Keynote Speaker
Epaminondas Christophilopoulos
Chairholder, UNESCO Chair on Futures Research
Epaminondas Christophilopoulos
Chairholder, UNESCO Chair on Futures ResearchEpaminondas Christophilopoulos is the chairholder of the UNESCO Chair on Futures Research, hosted at the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH) and the Executive President of the Management Board of the Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki (MOMUS). He is an Onassis Foundation Fellow and holds a PhD in Strategic Foresight, while his academic profile also includes studies in Physics (BSc), Environment (MSc), and International Relations. He has been working in the field of futures research since 2010, designing and implementing a variety of projects while he has served as the Chief Scientific Officer for Foresight in the Prime Minister’s Office. He has published monographs and peer-reviewed articles in several journals and curated two books published in Greece. He has been the Chairman of the Foresight Europe Network and he is currently the Chairman of the Greek node of the Millennium Project. Finally, Epaminondas has been a member of ESIR, a high-level expert group that provides evidence-based policy advice to the European Commission on how to develop a forward-looking and transformative research and innovation policy.
Panel Session Speakers
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.
Judith Feichtinger
Senior Researcher & Project Manager, Centre for Social Innovation (ZSI)
Judith Feichtinger
Senior Researcher & Project Manager, Centre for Social Innovation (ZSI)Judith Feichtinger is a Senior Researcher and Project Manager at the Centre for Social Innovation (ZSI). Her work focuses on environmental governance, sustainability transitions, policy integration, and stakeholder participation, with expertise spanning the bioeconomy, climate action, energy transitions, water governance, the circular economy, and sustainable rural development. She holds a PhD in Social and Economic Sciences from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU).
Dario Ferraro
Development Manager, GEN Europe
Dario Ferraro
Development Manager, GEN EuropeDario Ferraro is a project manager and facilitator working at the intersection of community development and EU-funded research. He coordinates projects at GEN Europe (the European network of ecovillages and intentional communities) and at Torri Superiore ecovillage in Italy, with a focus on participatory processes, multi-stakeholder engagement, and social innovation. He is also a filmmaker and co-creator of Documentary Circles, a participatory methodology blending slow cinema and circle-based facilitation practices.
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.
Carmen Siller
Senior Researcher & Project Manager, Centre for Social Innovation (ZSI)
Carmen Siller
Senior Researcher & Project Manager, Centre for Social Innovation (ZSI)Carmen Siller holds a university degree in Applied Linguistics and Cultural Studies and is currently pursuing a master's degree in educational sciences at the University of Vienna. Since 2005, she has been working for ZSI as projectmanager and researcher. Currently she is work package leader responsible for impact creation in VOLABIOS on early diagnosis of schizophrenia and facilitating the co-creation of pilot designs in COOPOWER, tackling youth unemployment and social inequality. From 2021 – 2024, she managed the STEP change project, assessing the training needs of different citizen science initiatives and developing suitable training formats as well as supporting mutual learning and exchange. Managing EU-funded projects for the last 25 years, her key expertise includes the establishment and maintenance of extended networks as well as the organization and implementation of workshops, conferences and trainings covering a variety of topics and target groups.
Amalia Verzola
Policy Officer, DG RTD, European Commission
Amalia Verzola
Policy Officer, DG RTD, European CommissionAmalia works as a Policy Officer at the European Commission with a strong focus on science and society, including trust and equity in science. Former journalist with over 15 years of experience in communications and project management, she specialises in participatory research, citizen science, and science communication. She holds a PhD in Aesthetics & Politics, has lectured at Bordeaux University, and was part of the team at the University of Lyon’s Science Shop.
Wim De Kinderen
Programme Director European Affairs Brainport Eindhoven, EU Office, Chairman of ENoLL
Wim De Kinderen
Programme Director European Affairs Brainport Eindhoven, EU Office, Chairman of ENoLLWim De Kinderen is a EU affairs professional, representing the City of Eindhoven, Brainport Development, and regional stakeholders at the Brainport Eindhoven EU Office in Brussels. With expertise in policy lobbying, strategic communication, and project development, he plays a key role in advancing the region’s interests within European institutions and networks. He has a strong background in regional development, having held senior roles in Belgium’s socio-economic policy landscape, and holds master's degrees in international politics, European Politics, and Public Management. Wim is fluent in Dutch, French and English, and actively engaged in networks such as ENoLL, Vanguard Initiative, Eurocities, ERRIN and OASC.
Dr. Yousra Sidqi
Research Group Leader, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts
Dr. Yousra Sidqi
Research Group Leader, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and ArtsDr. Yousra Sidqi is a lecturer and research group leader in energy communities and data analytics at the Institute of Electrical Engineering at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU), Switzerland. Her work focuses on smart energy systems, local energy markets, citizen-centered energy transitions, and data-driven approaches for sustainable power systems. She holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Grenoble Alpes, where she specialized in fractal analysis of power grids. Dr. Sidqi leads and coordinates several national and international research projects in energy communities, living labs, and renewable energy integration.
Josep Maria Salanova Grau
Principal Researcher, CERTH/HIT
Josep Maria Salanova Grau
Principal Researcher, CERTH/HITDr. Josep Maria Salanova Grau is a Principal Researcher at the Hellenic Institute of Transport/Center for Research and Technology Hellas where he leads the operations research and data analysis laboratory supporting the Thessaloniki Smart Mobility Living Lab. He is a former member of the Board of Directors at the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL), where he currently leads the mobility working group. His expertise includes transport modelling, ITS and cooperative ITS, Operations Research for optimizing passenger and freight transport and Data Science. He accounts for more than 60 journal publications, 18 book chapters, more than 200 conference papers and more than 2000 citations in google scholar.
Merit Tatar
Member Executive Board, Institute of Baltic Studies
Merit Tatar
Member Executive Board, Institute of Baltic StudiesMerit Tatar, PhD, is a senior analyst and member of the executive board at the Institute of Baltic Studies in Estonia, Tartu. She has worked for over a decade on Living Lab and co-creation processes in several smart-city and energy-transition projects, including SmartEnCity, oPEN Lab and ClimaGen. Merit represents the ClimaGen Tartu Living Lab and brings to the panel practical experience of the barriers that keep promising local solutions from reaching wider use, as well as a strong interest in learning how others are addressing this challenge.
Sara Ahmed
Professor, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University
Sara Ahmed
Professor, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill UniversitySara Ahmed, PT, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, at McGill University, and a senior scientist at the RI-MUHC Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation and the Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire en réadaptation (CRIR). She leads a research program in person-centered digital health research and is the scientific director of the BRILLIANT learning health community project, part of a network of international Living Labs, and Open Science initiatives. Dr. Ahmed conducts research aimed at improving health outcomes for individuals with chronic diseases. Her research addresses the implementation of digital health solutions and patient-centered outcomes across trajectories of care to inform clinical and health system decision-making. She is an advisor for the Implementation of Patient-Centered Outcomes for the Quebec Support Unit, and the scientific director of the FRQS Digital Health Network.
Dr André Bussières
Professor, Department of Chiropractic, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Dr André Bussières
Professor, Department of Chiropractic, Université du Québec à Trois-RivièresDr. André Bussières is Professor in the Department of Chiropractic at Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (Canada) and Adjunct Professor at McGill University, the Institut Franco-Européen de Chiropraxie (France), the University of Manitoba, and the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College. From 2012 to 2018, he held a Professorship in Rehabilitation Epidemiology at McGill University. Dr. Bussières leads the Global Spine Care Initiative at World Spine Care and is a member of the World Rehabilitation Alliance (World Health Organization) and the Spine20 Scientific Taskforce. His research focuses on implementation science, rehabilitation, health services research, clinical practice guideline development and implementation, and health professions education. His work aims to accelerate the translation of evidence into practice through collaborative, partner-engaged approaches, including living labs and other real-world implementation strategies. He has authored over 160 peer-reviewed publications and is recognized for his contributions to evidence-informed rehabilitation and spine care.
