Time
15.45 – 17.15
Room
| Aria |
Chaired by
Sobah Abbas Petersen
Type of Session
Research Session
Description
Following the evaluation procedure the OLLD evaluation committee has accepted the research papers. All papers reflect on the theme of the conference “LIVING LABS FOR REGENERATIVE FUTURES: Connecting Local and Global Innovation Ecosystems ” and have been classified according to its sub-tracks. These are: TRACK 1: Living Labs for Grand Societal Challenges; TRACK 2: Living Labs for Policies, Governance, collaboration and innovation ecosystems; TRACK 3: LLs for Inclusive Soci(et)al Engagement; TRACK 4: Living Labs for Business and Emerging Technology; TRACK 5: Living Labs Operation, Methods, Tools, and Impact.
Papers selected by the Evaluation Committee
- Co-creation of radical social innovation in Living Labs: assessing cognitive, relational and contextual conditions
- Catalyzing regeneration through territorial labs: Living Lab innovation in declining agrarian landscapes
- Exploring the design and contributions of urban agroecosystem Living Labs for sustainable city development
- Designing with Callon's theory of translation to realise deep stakeholder engagement towards co-creating system level change in Living Labs: the case of ReNu2Cycle
- Improving waste sorting through a campus Living Lab experiment
- What transformative influence of energy communities and Living Labs?
Co-creation of radical social innovation in Living Labs: assessing cognitive, relational and contextual conditions
Abstract: Research on Living Labs highlights their potential to tackle Grand Societal Challenges through social innovation. Yet, further evidence is needed on the conditions and pathways enabling this process. This research in progress analyses the knowledge conditions under which co-creation initiatives in Living Labs result in social innovations. Theoretically, we explore some of the epistemic aspects of co-creation literature highlighting how radical social innovations result from combinations of knowledge conditions related to cognitive, relational and contextual dimensions (section 2). Empirically, we study focal innovations in 15 European Living Labs in the Agri-food and Healthcare sectors and perform a Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) building on data from semi-structured interviews (section 3). Preliminary findings show that distributed networks are a necessary condition enabling access to new knowledge sources that feed into radical social innovations. Furthermore, these innovations may result from two possible combinations of conditions at play, where a high knowledge diversity is a common attribute amidst different types of challenges and organisational environments (section 4). These research will provide lessons for both practice and research on co-creation in Living Labs (section 5).
Key words: Living Labs, Social Innovation, Knowledge conditions, Co-creation
Juan Pablo Centeno
PhD researcher at the KU Leuven Public Governance Institute (PGI)
Juan Pablo Centeno
PhD researcher at the KU Leuven Public Governance Institute (PGI)Juan Pablo Centeno is a researcher interested in the governance of knowledge and innovation in the context of societal challenges. He is currently a PhD researcher at the KU Leuven Public Governance Institute (PGI), focusing on knowledge circulation practices in agri-food and healthcare Living Labs that engage in the co-creation of social innovations. His previous research and consulting experience covers a range of topics in the fields of Innovation Policy, Policy Studies, Public Administration and Science & Technology Studies, working in the United Kingdom, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Catalyzing regeneration through territorial labs: Living Lab innovation in declining agrarian landscapes
Abstract:This presentation introduces the Territorial Lab methodology, a model for embedded Living Labs tailored to the challenges of land abandonment and demographic decline in rural Europe. Developed by the authors, the model adapts Living and Land-Based Lab concepts to fragile agrarian territories, using short-format “Challenges” to iteratively constitute long-term experimental spaces that reactivate land stewardship incentives through localized food value chains.
Two pilot projects—Transitioning a Landscape1 and Shaping the Ground2—were carried out in Monti Prenestini (Lazio, Italy) to develop and test this approach. The first engaged local stakeholders, mapped abandonment dynamics, and designed a 3-hectare Territorial Lab prototype with actionable incentive frameworks. The second piloted the lab through a participatory toolkit for arboreal biodiversity mapping with local farmers. Together, they explored how embedded experimentation can catalyze systemic outcomes by activating and reweaving relationships among producers, processors, distributors, and consumers.
The Territorial Lab is an evolving platform that aligns co-creation with strategic ecosystem-building. Its success lies not only in data or tools produced, but in enabling self-sustaining configurations of local actors. It offers an emerging model for embedding innovation where mandates are absent contributing directly to EU missions like A Soil Deal for Europe3.
