DATE & TIME
1 October 2025, 11:00 – 12:15
TRACKS
TRACK 2: Living Labs for Policies, Governance, collaboration and innovation ecosystems
ROOM
La Consortia 1
TARGET AUDIENCE
Higher education leaders, Living Lab practitioners, researchers, policymakers at European, national, and regional level, school and VET representatives, student organizations, and other stakeholders interested in innovation ecosystems, policy learning, and Living Labs in education and research.
TYPE OF SESSION
Description
European Universities and University Alliances have emerged as pan-European (drivers of) Living Labs, uniquely positioned to embed innovation into education, research, and societal engagement. Through FOREU4ALL, the Community of Practice of European University Alliances, all 65 alliances collaborate to share best practices, strengthen cooperation, and engage in policy learning. This session explores how universities and alliances leverage Living Lab methodologies to bridge education, research, and societal impact — fostering student participation in entrepreneurship, research projects, and challenge-based learning aligned with SDGs and territorial needs. Beyond showcasing the proven impact of alliances within higher education, the discussion will also explore how to foster environments where this impact extends to schools and VET organizations, in collaboration with leading universities in Europe and beyond. Inspired by initiatives such as the European University Alliances Living Lab Hub and UNITA Geminae, the session will highlight ways to replicate and scale these approaches internationally to support inclusive, sustainable, and transformative educational and research ecosystems.
Agenda
Timeslot | Item | Speakers |
|---|---|---|
| 11:00 – 11:10 | Opening and Keynote — Setting the scene: European University Alliances as Living Labs for innovation, education, and societal impact. | |
| 11:10 – 11:40 | Panel Discussion From Co-Creation to Policy Impact: Experiences from European University Alliances Moderated by Alexandra Petcu (West University of Timișoara, UNITA) |
|
| 11:40 – 12:00 | Interactive Segment — Digital interaction with the audience/ Fishbowl & Q&A |
|
| 12:00 – 12:15 | Roundtable & Conclusions — Broadening Impact: Engaging Schools, VET, and Global Networks Beyond Europe |
|
Speakers
Holger Hoff
Transdisciplinary Interface Manager at Graz University
Holger Hoff
Transdisciplinary Interface Manager at Graz UniversitySenior Scientist, currently working in the Field of Excellence Climate Change Graz, responsible for transdisciplinarity in research and education, 3rd mission and co-creation of scientifically and societally robust solutions with different societal actors. Previously Holger worked as knowledge broker at the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) in Sweden and at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) in Germany. His main research interests are transdisciplinary approaches and methods, sustainability transformation, integrated SDG implementation, climate adaptation and mitigation, integrated natural resource management (“the nexus”), planetary boundaries and teleconnections in the Earth system.
Martin Galvin
Head of Research Culture, Engagement and Impact in University College Cork Ireland
Martin Galvin
Head of Research Culture, Engagement and Impact in University College Cork IrelandDr Martin Galvin is Head of Research Culture, Engagement and Impact in University College Cork Ireland. Martin’s expertise is in the area of public engagement, engaged and participatory research. He is a Member of the Council of Europe’s (COE) CDEDU Sub-Group on Higher Education Policy. Co-Director of the UNIC Centre for City Futures and Principal Investigator of the Horizon SWAFS funded UNIC4ER (2021-2025) (£2M) initiative to embed Engaged Research and public participation in research across ten European Universities and their Cities. He is Co-Chair of the EU Commissions Coalition of the Willing ‘Innovation Hub on Living Labs in higher education in Europe’. He is the Principal Investigator of the Wellcome Trust Funded ERICA initiative (2025-2027) (£1.2M), to transform UCC’s institutional research culture. He is Principal Investigator of the EU Horizon Europe CATALISI initiative (2023-2026) (£3.2M) to transform research culture via the development of Living Labs and inter-university acceleration services. He is a visiting researcher at the CRADLE Institute in the University of Helsinki with Professor Yrjö Engeström, where he is interested in cultural historical activity theory (CHAT) and theories of power, identity and space.
Matteo Pallocca
European Living Lab Hub (ELLH) Coordinator
Matteo Pallocca
European Living Lab Hub (ELLH) CoordinatorCoordinator of the European Living Lab Hub, which focuses on creating a forum for European University Alliances to discuss, share and create common ground surround Living Lab experiences in the EU HEI ecosystem. The ELLH, mandated by the EC, brings together over 20 European University Alliances. Matteo Pallocca is also a Research Support Officer for University College Cork’s (UCC) CATALISI Team for Evaluation and Impact Assessment and is Coordinator for UCC’s collaboration Work Package in the GreenInCitites initiative.