Evdokimos Konstantinidis
Assistant Professor, Lab of Medical Physics and Digital Innovation at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Evdokimos Konstantinidis
Assistant Professor, Lab of Medical Physics and Digital Innovation at Aristotle University of ThessalonikiEvdokimos Konstantinidis is an Assistant Professor in Digital, Technological and Open Innovation in Health at the Lab of Medical Physics and Digital Innovation in the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He is Vice-Chair of the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL) and served as Chair from 2021 to 2024. He is coordinator of the ENoLL Health and Wellbeing Living Labs Working Group and his research interests lie predominately in Living Lab methodologies combined with agile aspects in the Health and Wellbeing domain, Open Science and Data Management as well as technological interventions in the field of healthcare. He is currently coordinating Horizon Europe projects on services for the European Open Science Cloud and on innovation experimentation frameworks through Living Labs. He has successfully coordinated the VITALISE project, aiming to harmonize the procedures and ICT tools of the Health and Wellbeing Living Labs, towards creating an open ecosystem for the European researchers.
Bianca Elena Mihăilă
Lecturer, Faculty of Sociology and Social Work, University of Bucharest
Bianca Elena Mihăilă
Lecturer, Faculty of Sociology and Social Work, University of BucharestBianca Elena Mihăilă is a researcher and university lecturer at the Faculty of Sociology and Social Work, University of Bucharest. She is affiliated with the Center for Innovation in Medicine (InoMed) and the Center for Advanced Studies in Organizations and Complex Networks (GraphNets). Her current research focuses on the interaction between science, citizen engagement, and public policy. Recently, her work has explored how citizen engagement is designed and implemented in health policy processes, as well as how different stakeholders interact within policy landscapes. Her broader research interests include migration studies, examining how migrants access employment opportunities through transnational social networks, the role of personal networks in shaping health behaviors, and scientometric research on the impact of transnational co-authorship on academic prestige. Methodologically, she works with both quantitative and qualitative approaches, including social statistics, personal network analysis, and participatory network-based methods (Net-Map).
Emanuela Buzenche
Bioengineer, User Experience & Living Lab Researcher, Good Tech Living Lab
Emanuela Buzenche
Bioengineer, User Experience & Living Lab Researcher, Good Tech Living LabMy work focuses on co-creation, innovation project development, stakeholder engagement, and the assessment of innovation impact through Living Lab methodologies. I facilitate innovation workshops, conduct applied research, and contribute to national and international initiatives that support user-centered and socially impactful innovation.
Fiona Zimmermann
Senior Research Associate & Panel Manager, Energy Living Lab
Fiona Zimmermann
Senior Research Associate & Panel Manager, Energy Living LabFiona Zimmermann is a senior research associate working as a panel manager at the Energy Living Lab at 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.
Tuija Hirvikoski
Member of EC Expert Groups
Tuija Hirvikoski
Member of EC Expert GroupsTuija Hirvikoski is a Finnish innovation and higher-education leader with extensive experience in stakeholder collaboration, regional development, and living-lab ecosystems. As a Director at Laurea University of Applied Sciences, she has led strategic stakeholder management and innovation partnerships. Internationally recognized for her work in open innovation, user-centred design, and ecosystem development, she has held leadership roles across higher education and the public sector. Her expertise lies in bringing together businesses, public authorities, researchers, and citizens to co-create solutions through Living Lab approaches. She holds a PhD in Industrial Management and serves on the board of the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL).
Aaron Ehrat
Operational Sustainability Manager, Zurich University of Applied Sciences
Aaron Ehrat
Operational Sustainability Manager, Zurich University of Applied SciencesAaron is an engineer and sustainability professional with a focus on data-driven approaches to positive environmental and social impact. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master's in Management, Technology, and Economics from ETH Zurich. Before joining the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) in early 2025, he worked in the energy sector and contributed to an education project with Helvetas in Mozambique as part of his Master's studies. At ZHAW, he supports the development of sustainability data and processes, helping to strengthen evidence-based sustainability management across the institution, with a key focus on university operations. Aaron values direct collaboration and the use of data insights to drive meaningful, practical change toward more sustainable systems.
Claudia Stuckrath
PhD Researcher, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development Utrecht University (CLU)
Claudia Stuckrath
PhD Researcher, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development Utrecht University (CLU)
Claudia Stuckrath is a PhD researcher at the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development at Utrecht University, studying campus living labs for sustainability transitions with a focus on the circular economy. She is also an advisor at the Centre for Living Labs at Utrecht University. Claudia serves as Topical Leader for “Campus, Universities and HEI” in the ENoLL Research Working Group and Co-SIG Leader for Living Labs at ISPIM. 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 research explores how universities can use living labs to increase sustainability impact by bridging the academic and non-academic worlds.
Torsten Masseck
Director, LOW3 Living Lab
Torsten Masseck
Director, LOW3 Living LabTorsten Masseck is an Associate Professor (Serra Hunter Fellow) in the Department of Architectural Technology at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Faculty of Architecture ETSAV, where he teaches Construction Systems, Energy, and Sustainable Housing and Lifestyles. He is an expert in Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) and Zero Energy Buildings, and since 2003 has led the Solar Research Unit CISOL and the LOW3 Living Lab (www.livinglab-low3.blogspot.com) at ETSAV (UPC). He is the UPC coordinator of European research projects related to smart buildings and smart cities, such as REGEN4BE (Regenerative Neighbourhoods – Campus Lab ETSAV), Roadmaps for Energy – R4E (Horizon 2020), and the Sustainable Lifestyles Accelerator, developing strategies and tools for the sustainability transition of buildings, cities, and society. His passion is transformative teaching based on living‑lab methodologies, engaging students in real‑world, collective, and experience‑based approaches that include interdisciplinary collaboration, discussion of values, and practical experiences of behavioural change. https://futur.upc.edu/TorstenMasseck
Stavros Filippidis
Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Western Macedonia, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Stavros Filippidis
Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Western Macedonia, Department of Electrical and Computer EngineeringStavros P. Filippidis is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, Greece, specializing in energy storage technologies, smart grids, and sustainable energy systems. He received his Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering in 2025, focusing on the optimization of superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) systems. His research interests include superconducting technologies, renewable energy integration, power system optimization, digital twins, and advanced energy storage applications. He has participated in numerous European research projects, including Horizon Europe, Horizon 2020, LIFE, Erasmus+, and IPA ADRION initiatives, contributing to innovative solutions for energy transition and decarbonization. Dr. Filippidis has authored several peer-reviewed journal articles and conference papers, particularly in the fields of superconductivity and power systems. Alongside his research, he teaches undergraduate courses in energy economics and power systems and actively supervises student projects while developing digital platforms supporting research and engineering education.
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.
Koen Vervoort
Senior Stakeholder Strategist, ENoLL
Koen Vervoort
Senior Stakeholder Strategist, ENoLLHelping Living Labs since 2006 @i-City, IBBT, iMinds, City of Thing, iMec as Stakeholder engagement specialist and now as a Senior Stakeholder Strategist at ENoLL, building bridges and opportunities for all members and interested parties. With nearby 20 years of experience in User Involvement, Panel Management and Stakeholder Engagement, Koen is constantly trying to strengthen the Living Lab community around the globe.
Helena Pérez
Integration Manager, Alimara Living Lab (CETT-UB, University of Barcelona)
Helena Pérez
Integration Manager, Alimara Living Lab (CETT-UB, University of Barcelona)Helena Pérez serves as Integration Manager at the Alimara Living Lab (CETT-UB, University of Barcelona), where she works on bridging the gap between academia and industry at Europe's first university hotel. In this role, she designs and leads real-world projects at the intersection of education, innovation, and hospitality — including initiatives that have served as the basis for applied research. Her Master's thesis, which drew on one such project, was recognised with the Best Thesis Award in Spain by RedIntur Icarion 2025. She is also a Lecturer, Researcher and Academic Coordinator at EUHT CETT-UB, where she is a member of the GRATiR Research Group and coordinates postgraduate programmes in hospitality and revenue management. Her areas of expertise include hotel innovation, customer experience, strategic management, and the integration of technology within tourism businesses and services. She holds a degree in Tourism and Hotel Management, and a Master's in Tourism Project Development and Launch with a mention in Business and Experience Digitalisation.