Key words: Living Lab, land abandonment, territorial regeneration, agroecology, co-creation, food value chain
Nicolás Delgado Alcega
Co-founder & vice president, Liminal
Nicolás Delgado Alcega
Co-founder & vice president, LiminalNicolás Delgado Alcega is co-founder and vice president of Liminal, an Italian non-profit organization advancing experimental territorial labs in fragile rural territories with support from regional governments, local action groups, and cultural institutions. Trained as an architect and planner at Harvard University and the University of Miami, he develops methodologies that integrate field-based spatial diagnostics, participatory processes, and rapid prototyping to address key barriers to territorial regeneration, including informational legibility, collaborative readiness and local economic tissue fragility. His work emphasizes how iterative, place-based experimentation can reweave fragmented actor networks and generate methods for systemic outcomes where top-down mandates are lacking. Beyond Liminal, Nicolás is a partner of the architectural practice Alliata / Alcega, focused on adaptive reuse, heritage conservation, and rural development. He is also editor of multiple publications, most recently Large, Lasting & Inevitable, published by Park Books (Zürich, 2024). His professional trajectory bridges design, research, and cultural production, seeking to redefine territorial stewardship for contemporary societies.
Exploring the design and contributions of urban agroecosystem Living Labs for sustainable city development
Abstract: Living Labs are open innovative ecosystems embedded in real-life contexts, designed to tackle societal challenges through iterative, stakeholder-driven processes. Within the urban sustainability agenda, Urban Agroecosystem Living Labs (UALLs) have gained prominence for their role in transforming agri-food systems and enhancing urban resilience. This study examines the design and contributions of UALLs, based on a content analysis of cases reported in academic and grey literature. Six UALLs were identified, revealing considerable diversity in their objectives, operational processes, activities, and participant configurations. Beyond improving food security and agricultural productivity, UALLs contribute to sustainable urban transitions by fostering responsible consumption, enhancing community cohesion, increasing urban greening and biodiversity, reducing waste, and supporting climate mitigation efforts. The RUBA Initiative, led by EAN University in Colombia, exemplifies a comprehensive UALL model that integrates ecological, economic, and social dimensions. Despite their potential, most UALLs lack explicit alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and often fall short in measuring long-term impact. This paper underscores the need to strengthen evaluation frameworks, adopt SDG-based indicators, and improve scalability. Ultimately, it advocates for the broader adoption of UALLs as adaptable platforms capable of advancing systemic change towards sustainable and inclusive urban futures.
Key words: Living lab; co-creation; innovation; stakeholders; SDGs; circular economy; sustainable future
Diego Alejandro Riaño Herrera
Environmental Engineer & Master’s student in Sustainable Agricultural Sciences
Diego Alejandro Riaño Herrera
Environmental Engineer & Master’s student in Sustainable Agricultural SciencesDiego Alejandro Riaño Herrera is an Environmental Engineer and Master’s student in Sustainable Agricultural Sciences with more than four years of experience in territorial, institutional, and community-based projects. His professional trajectory combines applied research, university teaching, project management, and entrepreneurship, with a strong focus on sustainable agriculture and socio-environmental resilience. He has led and supported initiatives in agro-territorial planning, environmental resilience, and sustainability, emphasizing stakeholder engagement, community education, and territorial development with an environmental perspective. His expertise includes research on soil management and sustainable agroecosystems, the design of agro-productive models, identification of persistent pollutants, organizational sustainability consulting, and the coordination of institutional and community training projects. Andrés is particularly interested in integrating bioeconomy, circular economy (CE), nature-based solutions (NbS), sustainability indicators, and project management methodologies to strengthen public policies and farming communities. His work is grounded in social appropriation of knowledge, process innovation, and Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) frameworks.
Designing with Callon's theory of translation to realise deep stakeholder engagement towards co-creating system level change in Living Labs: the case of ReNu2Cycle
Abstract: Role-play simulations are increasingly recognised as valuable tools for experiential learning, stakeholder dialogue, and collaborative problem-solving in complex innovation ecosystems. This paper introduces the Process of Translation Serious Game, designed to explore negotiation and alignment within Living Lab contexts. Grounded in Michel Callon’s theory of translation and the concept of Obligatory Passage Points, the game creates a structured setting where participants embody actors from across the quadruple helix, academia, industry, government, and civil society. Through role-play, participants engage with the diverse interests and constraints that shape co-creation, simulating how alignment is negotiated in real-world innovation processes. The game was piloted at the European Sustainable Nutrient Initiative (ESNI) 2024 conference with researchers and policymakers. Drawing on observational data, the paper examines how participants inhabited their roles, navigated conflict, and worked toward consensus. Findings show that the game helps surface hidden assumptions, foster empathy, and support critical reflection on power, legitimacy, and collaboration. We argue that serious play can enrich Living Lab practice by offering a dynamic method for engaging with stakeholder complexity and building capacity for mission-oriented innovation. The paper concludes with recommendations for integrating role-play simulations into Living Lab methodologies to support deeper and more inclusive stakeholder engagement.