Dr Liliya Terzieva
Liliya Terzieva, Professor Designing Value Networks, the Hague University of Applied Sciences
Dr Liliya Terzieva
Liliya Terzieva, Professor Designing Value Networks, the Hague University of Applied SciencesDr Liliya Terzieva is Professor Designing Value Networks at the Hague University of Applied Sciences, the Netherlands. Her PhD is in the field of Economic and Organizational sciences of Leisure and Tourism. Within her career pathway of around 20 years of international experience (Bulgaria, China, France, Malta, Vietnam, the Netherlands, etc.) she worked in non-governmental, public, as well as educational and business organizations, related to the domains of (among others): entrepreneurial learning and mindset, value generation, leadership, tourism, leisure, strategic and human-centred design. Her research interest is in the impact and value diverse multi-stakeholder collaborative interactions lead to and the role design plays to foster and nurture the above. Liliya is a member of the editorial board of various (scientific) journals. She is an active partner and member of the Worldwide Association of Female Professionals. Additionally, she works as an external evaluator and co-creator of projects funded by the EU. Liliya collaborates with institutions such as Beijing International Studies University, the Bulgarian Chamber of Education, Science and Culture, Fachhochschule Graubünden, the University of Montpellier, and Fachhochschule Joanneum. She is frequently invited as a speaker at (inter)national academic and applied research conferences.
Alexandra Petcu
Innovation Manager at Advanced Environmental Research Institute, West University of Timișoara, host of the UVT Digital & Green Living Lab
Alexandra Petcu
Innovation Manager at Advanced Environmental Research Institute, West University of Timișoara, host of the UVT Digital & Green Living LabAlexandra Petcu is the coordinator of the UVT Digital & Green Living Lab and head of Innovation & Technology Transfer at the West University of Timișoara (WUT/UVT). She also serves as a visiting lecturer at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration and the Faculty of Physics at WUT. With previous experience in the Education Ministry during the Romanian Secretariat of the Bologna Follow-Up Group, Alexandra has contributed to policy recommendations in education, innovation, and entrepreneurship. She has led the development of a sustainability-driven student entrepreneurial ecosystem in Western Romania, resulting in the launch of new businesses focused on low CO2 emissions, biodiversity conservation, waste reduction, and digital innovation; since then, she is co-facilitator of the regional entrepreneurship & innovation ecosystem in the West region of Romania. In her current role, Alexandra coordinates the innovation and sustainability strategy for the UNITA – Universitas Montium European University Alliance at WUT. Her research centers on Living Lab methodologies in schools and universities, supporting the EU’s research and education goals for the twin transition.
Heleen Geerts
Lecturer/Researcher Living Labs & Liaison Manager Entrepreneurship, The Hague University of Applied Sciences
Heleen Geerts
Lecturer/Researcher Living Labs & Liaison Manager Entrepreneurship, The Hague University of Applied SciencesHeleen Geerts, Lecturer/Researcher Living Labs and Liaison Manager Entrepreneurship at The Hague University of Applied Sciences to The Hague with the Designing Value Networks research group. Her work focuses on systemic co-design research regarding eco-systems and experimental learning environments like living labs and exploring value networks for transitions across entrepreneurial contexts. A significant part of her academic journey involved a research project Future Proof Retail, where Heleen contributed to developing, organizing, and facilitating knowledge exchange between eight national, locally-focused living labs. The knowledge gathered was published in two books on How to Innovate with Living Labs ( Innovating with labs. That's how you do it! ). This experience led to her involvement in the establishment of the THUAS Learning Community ‘Haagse Labs’ and the development of a Retail Innovation & Experience Campus in the Hague region in collaboration with a diverse public-private consortium. Heleen later served as vocational professor (practor) for new retail & entrepreneurship at the Regional Vocational institution ROC Mondriaan. With the motto "From ego to eco-system," Heleen is dedicated to fostering a sustainable and inclusive society. Heleen's involvement in public-private collaborations and entrepreneurship, demonstrates her commitment to dynamic learning environments where experimenting, learning, innovating and creating are central. On behalf of THUAS, she collaborates with researchers, companies, educational institutions and the local, regional and international community to co-create innovative solutions.