Julia Backhaus
Coordinator Living Labs Incubator, RWTH Aachen University
Julia Backhaus
Coordinator Living Labs Incubator, RWTH Aachen UniversityJulia Backhaus is a postdoctoral researcher and coordinator of the Living Labs Incubator at RWTH Aachen University. Her work focuses on collaboration, participation, and making science, technology, and innovation more inclusive and democratic. She is particularly interested in practice-based, pluralistic approaches to sustainability transitions and studies how open experimentation and engaged research can drive societal change. After earning her PhD at the Maastricht Sustainability Institute, Julia is dedicated to creating collaborative spaces in research and education that connect people across social spheres and sectors to build fairer, more sustainable futures. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-backhaus-7701258a/
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.
Vicky Van der Auwera
Research Manager, LiCalab
Vicky Van der Auwera
Research Manager, LiCalabVicky holds a Master’s degree in Engineering Sciences from Brussels University Belgium, where she graduated as civil mechanical-electrical engineer and worked several years in private sector in the area of machine design and construction. Since 2012, she is Research Manager and co-founder of LiCalab (Living and Care lab), responsible for day-to-day management and strategy. Vicky has an extensive experience in leading cross border projects and activities with EU living labs (e. g. H2020 Vitalise-project, Horizon Europe DiCE-project, Interreg CrossCare-project.) LiCalab is an effective member of the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL) and is member of the Living Lab Harmonization Working Group, that focuses on harmonising and standardising the methods and tools used by Living Labs.
Ingrid Adriaensen
Business Manager, LiCalab
Ingrid Adriaensen
Business Manager, LiCalabIngrid combines an academic background in business management and communication with extensive experience in international business development, strategy, and innovation. Since 2016, she has been contributing to the development of LiCalab, a research group and Living Lab within Thomas More University of Applied Sciences. At LiCalab she supports and manages innovation projects in healthcare and social care. Her work focuses on facilitating collaboration between companies, healthcare organisations, knowledge institutions, and end users to translate innovative ideas into real-world impact. She is passionate about leveraging Living Lab methodologies to ensure that healthcare innovations are inclusive, accessible, and aligned with the needs of citizens and care providers.
Dimitri Schuurman
Senior Research Strategist, ENoLL
Dimitri Schuurman
Senior Research Strategist, ENoLLDimitri is a university business developer at research group imec-MICT-Ghent University where he is responsible for research on inclusive design, impact via Living Labs, and futures studies, all in the context of emerging technologies. He is a visiting professor of strategic design and innovation management at Ghent University and works part-time for the European Network of Living Labs as Senior Research Strategist. His PhD on innovation management in Living Labs developed a three-layered model that is widely used in Living Lab research and practice. Finally, Dimitri is active as an independent consultant in open innovation, user innovation and strategic innovation management.
David Chadima
Healthcare Innovation Manager, Bax Company
David Chadima
Healthcare Innovation Manager, Bax CompanyDavid Chadima is an Innovation Manager at Bax Company, based in Barcelona. His work sits where healthcare and homecare technologies meet real care settings, with a focus on how promising solutions actually get piloted, adopted and scaled rather than left as prototypes. He speaks on behalf of ACE, the Interreg North Sea project that spent 3,5 years accelerating the uptake of homecare technologies for older adults across six countries. ACE put technologies into the hands of care workers, providers and older adults, tested them in day-to-day care, and gathered honest feedback on what worked, what got in the way, and what it takes to make adoption stick. David's contribution centred on translating that hands-on pilot experience into practical guidance for care organisations and decision-makers, and on drawing out the conditions that let homecare innovation take hold in real life rather than only in trials. That interest in moving from pilot to lasting practice runs through his wider work. He leads DigiH4A, which works with digital health SMEs to open reimbursement pathways and build trust between providers and patients, two of the barriers that most often keep good technologies from reaching patients at scale. He has co-authored a report on how digital health SMEs navigate reimbursement across the EU, and has presented on EU-wide homecare implementation on the international stage. He brings a view of what real-world implementation actually demands. Close work with end users, attention to the everyday realities of care, and a clear eye on the systemic conditions, from funding to trust, that decide whether a technology is used briefly or becomes part of everyday care.
Despoina Petsani
Research Associate, Lab of Medical Physics and Digital Innovation, AUTH
Despoina Petsani
Research Associate, Lab of Medical Physics and Digital Innovation, AUTHDespoina Petsani received her MSc in Medical Informatics and diploma in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. She is Research Associate in the Lab of Medical Physics and Digital Innovation, School of Medicine of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and serves as Chief Innovation Officer at Xeeti. Her expertise lies in decision support systems, AI-driven digital health solutions and Living Labs. She has worked extensively with SMEs, academia, and international consortia, excelling in proposal writing, project management, and user-centered research and innovation. Since 2017, she has led and contributed to numerous EU-funded projects, including VITALISE (H2020), where she coordinated Living Lab harmonization process and the EVOLVE2CARE Horizon Europe project where she is Mission Coordinator. She is co-chairing the ENoLL Living Lab Harmonization Working Group and the ENoLL Health & Wellbeing Working Group. She was also member of the Organizing Committee of the Health and Wellbeing Living Lab Symposium 2024 and 2025.
Camilla Evensson
Head of Group Data-driven Society and Health, RISE Research Institute of Sweden
Camilla Evensson
Head of Group Data-driven Society and Health, RISE Research Institute of SwedenCamilla is the manager of RISE´s focus area Future Health and Care that aims to mobilize diverse stakeholders in society to innovate health and care with technology, collaboration and solutions from a systems´ perspective. She has experience in working with cross-disciplinary partnerships with stakeholders like trade and industry, public sector, civil society and end users. She is leading initiatives with a focus on complex societal challenges e.g. the demographicdevelopment, technology test and implementation. Camilla is the lead manager of the Interreg North Sea region project ACE, she is also part of the executive board in ECTP Built4Life.
Giulia Campodonico
Head of Projects, ENoLL & Coordinator of the SOILL-Startup Project
Giulia Campodonico
Head of Projects, ENoLL & Coordinator of the SOILL-Startup ProjectGiulia Campodonico has over 15 years of work experience in EU policies and projects in the Research and Innovation field. Her passion for technology, co-creation, and innovation led her to join ENoLL in 2022 as Head of Projects. In this role, Giulia focuses on coordinating the association work on proposal preparation and project management, while also supporting ENoLL’s services to members and advocacy efforts. In this context, Giulia is the coordinator of the SOILL Framework Partnership and the SOILL-Startup project. Funded by the European Commission’s Mission “A Soil Deal for Europe”, these actions aim to support the network of 100 Soil Health Living Labs and Lighthouses across Europe. Before joining ENoLL, Giulia led the EU proposals team at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), where she worked on 150+ proposals and projects connecting research with real-world applications. Her background in political sciences, journalism, European studies, and project management brought her to Brussels, where she has worked for different European non-profit organizations, including EUROCITIES, as an EU project manager, focusing in particular on green and digital innovation.
Luis Sánchez Alvarez
Head of Sector, Research and Innovation, DG AGRI
Luis Sánchez Alvarez
Head of Sector, Research and Innovation, DG AGRILuis Sánchez is Head of Sector at DG AGRI (Agriculture and Rural Development), Unit F.2 ‘Research and Innovation’, European Commission. He joined DG AGRI in January 2023 and coordinates the EU Mission Soil team. Luis is Agricultural Engineer and holds a PhD in the field of water and nutrient management in arable crops. Before joining the European Commission in 2017 (DG Research and Innovation, European Innovation Council), he worked for almost 20 years in agricultural policy and R&I in the Madrid Regional Government in technical and senior management positions.
Teemu Santonen
Principal Lecturer, Laurea University of Applied Sciences
Teemu Santonen
Principal Lecturer, Laurea University of Applied SciencesDr Teemu Santonen holds a DSc (Econ.) degree in Information Systems Science. He has published over 90 scientific articles, including 25 focused on Living Lab methods, services, business models, innovation network orchestration, and case studies. Santonen has coordinated and participated in numerous international and national Living Lab and open innovation projects across various domains, including health and wellbeing, creative industries, circular economy and sustainability, pedagogical development, and forestry, agriculture, and fisheries. He has been an ENoLL Council member since 2022 and is co-leading ENoLL’s Harmonisation Working Group, which aims to reconcile differences and promote coherence in Living Lab practices. He also serves on the scientific panels of both ENoLL and the International Society for Professional Innovation Management (ISPIM), and is a former board member of the Finnish Strategic Management Society. Before his academic career, Santonen worked for over a decade as a development manager in leading Finnish financial, media, and ICT sector organisations.