Key words: Living Labs, Translation, Callon, Serious Game
Annmarie Ryan
Associate Professor of Marketing at the Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick
Annmarie Ryan
Associate Professor of Marketing at the Kemmy Business School, University of LimerickDr. Annmarie Ryan is Associate Professor of Marketing at the Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick. Her research explores how markets are shaped through collaboration between diverse actors, with a particular focus on sustainability transitions, digitalization, and place-based innovation. She leads the Digital Futures Lab and co-develops Living Lab methodologies that bring together communities, policymakers, researchers, and industry to co-design sustainable futures. Annmarie has published widely in leading journals and is actively engaged in European research collaborations, including projects on bioeconomy, circular agriculture, and stakeholder-engaged innovation.
Improving waste sorting through a campus Living Lab experiment
Abstract: This paper presents a Campus Living Lab (CLL) experiment designed to improve waste sorting behaviour in an academic office environment. The study explores how co-creation with campus users, “campusians”, can enhance engagement and foster long-term behavioral change. Conducted at the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development at Utrecht University, the intervention was co-created with staff and operational stakeholders. The intervention combined visual decision aids with conversation starters and playful elements to improve sorting practices. The project applies the Living Lab approach as a real-world sustainability experiment involving deliberate intervention and systematic data collection. Waste sorting accuracy is measured through three waste scans (pre-intervention, post-intervention, and long-term), and a post-intervention survey captures behavioral drivers. Initial results from the baseline scan reveal significant sorting errors in plastic and general waste streams, while workshop insights highlight motivational, informational, and infrastructural barriers. This study demonstrates how CLLs can serve as innovation platforms for addressing sustainability challenges through user-led design and participatory processes. The findings contribute to broader discussions on the role of Living Labs in enabling regenerative futures.
Key words: Sustainability experiment; Theory of Planned Behavior; Gamification; Circular economy
Claudia Stuckrath
PhD Researcher & Advisor, Utrecht University | Chair, Campus & Higher Education Thematic Group, ENoLL
Claudia Stuckrath
PhD Researcher & Advisor, Utrecht University | Chair, Campus & Higher Education Thematic Group, ENoLLClaudia is a PhD researcher at Utrecht University’s Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, studying campus living labs for sustainability transitions with a focus on the circular economy. She also advises at the Centre for Living Labs UU (CLU) and chairs ENoLL’s thematic group on campuses and higher education. With a background in engineering, sustainability, and innovation, she bridges academia and practice. Claudia holds degrees in Civil Engineering and an MSc in Biomaterials from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and an MSc in Sustainable Business and Innovation from Utrecht University. Her work explores how universities can serve as experimental spaces, driving sustainability transitions.
What transformative influence of energy communities and Living Labs?
Abstract: Energy communities have grown significantly in Europe with great expectations about their potential to develop a decentralised, democratic and sustainable future energy system. There is little evidence of the role of living labs in the evolution of energy communities as intermediary mechanisms for new transition pathways. This article contributes mainly to the literature on sustainable transitions by answering the following research question; What are the underlying expectations towards the role of energy communities and living labs in a changing regime?
Two comparative case studies of Living Labs working with energy communities at oPENLab Genk, Belgium and Sion Living Lab, Switzerland are being researched. Stakeholder interviews and value network mapping reveal the expectations towards actors’ roles and the value they bring to the energy system. Alignments, overlaps, gaps and conflicts will be identified and their relational aspects analysed.
We expect to find diversity in expectations towards the role of the Living Lab as an intermediary mechanism in the evolution of socially innovative energy communities. The research will help us to theorize more concretely about expectations and the transformation dynamics at play and the potential for destabilization of the existing energy regime. Practically, the research will help guide the co-design of expectations.
Key words: Transformation, expectations, energy communities, living labs, institutionalization, value network mapping
Fiona Zimmermann
Panel manager, Energy Living Lab
Fiona Zimmermann
Panel manager, Energy Living LabFiona Zimmermann is a senior research associate working as a panel manager at the Energy Living Lab in the University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland (HES-SO) since 2019. Fiona is currently chair of the ENoLL Working Group on Energy and Environment. Prior to working in research, Fiona worked as an energy and environmental management professional for 20 years internationally with energy services companies, governments and utilities on developing sustainability projects. With a diploma in Business & Energy Management and a Masters in Environmental Management for Business, Fiona is now developing her academic career through a PhD in sustainable transitions at the DRIFT Institute. Fiona is originally Irish but relocated to Switzerland in 2016 where she lives with her two daughters. She is passionate about biodiversity and enjoys open water swimming in her free time.