ZAS hospital

Date: 2 October 2026

Location: Antwerp

Hosting Organisation: Middelheimmuseum– Living Lab experience through the Bypass Project (in collaboration with ZAS / UKJA, City of Antwerp, University of Antwerp and local stakeholders)

Capacity: 30 participants (2 groups of 15)
Start time: 08:45 (Group 1) / 09:15 (Group 2)
End time: 14:15 (Group 1) / 14:45 (Group 2) 

This field visit offers a unique Living Lab experience at the Middelheimmuseum, where art, healthcare, and community engagement intersect through the Bypass Project. Developed through co-creation with healthcare professionals, children and youth from psychiatric care, artists, city representatives, and local communities, the initiative highlights how inclusive experimentation can support well-being and social connection. Participants will first discover the project’s methodology, collaborative process, and societal impact, followed by an immersive mindful walking experience through the museum’s open-air sculpture park. Through guided observation, reflection, and sensory engagement, the visit offers practical insight into how Living Lab principles such as co-creation, inclusivity, participation, and care can be meaningfully embedded within public spaces and innovation practices.