Heleen Vreugdenhil
Expert Innovation Processes, DELTARES
Heleen Vreugdenhil
Expert Innovation Processes, DELTARESDr. Heleen Vreugdenhil is an expert in innovation processes in water and environmental management. She earned her PhD from Delft University of Technology based on pilot projects in water management and specialises in designing, managing, and implementing innovations in complex multi-stakeholder settings such as river and coastal areas. Her work focuses on co-creation, knowledge management, and scaling innovations from pilot projects to full implementation and institutionalisation, with a strong emphasis on bridging science and policy to maximise impact. Her experience spans coastal restoration, river management, sustainable ports, offshore wind farms, nature-based solutions (NbS), business models for water landscapes, and operational river management pilots. She has led and supported projects on financing and institutionalising NbS, sustainability assessments, knowledge management, plastic removal, erosion prevention, and automated monitoring. Heleen holds a dual appointment at Deltares and TU Delft, connecting academic research with practical implementation. She teaches the Master’s course Building with Nature and Beyond and supervises PhD and MSc students. She is also active in the Netherlands Centre of River Studies (NCR), the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL), and serves on the editorial team of the International Journal of Water Governance. Her ambition is to strengthen collaboration between academia and practice to increase the impact of innovation in water management.
Marta Martorell Camps
Director, Digital Society Technologies (DST) research group, i2CAT
Marta Martorell Camps
Director, Digital Society Technologies (DST) research group, i2CATMarta Martorell Camps is the director of the Digital Society Technologies (DST) research group at i2CAT and a member of the Board of the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL). A specialist in digital social innovation, Living Labs, digital rights, and value-based impact assessment (Key Value Indicators – KVIs), she promotes ethical, inclusive, and people-centered approaches to digital transformation. She leads European and international projects related to the digital and green transition, socio-digital inclusion, international cooperation, and the development of open innovation ecosystems. She is a frequent speaker at international forums such as OpenLivingLab Days, the UN Science Summit, ISIRC, and the Smart City Expo World Congress. She is currently a PhD candidate in the Sustainability program at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), where she researches methodologies for assessing the impact of social and digital innovation aimed at generating public and social value.
Aashna Mittal
Postdoctoral researcher at the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management, TU Delft
Aashna Mittal
Postdoctoral researcher at the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management, TU DelftAashna Mittal is a postdoctoral researcher at the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management at TU Delft. Her work focuses on how diverse stakeholders learn, negotiate and make decisions together in complex water and climate-adaptation settings. Serious games are one of the tools she uses within this broader agenda. She is motivated by developing more structured, transparent approaches to designing such interventions and making evaluation in participatory settings more systematic and rigorous, so that it is possible to understand whether these interventions actually work—what participants take away, and whether their decisions shift.
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.
Michelle Gonzalez Torres
Junior Project Manager - ENoLL
Michelle Gonzalez Torres
Junior Project Manager - ENoLLMichelle Gonzalez Torres is a Junior Project Manager at the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL), with experience in European project management and communications. She holds master’s degree in International Relations in the Digital Era from LUMSA University. Her master’s thesis, “Strategic Business Models for Living Labs: Designing Sustainable Innovation Ecosystems,” explores business model innovation and sustainability in Living Lab environments. At ENoLL, Michelle contributes to EU-funded projects, leads communication activities, and acts as the SPOC for the Culture & Creativity Working Group, as well as Co-SPOC for the Digital Urban Systems & Solutions for Transition – Urban Innovation (DUSST-UI) Working Group. Her professional interests lie at the intersection of green and digital transformation, open innovation, and sustainable urban development. She is dedicated to advancing her expertise in Living Labs, project management, and co-creation methodologies that foster inclusive and regenerative innovation ecosystems.
Iris Kerst
Programme Manager, ENSUT & Co-lead of the ENoLL Working Group on Regenerative Placemaking and Tourism
Iris Kerst
Programme Manager, ENSUT & Co-lead of the ENoLL Working Group on Regenerative Placemaking and TourismIris Kerst is Programme Manager of the Expertise Network Sustainable Urban Tourism (ENSUT) at Inholland University of Applied Sciences and is actively involved in the Rotterdam location of the Urban Leisure & Tourism Lab. She supervises students in applied research and graduation projects on a range of topics, including placemaking, sustainable tourism and urban development. Iris also co-leads the ENoLL Working Group on Regenerative Placemaking and Tourism, fostering international collaboration and knowledge exchange on regenerative approaches to destinations and communities.
Donagh Horgan
Senior Researcher, New Urban Tourism & Co-lead of the ENoLL Working Group on Regenerative Placemaking and Tourism
Donagh Horgan
Senior Researcher, New Urban Tourism & Co-lead of the ENoLL Working Group on Regenerative Placemaking and TourismDr. Donagh Horgan is a Senior Researcher in New Urban Tourism at Inholland University of Applied Sciences and is actively engaged in the Rotterdam location of the Urban Leisure & Tourism Lab. He supervises students undertaking graduation and research projects across a variety of themes, including placemaking, community engagement and sustainable urban transformation. Donagh co-leads the ENoLL Working Group on Regenerative Placemaking and Tourism, bringing together researchers and practitioners to explore innovative, place-based approaches to tourism and urban development.
Jokin Garatea
International Business Director of International Projects, GAIA
Jokin Garatea
International Business Director of International Projects, GAIAHe is an expert on dissemination and exploitation plans. Has participated in more than 80 EU projects. Member of different European networks (ENoLL, Greenovate Europe, EIIT culture KIC), promoter and evaluator of Living Labs, coordinator of the Basque District of Culture and Creativity Vice-president of Ocean Living Lab for promotion and technological innovation of water-related culture and sport activities in a preserved environment of Urdaibai. Jokin is counsellor for sustainability in the municipality of Forua, at the Reserve of the biosphere of Urdaibai. Its cultural and natural heritage is critical to be maintained through innovative projects. Jokin has a Law Degree, from Deusto University, Spain, a MSc in CSR in Football Clubs and is a PhD candidate in Industrial Psychology.
Inés Sylverans
General Manager, The Beacon
Inés Sylverans
General Manager, The Beacon
Inés Sylverans is General Manager of The Beacon, Antwerp’s innovation hub at the crossroads of the city and its port, bringing together a community of over 100 tech companies working on smart industry, ports and logistics, and smart mobility.
Over the past years The Beacon has evolved from a closed innovation lab into an open, operational testing environment where industry, government and research institutions co-develop and validate real-world solutions, from autonomous vehicles and digital twins to cybersecurity technology. This happens in close collaboration with the founding partners: City of Antwerp, imec, Lantis, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges and the University of Antwerp.
Inés also co-founded Hubs4Growth, a nationwide network connecting Belgium’s leading innovation hubs. At OpenLivingLab Days 2026 she brings a practitioner’s perspective on how Living Labs can move beyond experimentation to become genuine strategic partners for industry.
René Luigies
Liaison Officer, Games for Health
René Luigies
Liaison Officer, Games for HealthRené Luigies studied medicine at Utrecht University and holds an MBA from Bradford University. He has a long career in the global medical industry, and through his own company acted as a consultant on healthcare innovation projects for Dutch healthcare insurers, universities and hospitals. He has an extensive national and international network across government bodies, universities and research institutions. In 2011 he joined the Games for Health Europe Foundation as programme director, and in 2016 Games for Health b.v. as business development manager. In his current position he is responsible for several European funded projects, including Horizon Europe, Eurostars and Interreg. Games for Health is internationally recognised for its expertise in the design of behavioural change strategies through playful interaction applied in healthcare, wellbeing and society.
Amna Potočnik
Head of Regional Development Research Group, RDA Podravje, Maribor
Amna Potočnik
Head of Regional Development Research Group, RDA Podravje, Maribor
Amna Potočnik holds a PhD in Economics and Business Sciences, with a focus on International Management, from the University of Maribor.
She is a senior expert in regional development, international cooperation, territorial innovation and applied research, with more than 25 years of experience in European programmes, cross-border cooperation, strategic planning and regional development policy. She currently works at the Regional Development Agency for Podravje in Maribor as Head of the Regional Development Research Group.
Her work focuses on project development, stakeholder engagement, participatory processes, policy support and the preparation of strategic documents and recommendations for regional and local development. She also initiated the Open Innovation Lab ORbITaLA, creating a transdisciplinary platform for open innovation.
