DATE & TIME
30 September 2026, 15:45 – 17:00
TRACKS
TRACK 1: Living Labs for Grand Societal Challenges
TRACK 3: Living Labs for Inclusive Soci(et)al Engagement
TRACK 5: Living Labs Operation, Methods, Tools, and Impact
ROOM
Stanley
TYPE OF SESSION
Roundtable
Description
This session explores synergies between Living Labs and citizen science. It identifies key values for participation, co-creation and collaborative innovation, discusses methods for assessing social, scientific, policy and community impacts, examines how these approaches support social innovation and broader societal change, and outlines recommendations and future directions for research, practice and policy.
The session is organised as an interactive roundtable discussion rather than a traditional panel. Following a brief introduction to frame the topic, invited discussants will share short reflections based on their work. The majority of the session will be dedicated to facilitated dialogue among all participants, encouraging exchange across disciplines, sectors and geographic contexts.
Participants will be invited to share experiences, challenges, lessons learned and emerging practices from diverse contexts. Particular attention will be given to questions of inclusiveness, empowerment, trust, sustainability and impact assessment in citizen-driven innovation and research processes.
Agenda
| Timeslot | Item | Speakers |
|---|---|---|
| 15:45 – 15:55 | Welcome and framing of the discussion | Moderators: Spela Zalokar and Bertille Auvray (ENoLL) |
| 15:55 – 16:15 | Interventions from invited contributors to set the scene | Òscar Larraga (Science for Change) Ioan-Cristian Iojă (University of Bucharest) Elisabeth Unterfrauner (Centre for Social Innovation) Toni Caro (EOh-for-Good) |
| 16:15 – 16:50 | Facilitated roundtable discussion with participants and audience | Moderators, guests and audience |
| 16:50 – 17:00 | Key takeaways and next steps | Moderators |
Speakers
Spela Zalokar
Senior Project Manager at ENoLL
Spela Zalokar
Senior Project Manager at ENoLLSpela Zalokar is a Senior Project Manager at ENoLL, focusing on capacity building initiatives of Urban Living Labs and climate netruality topics and leading efforts in the valorisation of project results. With an academic foundation in social and political sciences (BA European Studies, MA Politics & Society), Spela possesses a deep understanding of the social, political, and environmental dynamics that shape urban landscapes. Spela has developed and implemented innovative tools and methodologies tailored to the unique challenges faced by Living Labs, such as the Co-creation toolkit, the Urban Living Lab Mapping Canvas and other tailored workshop methodologies. Her work has focused on fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders, driving sustainable urban development, and empowering communities to actively participate in the co-creation of their urban environments.
Bertille Auvray
Founder of Co InitiumLab and Normandy Living Lab Manager
Bertille Auvray
Founder of Co InitiumLab and Normandy Living Lab ManagerBertille Auvray is a European project manager specialised in the Living Lab methodology. She supports public and private organisations in designing and implementing open innovation projects. With experience in sectors such as tourism, mobility, healthcare, and agriculture, she focuses on co-creation, stakeholder engagement, and participatory methods. She has implemented stakeholder management plans in various projects she has been involved in and offers tailored support fostering collaboration within the quadruple helix.
Òscar Larraga
Social Anthropologist and Community Engagement Specialist, Science for Change
Òscar Larraga
Social Anthropologist and Community Engagement Specialist, Science for Change
Òscar Larraga studied cinema and completed a postgraduate degree in documentary photography, which led him to choose the social and cultural specialisation in the degree of Anthropology and Human Evolution.
Following his receipt of the Ministry of Education Collaboration Grant, he participated in the inter-university CARE MODEL project. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Territorial Planning and Environmental Management at the University of Barcelona, to strengthen the application of his anthropological expertise in territorial governance and environmental planning.
At Science for Change, Òscar leads recruitment and engagement activities, manages participants within the SFC Community, and designs and implements projects at different scales that require transdisciplinary skills, innovative methodologies and social research.
Ioan-Cristian Iojă
Professor, Faculty of Geography, University of Bucharest
Ioan-Cristian Iojă
Professor, Faculty of Geography, University of Bucharest
Ioan-Cristian Iojă is Professor at the Faculty of Geography, University of Bucharest, where his work focuses on urban ecology, environmental governance, nature-based solutions and socio-ecological resilience.
He has extensive experience in European and national research projects addressing climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services, invasive species management, and the use of citizen-generated data for sustainable urban planning.
His expertise connects academic research with policy and practice through Living Lab approaches, coordinating activities related to Living Lab Brașov developed in the CARMINE project, stakeholder engagement and co-creation processes. He contributes a perspective grounded in Central and Eastern European cities, emphasising actionable knowledge, institutional collaboration and measurable impact for climate-resilient urban regions.
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.
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.