The European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL) organises the event each year together with a different host. ENoLL is the international federation of benchmarked Living Labs in Europe and worldwide. Founded in November 2006 under the auspices of the Finnish European Presidency, the network has grown in ‘waves’ up to this day.
The European approach to Living Labs was created in the Unit “Collaborative working environments” of the DG INFSO (now DG CONNECT) in close collaboration with an industrial advisory group on Open Innovation (Open Innovation Strategy and Policy group – OISPG) which was founded by Bror Salmelin. The original concept was updated to open innovation environments attracting inwards investment, both intellectual and financial one.
ENoLL counts over 140 active Living Labs members worldwide (440+ historically recognised over 12 years), including active members in 20 of the 28 EU Member States, 2 of the candidates and it is present in 5 continents in addition to Europe. Directly, as well as through its active members, ENoLL provides co-creation, user engagement, test and experimentation facilities targeting innovation in many different domains such as energy, media, mobility, healthcare, agrifood, etc. As such, ENoLL is well placed to act as a platform for best practice exchange, learning and support, and Living Lab international project development.