Dolinda Cavallo
Project Manager, ENoLL
Dolinda Cavallo
Project Manager, ENoLL
Dolinda Cavallo is a Project Manager at the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL). She holds a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Bologna – Forlì Campus, along with a bachelor’s degree in foreign languages and cultures where she studied English, Spanish, and Russian at the University of Pavia.
Her career spans various European countries where she has contributed to non-profit organizations as both a Project Manager and Coordinator of EU-funded projects covering diverse areas such as agriculture, soil, environment, migration, and social inclusion.
Currently, Dolinda is actively engaged in ENoLL’s portfolio of Agri and Soil-related projects and co-chairs the working group on Agriculture, Agrifood, and Rural issues.
Reindert Devlamynck
Research Leader Energy and Circular Economy, and Living Lab Coordinator, Living Lab Inagro
Reindert Devlamynck
Research Leader Energy and Circular Economy, and Living Lab Coordinator, Living Lab Inagro
Reindert Devlamynck works for Inagro, the applied research and advisory centre for agriculture and horticulture in Flanders, Belgium.
He was involved in the foundation and establishment of the Living Lab Circularity of Inagro in 2020. In 2026 this evolved into a merged Living Lab of Inagro focusing on innovative farming systems, covering areas such as greenhouse horticulture and soil health.
His role in the Living Lab is to structure its activities and to support and educate colleagues in reaching the highest quality of multi-actor approach.
Gerda Jónász
Research Lead, Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (ÖMKi)
Gerda Jónász
Research Lead, Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (ÖMKi)Gerda Jónász specialises in developing and strengthening Agroecology Living Labs, with a focus on methodology, capacity building, multi-actor co-creation, and impact assessment. Currently, she leads the development and coordination of an Agroecology Living Lab Incubator Programme providing training and mentoring for emerging Living Lab initiatives, helping participants develop their ideas, partnerships, and collaborative processes towards implementation. Within the Agroecology Partnership, she coordinates the co-design of a shared impact assessment framework for Agroecology Living Labs and Research Infrastructures. Her work builds on extensive experience in organic agriculture research and farmer-participatory innovation, with a focus on strengthening collaboration, supporting scaling, and contributing to sustainable agricultural transitions.
Vasco Mantas
Director, Climate and Spatial Intelligence Platform, University of Coimbra, and International Member, NASA Precipitation Measurement Missions Science Team
Vasco Mantas
Director, Climate and Spatial Intelligence Platform, University of Coimbra, and International Member, NASA Precipitation Measurement Missions Science Team
Dr Vasco Mantas works at the Earth Science Department of the University of Coimbra, leads the university’s Climate and Spatial Intelligence Platform (CSIp), and is an international member of NASA’s Precipitation Measurement Missions Science Team. His work focuses on transforming Earth Observation data into actionable knowledge for communities, institutions and decision-makers, with a strong emphasis on land surface and atmosphere interactions and watershed resilience.
At CSIp, he develops and applies Earth Observation and AI-based methods using multi-modal data, integrating satellite observations, ground information, drones and other geospatial sources. This work supports multidisciplinary research and operational applications, including land use and land cover mapping, precipitation monitoring, product validation, vegetation characterisation, environmental risk assessment and watershed-scale decision support. A central goal is to create robust, transparent and user-oriented interconnected products that can be tested, improved and adopted through Living Lab approaches.
Beyond his research activities, he is Secretary of AGU Informatics, co-leads the NASA GPM Mentorship Programme, and mentors students, teachers and early career scientists internationally.
Bernard Thumerel
Managing Director and Project Manager at E2L, Design Thinking, Strategy
Bernard Thumerel
Managing Director and Project Manager at E2L, Design Thinking, StrategyI have been with E2L for over 13 years, where our team has developed an open innovation model focused on supporting companies in the creation of new services and in connecting technological research with societal needs. Our work addresses major challenges such as climate change and the energy transition, using a participatory approach that places users at the heart of the design process. My professional experience reflects a strong commitment to public policy innovation and public service design, strengthened through successful collaborations with organisations such as PUCA, Mines and INRAE. With extensive expertise in territorial development strategies and Living Labs, I work to build synergies between economic and societal innovation, contributing to the positive transformation of our environment and society.
Jordi Moreno
Project Manager and Researcher, Centre of Expertise Water Technology (CEW)
Jordi Moreno
Project Manager and Researcher, Centre of Expertise Water Technology (CEW)
Dr Jordi Moreno is a Project Manager and Researcher at the Centre of Expertise Water Technology (CEW) in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands. As part of the WaterCampus Leeuwarden innovation ecosystem, he develops and coordinates applied research projects that bridge scientific knowledge with practical implementation across the water sector.
His work focuses on water quality, microbiological water safety, Legionella risk management and membrane bioreactor technologies, supporting the validation and deployment of innovative solutions in real-world settings.
Jordi collaborates closely with companies, utilities, knowledge institutions and public authorities to translate research into practical applications that address societal water challenges. He regularly contributes to national and international knowledge exchange on water quality and applied water technology.
Andrea Rubini
Director of Operations, Water Europe
Andrea Rubini
Director of Operations, Water EuropeAndrea Rubini holds a degree in Hydraulic Engineering and has over 30 years of experience addressing the impacts of climate change on urban areas, industrial ecosystems and river basins. Over the past 20 years, he has been actively involved in shaping European policy, particularly in Brussels, with a focus on EU Research and Innovation policies in the water sector and related fields. His work follows a quintuple helix approach, fostering collaboration between academia, industry, government and civil society, with the environment at its core. As Chief Operating Officer of Water Europe, Andrea coordinates the organisation’s Collaboration and Implementation Programmes and represents Water Europe in strategic European Commission-funded initiatives, including Water4All and Processes4Planet.
Ana Cristina Fachinelli Bertolini
Professor and Researcher, University of Caxias do Sul, and Head of CityLivingLab
Ana Cristina Fachinelli Bertolini
Professor and Researcher, University of Caxias do Sul, and Head of CityLivingLabAna Cristina Fachinelli is a Professor and Researcher at the University of Caxias do Sul in Brazil, where she founded and leads CityLivingLab, an ENoLL Member Living Lab dedicated to knowledge-based urban development and citizen-centred innovation. She holds a PhD in Information and Communication Sciences from the University of Poitiers in France and a postdoctoral degree in Innovation and Knowledge-Based Development from the University of Deusto in Spain. Her research focuses on knowledge-based development, citizen science, urban resilience, sustainability and the use of artificial intelligence to support evidence-based decision-making in cities. Ana Cristina is Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Knowledge-Based Development. She collaborates frequently with universities, governments and innovation ecosystems to advance participatory approaches for more sustainable, resilient and knowledge-driven cities.
Suane Moschen
Professor of Management, University of Caxias do Sul, and Researcher, CityLivingLab
Suane Moschen
Professor of Management, University of Caxias do Sul, and Researcher, CityLivingLab
Suane A. Moschen is an architect and urban planner, Doctor of Business Administration, and Professor of Management at the University of Caxias do Sul (UCS), Brazil. She is also a researcher at CityLivingLab UCS, where her work focuses on smart and sustainable cities, urban innovation, social innovation, citizen engagement, public governance and data-driven decision-making.
Her doctoral research investigated how citizens’ commitment to social innovations can contribute to sustainable urban development, combining quantitative and qualitative methods with a citizen science approach. Suane has professional experience in municipal public administration, working with urban data, governance, process management, project management and transparency initiatives.
She has contributed to research and applied projects on city indicators, resilience, decarbonisation, urban observatories and innovation ecosystems. Her interdisciplinary practice connects academia, government and communities to develop evidence-based strategies and collaborative solutions for more inclusive, resilient and sustainable cities.
