DATE & TIME
1 October 2026, 09:00 – 10:15
TRACKS
TRACK 1: Living Labs for Grand Societal Challenges
TRACK 2: Living Labs for Policies, Governance, Collaboration and Innovation Ecosystems
TRACK 3: Living Labs for Inclusive Soci(et)al Engagement
ROOM
Stanley
TYPE OF SESSION
Roundtable
Description
This panel brings together experts from diverse social innovation initiatives to explore stakeholder engagement from both practitioner and policy perspectives. Drawing on experiences from projects addressing complex challenges such as water recycling, distributed manufacturing, mental health, and circular and bioeconomy practices, the panel will discuss common opportunities and challenges of working with Quadruple Helix stakeholders across different contexts.
The discussion will focus on the full lifecycle of participatory processes, from stakeholder onboarding and sustaining engagement to debriefing and ensuring the long-term sustainability of Living Labs beyond individual projects. Particular attention will be given to recurring issues such as participation fatigue, collaboration dynamics, and translating co-creation into lasting impact. The panel aims to exchange practical insights and foster dialogue among researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and anyone interested in strengthening participatory approaches to social innovation.
Agenda
Speakers
Elisabeth Unterfrauner
Scientific Director, Centre for Social Innovation (ZSI)
Elisabeth Unterfrauner
Scientific Director, Centre for Social Innovation (ZSI)Elisabeth Unterfrauner is the Scientific Director of the Centre for Social Innovation in Vienna, an independent, non-profit socio-scientific research organisation dedicated to addressing complex societal challenges. In this role, she advances the contribution of social innovation to shaping inclusive and sustainable futures. As a researcher working at the intersection of technology, society, and participation, her work explores how transformation processes can be guided by human values. She has led and contributed to numerous interdisciplinary projects on civic engagement, co-creation, and innovation in complex socio-technical systems, collaborating with partners across academia, industry, and the public sector.
Judith Feichtinger
Senior Researcher & Project Manager, Centre for Social Innovation (ZSI)
Judith Feichtinger
Senior Researcher & Project Manager, Centre for Social Innovation (ZSI)Judith Feichtinger is a Senior Researcher and Project Manager at the Centre for Social Innovation (ZSI). Her work focuses on environmental governance, sustainability transitions, policy integration, and stakeholder participation, with expertise spanning the bioeconomy, climate action, energy transitions, water governance, the circular economy, and sustainable rural development. She holds a PhD in Social and Economic Sciences from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU).
Dario Ferraro
Development Manager, GEN Europe
Dario Ferraro
Development Manager, GEN EuropeDario Ferraro is a project manager and facilitator working at the intersection of community development and EU-funded research. He coordinates projects at GEN Europe (the European network of ecovillages and intentional communities) and at Torri Superiore ecovillage in Italy, with a focus on participatory processes, multi-stakeholder engagement, and social innovation. He is also a filmmaker and co-creator of Documentary Circles, a participatory methodology blending slow cinema and circle-based facilitation practices.
Fernando Vilariño Freire
Associate Director Computer Vision Center - Associate Professor Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Fernando Vilariño Freire
Associate Director Computer Vision Center - Associate Professor Universitat Autònoma de BarcelonaDr. Fernando Vilariño is Associate Director of the Computer Vision Centre and Associate Professor at the Computer Science Department of the Univ. Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain. He lectures in “Machine Learning”, “Robotics”, and “Models Open Innovation and Citizen Science” and "Social Innovation". He is currently leading the Quantum Machine Learning Group at CVC. His research is linked to Computer Vision and the Social Impact of AI, and he has led different projects related to the implementation of models of Living Labs in the context of citizen-centric Open Innovation and Citizen Science. Dr. Fernando Vilariño has been awarded with the Spanish Gov. Ramon y Cajal Grant (2010), and Google Academy Award (2014) for his research. He was member of the Executive Board (2017-2023) and elected President (2018-2021) of the European Network of Living Labs ENoLL. He is the current Scientific Director of the Chair UAB-Cruïlla for Research in AI in field of music and arts, developing the concept of music festivals as a living lab for compliance-readiness in AI.
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.
Carmen Siller
Senior Researcher & Project Manager, Centre for Social Innovation (ZSI)
Carmen Siller
Senior Researcher & Project Manager, Centre for Social Innovation (ZSI)Carmen Siller holds a university degree in Applied Linguistics and Cultural Studies and is currently pursuing a master's degree in educational sciences at the University of Vienna. Since 2005, she has been working for ZSI as projectmanager and researcher. Currently she is work package leader responsible for impact creation in VOLABIOS on early diagnosis of schizophrenia and facilitating the co-creation of pilot designs in COOPOWER, tackling youth unemployment and social inequality. From 2021 – 2024, she managed the STEP change project, assessing the training needs of different citizen science initiatives and developing suitable training formats as well as supporting mutual learning and exchange. Managing EU-funded projects for the last 25 years, her key expertise includes the establishment and maintenance of extended networks as well as the organization and implementation of workshops, conferences and trainings covering a variety of topics and target groups.
Amalia Verzola
Policy Officer, DG RTD, European Commission
Amalia Verzola
Policy Officer, DG RTD, European CommissionAmalia works as a Policy Officer at the European Commission with a strong focus on science and society, including trust and equity in science. Former journalist with over 15 years of experience in communications and project management, she specialises in participatory research, citizen science, and science communication. She holds a PhD in Aesthetics & Politics, has lectured at Bordeaux University, and was part of the team at the University of Lyon’s Science Shop.