Do you have a dynamic and engaging workshop concept that highlights the impacts and values of Living Labs in a rapidly changing world?
OpenLivingLab Days 2026 has launched its Call for Hands-on Workshops and invites you to actively contribute to shaping this year’s conference programme.
The 2026 edition of the OpenLivingLab Days will take place in Brussels and Antwerp, Belgium. It will begin with a Policy Event in Brussels on 29 September, then the OpenLivingLab Days conference will start in Antwerp, Belgium on 30 September and 1 October where hands-on workshops will be featured in the agenda. On the final day of the conference, the 2 October, site visits to Belgian Living Labs will take place.
LIVING LABS IMPACTS AND VALUES FOR A CHANGING WORLD
This year’s theme, “Living Labs Impacts and Values for a Changing World,” highlights the vital role Living Labs play in today’s hastily evolving environment.
Key characteristics. We are looking for a hands-on workshops that will:
- Engage participants actively and equally
- Facilitate knowledge exchange and collaboration
- Equip participants with solutions they can apply in their work
- Produce tangible outcomes for participants
- Be fun and goal-oriented!
How to understand if your proposal is a hands-on workshop or a panel session?
OLLD workshops are highly interactive and hands-on. Participants actively engage in exercises and discussions, not just with workshop facilitators but also with fellow attendees. The OLLD workshops focus on skill-building and knowledge exchange.
Key elements of OLLD workshops include:
- Interactive and practical approaches, avoiding purely theoretical or one-directional formats.
- Active and equal participation from all attendees
- Fostering knowledge exchange, including peer-to-peer learning.
- Delivering real value, equipping participants with actionable solutions applicable in their Living Labs
- Generating tangible takeaways, ensuring participants leave with concrete insights and outcomes.
Panel sessions prioritise knowledge and information sharing through formats like panel discussions and roundtables. The goal is to actively engage participants in meaningful discussions, introduce thought-provoking ideas, and share new insights. OLLD sessions should not only involve panelists in discussions but also encourage interaction with the audience, fostering a dynamic exchange of perspectives. If your proposal fits a panel session instead of a hands-on workshop, please submit it under the corresponding open call.
Deadline 01 May 2026, 23:59 CEST
Key Information
Workshop duration
Number of participants
Submission requirements:
- Online application form
- Short video in English (max. 1 minute) explaining your workshop’s goal and value
- (Optional) Additional audiovisual materials to support your proposal (e.g., other videos already published that present the workshop – if already held in other contexts).
Your workshop proposal should address:
- Short description: Short, detailed description of what your workshop is about
- Conference track and relevance of the topic: How your workshop connects to the conference theme and track(s)
- Concept, goal, and focus: What your workshop leading questions and objectives are
- Challenges addressed: What challenges your workshop addresses
- Expected outcomes and value for participants: Knowledge, skills, solutions, or experience gained by participants
- Methodology: Describe the methodological approach of your workshop: what facilitation methods, tools or frameworks you will use and how participants will actively contribute.
- Audience: Which target groups are addressed and who should attend your workshop
- Value for the audience: How the ideas and solutions discussed during your workshop are valuable also for a wider audience and how your workshop will help participants to grow and develop their Living Labs or projects in the future.
- Workshop agenda: Detailed agenda that identifies all different blocks and timing for each of them, as well as the list of all speakers.
- Workshop facilitators: List of the workshop’s facilitators/speakers & Short bios for each of them
Tracks
Benefits of organising a hands-on workshop:
- Share your expertise with a broad audience
- Network with other Living Lab professionals
- Reduced conference fee for workshop organisers
- To make your proposal stronger, consider teaming up with other Living Labs already in your application! You may also be contacted by post-submission to discuss the opportunities of combining similar workshops together.
Please note that, to present your workshop at OLLD26, all workshop participants (organisers and/or facilitators) are required to purchase a ticket. As a workshop organiser and/or facilitator, you will receive a discount on your ticket purchase under the ticket category “Presenters/organizers”. The ticket can involve only those who are indicated in the application form as facilitators of the workshop and are actively involved in running the workshop as speakers.
Hands-on Workshop Proposal Evaluation Criteria
The OpenLivingLab Days (OLLD) is seeking proposals for engaging and interactive workshops to be held at its annual conference in Antwerp, on 30 September to 1 October 2026. We are looking for innovative and well-designed workshops that contribute to the advancement of Living Labs.
To ensure that your workshop proposal is officially submitted and reviewed, please note that all workshops’ organisers need to include the full agenda and list of speakers and moderators in the application. Proposals that will not be fully developed will not be accepted.
Workshop proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
Does the workshop concept address a relevant and timely issue within the Living Lab domain?
Is the workshop idea well-developed, with clear goals, objectives, and outcomes?
Does the workshop promote active participation and collaboration among attendees?
Will the workshop methods effectively engage participants and foster knowledge exchange?
What practical knowledge, skills, or solutions will participants gain from the workshop?
Can the knowledge and solutions be applied and adapted to different Living Lab contexts?
Will the workshop contribute to broader advancements in the Living Lab field?
Additional factors considered (may not be explicitly weighted):
- Team expertise and experience of the workshop facilitators
- Quality of the 1-minute video presentation in English
- Overall balance and variety within the conference program
The workshops will be evaluated by a team of 5 evaluators, and the feedback will be communicated by 29 May 2026.
We encourage you to submit a compelling proposal that demonstrates the value and impact your workshop will have on participants and the Living Lab community.
For more information and to apply, please visit the online form, or contact the OLLD Team at olld@enoll.org.