Ambre Laplaud
Research & Innovation Project Manager, Gérontopôle Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Ambre Laplaud
Research & Innovation Project Manager, Gérontopôle Nouvelle-AquitaineAmbre Laplaud holds a PhD in Health Law and is a Research & Innovation Project Manager at the Gérontopôle Nouvelle-Aquitaine (France). She is an associated researcher at the HAVAE research unit (UR 20217, University of Limoges) and sits on the Scientific and Ethics Committee of the GCS EDS Nova (Limoges University Hospital). Her work lies at the intersection of health law, bioethics and digital health policy, with a focus on the social ethics of digital technology and healthy ageing. A substantial part of her activity consists in supporting digital health innovators — start-ups, research teams and care providers — in addressing the ethical and regulatory dimensions of their projects, from early design to deployment. This includes European and national requirements, ethical assessment, and a "compliance by design" approach developed through her work. She also teaches health data protection and digital health regulation at ILFOMER and 3iL (Limoges) and to Master's students in health and social care management.
Research Session Speakers
Dimitri Schuurman
Senior Research Strategist, ENoLL
Dimitri Schuurman
Senior Research Strategist, ENoLLDimitri is a university business developer at research group imec-MICT-Ghent University where he is responsible for research on inclusive design, impact via Living Labs, and futures studies, all in the context of emerging technologies. He is a visiting professor of strategic design and innovation management at Ghent University and works part-time for the European Network of Living Labs as Senior Research Strategist. His PhD on innovation management in Living Labs developed a three-layered model that is widely used in Living Lab research and practice. Finally, Dimitri is active as an independent consultant in open innovation, user innovation and strategic innovation management.
Violaine Coard
Research Program Coordinator and Innovation Coach, Smart Living Lab in Fribourg
Violaine Coard
Research Program Coordinator and Innovation Coach, Smart Living Lab in FribourgViolaine Coard is Research Program Coordinator and Innovation Coach at the Smart Living Lab in Fribourg, Switzerland. Specialized in Living Lab methodologies, stakeholder engagement and impact evaluation, she supports sustainability and energy transition initiatives. Her work focuses on helping researchers and practitioners identify needs, co-design solutions, and develop collaborative projects that are both user-centered and implementable in practice. Drawing on experience across academic, cultural, commercial, and technological settings, she brings a transversal perspective to innovation and collaboration.
Ben Robaeyst
Researcher, imec-mict-UGent
Ben Robaeyst
Researcher, imec-mict-UGentBen Robaeyst is a researcher at imec-mict-UGent, working at the intersection of living lab research, social innovation, and futures studies. His living lab research focuses on how impact in Living Labs can be understood and assessed in ways that are sensitive to context, participation, and the complexity of innovation processes. Rather than reducing impact to predefined indicators or short-term outputs, he examines how Living Labs generate broader forms of value, including knowledge development, network formation, capacity building, societal agenda-setting, and the creation of concrete solutions.
Magdalena Sawczuk
Assistant Professor, Institute of Entrepreneurship of the Jagiellonian University
Magdalena Sawczuk
Assistant Professor, Institute of Entrepreneurship of the Jagiellonian UniversityAssistant Professor, research and teaching staff member at the Institute of Entrepreneurship of the Jagiellonian University. A member of the Institute for Research on Cultural Organizations and a member of the Campus Living Lab team. Actively participates in recognized national and international conferences, organised, among others, by EIASM and ACEI. Her research interests focus on value co-creation processes, innovative activities (including crowdsourcing and crowdfunding), as well as relationship management and stakeholder experience creation, with particular emphasis on the context of museum institutions.
Feliciana Catino
Data Scientist and PhD Candidate in Computer Science and Mathematics
Feliciana Catino
Data Scientist and PhD Candidate in Computer Science and MathematicsFeliciana Catino is a Data Scientist and PhD Candidate in Computer Science and Mathematics at the University of Bari Aldo Moro, where her research focuses on artificial intelligence, medical imaging and multimodal biomarker discovery for the early detection of dementia and other neurocognitive diseases. She serves as Project Officer for the CALLIOPE – House of Emerging Technologies at the Department of Innovation and Smart City of the Municipality of Taranto and is a member of the Inter-institutional Centre for Urban Health, established by the Municipality of Taranto, the Local Health Authority of Taranto and ARPA Puglia. The Centre hosts CALLIOPE – One Health Open Innovation Living Lab Taranto, an accredited member of the European Network of Living Labs. Working at the intersection of public administration, research and open innovation, she contributes to the coordination of interdisciplinary programmes addressing the relationships between environment, urban living and population health through advanced AI and data-driven methods. Her activities include environmental biomonitoring and the prevention of biopsychosocial frailty, developed through collaboration among public authorities, healthcare organisations, citizens and national and international research institutions. Her publications and conference contributions cover AI-enabled health research, healthy ageing, environmental epidemiology, sustainable urban development and explainable machine-learning applications.
Stefania Savva
Director of Research & Development, The Hub Nicosia
Stefania Savva
Director of Research & Development, The Hub NicosiaDr Stefania Savva is a Belgium-based interdisciplinary researcher and Director of Research at SYNTHESIS Center for Research and Education, a VET accredited research institution, and The Hub Nicosia, a non profit educational NGO. She holds a Postdoc in museum-school sustainable synergies (cofunded by the EU and the Cyprus Research Foundation under DIDAKTOR programme, 2020), a PhD in Museum, Gallery and Heritage Studies (University of Leicester, 2016), an MA in Art, Craft and Design Education (Roehampton, 2009), and a BA in Primary Education (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 2008). Her research spans inclusive education, cultural heritage education, digital pedagogy, social innovation and design for social change. Her doctoral work on museum–school partnerships and multiliteracies led to frameworks including Museum Multiliteracies Practice, the Living Museum Partnership and Multiliteracies Performance Assessment Zones. She later introduced Entrepreneurial Cultural Affinity Spaces. Recent work covers inclusive STEM education, disability inclusion in the GLAM sector, living labs for participatory action research and civic engagement, sustainability education and post-digital cultural futures for gender equality and empowerment. She has independently authored more than ten successfully funded European research proposals.
Sirpa Toljander
Customer Experience Director, Dagmar
Sirpa Toljander
Customer Experience Director, DagmarSirpa Toljander is Customer Experience Director at Dagmar and a doctoral researcher specializing in customer experience management, participatory design methods, and design thinking. Her research and professional work examine how organizations can create business value through deeper customer understanding, human-centered innovation, and evidence-based development. She is particularly interested in the interplay between customers, organizations, and emerging technologies, exploring how artificial intelligence, co-creation, and design-driven approaches can enhance customer experiences, organizational capabilities, and business outcomes.
Michele Coletti
Associate Professor, GEM Alpine Business School
Michele Coletti
Associate Professor, GEM Alpine Business SchoolMichele Coletti, PhD, is Associate Professor and Co-Director of the MSc International Project Management at the GEM Alpine Business School (formerly known as Grenoble Ecole de Management). His academic and applied research focuses on experiential learning, governance of collaboration, and innovation systems and policies. His work has been published in academic outlets such as the Journal of Environmental Management and Economics of Innovation and New Technology.
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.
Dr. Abdolrasoul (Rasoul) Habibipour
Associate Professor in Information Systems, Luleå University of Technology, Sweden, and Managing Director of Botnia Living Lab
Dr. Abdolrasoul (Rasoul) Habibipour
Associate Professor in Information Systems, Luleå University of Technology, Sweden, and Managing Director of Botnia Living LabDr. Abdolrasoul (Rasoul) Habibipour is Associate Professor in Information Systems at Luleå University of Technology, Sweden, and Managing Director of Botnia Living Lab and educational program leader at LTU. His research focuses on participatory design, user engagement, co-creation, and Living Labs, with a particular interest in ethics, responsibility, and inclusive innovation. Rasoul has led and contributed to several international research and innovation projects and has extensive experience in developing and studying innovations in real-life settings.
Saša Štraus
Senior Food Systems Expert, ITC – Innovation Technology Cluster Murska Sobota
Saša Štraus
Senior Food Systems Expert, ITC – Innovation Technology Cluster Murska SobotaDr. Saša Štraus is a Senior Food Systems Expert at ITC – Innovation Technology Cluster Murska Sobota, Slovenia, and Manager of the Green Point Living Lab. Her work focuses on agrifood living labs, real-life validation methodologies, multi-actor collaboration, and governance in European research and innovation projects. She is actively involved in developing and applying living lab methodologies that support the co-creation, real-life validation, and implementation of innovations across agrifood systems. Together with her research team, she is currently exploring governance models in agricultural living labs, with a particular focus on collaborative structures that enable effective collaboration and innovation.
Bernardo Rios
Living Lab Coordinator, Comillas Pontifical University
Bernardo Rios
Living Lab Coordinator, Comillas Pontifical UniversityBernardo Rios is the Living Lab Coordinator at Comillas Pontifical University and co-lead of a work package within EUPeace, the European University Alliance for Peace, Justice, and Inclusive Societies. He coordinates and develops the ecosystem surrounding a portfolio of Living Lab projects, connecting project teams, stakeholders, and institutional actors. He supports projects in their management, development, long-term sustainability, and impact assessment. His doctoral research examines the civic and democratic dimensions of university–society engagement, providing a research foundation for his work in building the relationships and institutional conditions that enable socially transformative initiatives to grow and endure.
Margot Verhelst
PhD Researcher, imec-mict-UGent
Margot Verhelst
PhD Researcher, imec-mict-UGentMargot Verhelst researches how digital technologies can promote social inclusion and well-being by developing and assessing accessible, inclusive innovative products and services that empower diverse communities.
Mårten Edberg
Master of Science in Environmental Planning and Urban Design
Mårten Edberg
Master of Science in Environmental Planning and Urban DesignMårten Edberg holds a Master of Science in Environmental Planning and Urban Design and has a background in regional development and infrastructure. He has worked as an infrastructure strategist at Region Västerbotten, where he was responsible for strategic infrastructure initiatives and contributed to policy development at regional, national and EU level. He is also actively involved in Tavelsjö ByaNät, a community-owned fibre network serving more than 100 villages in northern Sweden. Within Smart Landsbygd Living Lab, Mårten has been responsible for the design and practical implementation of a volunteer-based transport pilot, working closely with local residents and organisations. His experience spans policy, infrastructure, planning, local development and hands-on implementation, giving him a broad perspective on how new mobility, connectivity and service solutions can be developed, tested and translated into lasting value for rural communities.
Teemu Santonen
Principal Lecturer, Laurea University of Applied Sciences
Teemu Santonen
Principal Lecturer, Laurea University of Applied SciencesDr Teemu Santonen holds a DSc (Econ.) degree in Information Systems Science. He has published over 90 scientific articles, including 25 focused on Living Lab methods, services, business models, innovation network orchestration, and case studies. Santonen has coordinated and participated in numerous international and national Living Lab and open innovation projects across various domains, including health and wellbeing, creative industries, circular economy and sustainability, pedagogical development, and forestry, agriculture, and fisheries. He has been an ENoLL Council member since 2022 and is co-leading ENoLL’s Harmonisation Working Group, which aims to reconcile differences and promote coherence in Living Lab practices. He also serves on the scientific panels of both ENoLL and the International Society for Professional Innovation Management (ISPIM), and is a former board member of the Finnish Strategic Management Society. Before his academic career, Santonen worked for over a decade as a development manager in leading Finnish financial, media, and ICT sector organisations.
Alessandra Spagnoli
Associate Professor, Politecnico di Milano
Alessandra Spagnoli
Associate Professor, Politecnico di MilanoAlessandra Spagnoli is PhD and Associate Professor at the Department of Design, Politecnico di Milano, where she serves as Faculty Member of the School of Design and member of the PhD Design School. She is a member of the Retail Experience Lab and the Fashion & Textile Living Lab “Too Cool to Go Wasted.” Her research focuses on design-driven processes for developing Creative and Cultural Industries (CCIs), exploring performative and narrative structures in retail design, and investigating technological impacts on omnichannel customer experience. Through her expertise in consumption and distribution processes, she examines how design-driven innovation can facilitate sustainable transitions in fashion and textile systems, with emphasis on relational experiences in normalising circular behaviours. Her work encompasses developing servitisation and circular economy models across fashion distribution and consumption ecosystems.
Joanna Karas
Researcher, World Economy Research Institute at SGH Warsaw School of Economics
Joanna Karas
Researcher, World Economy Research Institute at SGH Warsaw School of EconomicsJoanna is a researcher at the World Economy Research Institute at SGH Warsaw School of Economics and an innovation expert working across sectors and countries. She has several years of experience in innovation-oriented projects that connect research with practical implementation, stakeholder engagement and ecosystem development. Her interests include Living Labs, innovation ecosystems, cross-sector collaboration and the transformative role of arts and culture. She is currently finalising her PhD at SGH, where her research focuses on the determinants of innovation performance in Urban Living Labs in European cities.
Johanna Hautamäki
RDI Expert and Service designer, Centria University of Applied Sciences
Johanna Hautamäki
RDI Expert and Service designer, Centria University of Applied SciencesJohanna Hautamäki (MA) works as an RDI expert, service designer and teacher at Centria UAS Entrepreneurship and business team and part of the Future working life research group. Developing continuous learning, entrepreneurial skills and future skills are a central part of her work. Her work as RDI expert includes doing multidisciplinary human centered development work with companies on services, strategies, continuous learning, business operations and organizational culture. Her research focus is especially on empathy methods, participatory methods, development through trial and combining service design with future studies and multidisciplinary applied simulation pedagogy. She has been developing and running a service prototyping environment at Centria since 2014 and Makerspace since 2023. Hautamäki is working in both international and national projects.
Fiona Zimmermann
Senior Research Associate & Panel Manager, Energy Living Lab
Fiona Zimmermann
Senior Research Associate & Panel Manager, Energy Living LabFiona Zimmermann is a senior research associate working as a panel manager at the Energy Living Lab at 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.
Ewelina Czujko-Moszyk
Project Manager, PCSS – Poznań Supercomputing and Networking Center
Ewelina Czujko-Moszyk
Project Manager, PCSS – Poznań Supercomputing and Networking CenterEwelina Czujko-Moszyk works in a research center – PSNC Future Labs – located in Poznań, Poland. As a Project Manager, she coordinates diverse projects in such areas as energy & environment, health and education. Being a Living Lab methodology enthusiast, she has been successfully spreading Living Lab ideas, tools and methods locally in municipalities, hospitals, clinics and libraries. She strives to engage in social projects which change lives and contribute to protecting our planet.
Mateus Panizzon
Professor and Researcher in Anticipatory Governance, University of Caxias do Sul
Mateus Panizzon
Professor and Researcher in Anticipatory Governance, University of Caxias do Sul
Dr Mateus Panizzon is a professor and researcher at the University of Caxias do Sul (UCS), Brazil, specialising in anticipatory governance systems. He is a faculty member of the doctoral Graduate Programme in Business Administration, contributes to the Innovation and Competitiveness research line, and conducts research with CityLivingLab.
His projects include GaIA, GeoAI, Cities+I, Living Labs Maturity, and Anticipatory Knowledge Transfer and Exchange. He holds a PhD in Innovation Management from PUCRS and completed a doctoral research period at the École de technologie supérieure, Université du Québec.
His research focuses on anticipatory governance, artificial intelligence, knowledge management, resilience and capabilities for innovation, with publications in journals including Futures, Technology in Society, the Journal of Knowledge Management and AI and Ethics. He is a member of the Futures4Europe community and Associate Editor of the International Journal of Knowledge-Based Development.
Hands-on Workshop Facilitators
Hilde Vandenhoudt
Project Manager & Researcher, LiCalab
Hilde Vandenhoudt
Project Manager & Researcher, LiCalabHilde Vandenhoudt, MD, MsC epidemiology, is project manager and researcher at LiCalab, a living and care lab at Thomas More University of Applied Sciences in Belgium. LiCalab focuses on health technology and new collaborative models in health by applying user-centric research. Hilde has a vast experience in primary health care, integrated care and prevention, in sub-Saharan Africa and in Flanders and in participatory action research. Her current work is linked to (digital) health literacy and inclusion to enhance health and quality of life of citizens using a participatory approach.
Leen Broeckx
Panel Manager, LiCalab
Leen Broeckx
Panel Manager, LiCalabLeen holds a master’s degree in communication science and a master’s degree in Cultural Studies. In 2013, Leen joined the LiCalab team at Thomas More University of Applied Sciences as panel manager. Her role within the team is to manage and guide the panel of more than 350 citizens, care organisations and caregivers. She supervises the Living Lab activities: from recruitment, scenario writing, guiding group discussions and real life tests through the processing the results. Leen champions Human Centered Design and she strongly believes in the participatory approach to healthcare innovation. Throughout the years, she has continued to develop her skills in co-creation techniques, including Lego Serious Play.
Marta Benet Blasco
Coordinator Impact Unit, Sant Joan de Déu Research Institute
Marta Benet Blasco
Coordinator Impact Unit, Sant Joan de Déu Research InstituteMarta Benet coordinates the Impact Unit at the Sant Joan de Déu Research Institute and the SJD Social Innova programme. She holds a PhD in Comprehensive Care and Health Services, along with two master’s degrees in Public Health and Psychosocial Intervention. Her work is characterised by a strong transdisciplinary approach, combining insights from health and social sciences to address complex social and health challenges. She has a solid background in gender and participation, with experience in teaching and research in public health, qualitative methods, and transversal skills. Her expertise includes participatory methodologies (including participatory evaluation), Living Lab and open innovation approaches, gender mainstreaming, and qualitative and mixed-methods research design. In project development, she focuses on analysingEuropean policy frameworks, shaping impact-driven proposals (including Theory of Change and impact pathways), and designing participatory evaluation and co-creation methodologies.
Alexánder Alegría Lozada
Impact Project Manager, Sant Joan de Déu Research Institute
Alexánder Alegría Lozada
Impact Project Manager, Sant Joan de Déu Research InstituteAlex works as an Impact Project Manager at the Sant Joan de Déu Research Institute, focusing on the evaluation of social and health projects, as well as providing support for the conceptualization of projects within the SJD Social Innovation Programme. He holds bachelor's degrees in Sociology and in International Marketing and Advertising. He has also completed postgraduate studies in Public Administration with a focus on racial and gender perspectives and holds a Master's degree in Public Policy. His professional background combines research, impact evaluation, and participatory approaches in the fields of social issues and health. He has worked with diverse population groups across South America and Europe, with particular expertise in social determinants of health, intersectionality, and the meaningful integration of people's lived experiences into research and innovation projects.
Claudia Stuckrath
PhD Researcher, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development Utrecht University (CLU)
Claudia Stuckrath
PhD Researcher, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development Utrecht University (CLU)
Claudia Stuckrath is a PhD researcher at the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development at Utrecht University, studying campus living labs for sustainability transitions with a focus on the circular economy. She is also an advisor at the Centre for Living Labs at Utrecht University. Claudia serves as Topical Leader for “Campus, Universities and HEI” in the ENoLL Research Working Group and Co-SIG Leader for Living Labs at ISPIM. 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 research explores how universities can use living labs to increase sustainability impact by bridging the academic and non-academic worlds.
Susanne Kok
Manager, Centre for Living Labs at Utrecht University (CLU)
Susanne Kok
Manager, Centre for Living Labs at Utrecht University (CLU)Susanne Kok is the manager of Centre for Living Labs at Utrecht University (CLU). and a member of the management team of Utrecht University’s Sustainability Office. With a background in intercultural communications and sustainability, Susanne has much experience with building bridges between people, disciplines, departments and organizations, coaching various teams towards successful living labs, co-creations and collaborations.
Yashna Pande
Project Officer, Centre for Living Labs at Utrecht University (CLU)
Yashna Pande
Project Officer, Centre for Living Labs at Utrecht University (CLU)Yashna Pande works as a project officer for Centre for Living Labs at Utrecht University (CLU). Coming from a background in law, psychology and sociology and having completed an MSc in Clinical Psychology, Yashna is motivated to explore ways to curate experiences for people and promote a sense of belonging in both individual and group settings. Yashna is passionate about mental health and about bringing people together through co-creation, facilitation, and peer support.
Joep Wijnhoven
Portofolio Manager, Centre for Living Labs at Utrecht University (CLU)
Joep Wijnhoven
Portofolio Manager, Centre for Living Labs at Utrecht University (CLU)Joep Wijnhoven manages the portofolio of the Centre for Living Labs at Utrecht University (CLU). He graduated as a biologist but spent most of his career as a connector and facilitator in the fast-paced IT industry. He specialises in optimising collaborations within and between organisations to achieve mutually agreed goals. Joep likes a challenge, and nothing is more challenging than turning strategy into reality when we talk about sustainability.
Maryse Chappin
Associate Professor, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development at Utrecht University (CLU)
Maryse Chappin
Associate Professor, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development at Utrecht University (CLU)Maryse Chappin is an Associate Professor at the Innovation Studies section of the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development at Utrecht University. She is a member of the board of the Centre for Living Labs at Utrecht University (CLU). Her research focuses on collaboration and networks as well as on the impact of the institutional environment on (sustainable) innovation.
Despoina Petsani
Research Associate, Lab of Medical Physics and Digital Innovation, AUTH
Despoina Petsani
Research Associate, Lab of Medical Physics and Digital Innovation, AUTHDespoina Petsani received her MSc in Medical Informatics and diploma in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. She is Research Associate in the Lab of Medical Physics and Digital Innovation, School of Medicine of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and serves as Chief Innovation Officer at Xeeti. Her expertise lies in decision support systems, AI-driven digital health solutions and Living Labs. She has worked extensively with SMEs, academia, and international consortia, excelling in proposal writing, project management, and user-centered research and innovation. Since 2017, she has led and contributed to numerous EU-funded projects, including VITALISE (H2020), where she coordinated Living Lab harmonization process and the EVOLVE2CARE Horizon Europe project where she is Mission Coordinator. She is co-chairing the ENoLL Living Lab Harmonization Working Group and the ENoLL Health & Wellbeing Working Group. She was also member of the Organizing Committee of the Health and Wellbeing Living Lab Symposium 2024 and 2025.
Evdokimos Konstantinidis
Assistant Professor, Lab of Medical Physics and Digital Innovation at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Evdokimos Konstantinidis
Assistant Professor, Lab of Medical Physics and Digital Innovation at Aristotle University of ThessalonikiEvdokimos Konstantinidis is an Assistant Professor in Digital, Technological and Open Innovation in Health at the Lab of Medical Physics and Digital Innovation in the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He is Vice-Chair of the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL) and served as Chair from 2021 to 2024. He is coordinator of the ENoLL Health and Wellbeing Living Labs Working Group and his research interests lie predominately in Living Lab methodologies combined with agile aspects in the Health and Wellbeing domain, Open Science and Data Management as well as technological interventions in the field of healthcare. He is currently coordinating Horizon Europe projects on services for the European Open Science Cloud and on innovation experimentation frameworks through Living Labs. He has successfully coordinated the VITALISE project, aiming to harmonize the procedures and ICT tools of the Health and Wellbeing Living Labs, towards creating an open ecosystem for the European researchers.
Teemu Santonen
Principal Lecturer, Laurea University of Applied Sciences
Teemu Santonen
Principal Lecturer, Laurea University of Applied SciencesDr Teemu Santonen holds a DSc (Econ.) degree in Information Systems Science. He has published over 90 scientific articles, including 25 focused on Living Lab methods, services, business models, innovation network orchestration, and case studies. Santonen has coordinated and participated in numerous international and national Living Lab and open innovation projects across various domains, including health and wellbeing, creative industries, circular economy and sustainability, pedagogical development, and forestry, agriculture, and fisheries. He has been an ENoLL Council member since 2022 and is co-leading ENoLL’s Harmonisation Working Group, which aims to reconcile differences and promote coherence in Living Lab practices. He also serves on the scientific panels of both ENoLL and the International Society for Professional Innovation Management (ISPIM), and is a former board member of the Finnish Strategic Management Society. Before his academic career, Santonen worked for over a decade as a development manager in leading Finnish financial, media, and ICT sector organisations.
Ana Cristina Fachinelli Bertolini
Professor and Researcher, University of Caxias do Sul, and Head of CityLivingLab
Ana Cristina Fachinelli Bertolini
Professor and Researcher, University of Caxias do Sul, and Head of CityLivingLabAna Cristina Fachinelli is a Professor and Researcher at the University of Caxias do Sul in Brazil, where she founded and leads CityLivingLab, an ENoLL Member Living Lab dedicated to knowledge-based urban development and citizen-centred innovation. She holds a PhD in Information and Communication Sciences from the University of Poitiers in France and a postdoctoral degree in Innovation and Knowledge-Based Development from the University of Deusto in Spain. Her research focuses on knowledge-based development, citizen science, urban resilience, sustainability and the use of artificial intelligence to support evidence-based decision-making in cities. Ana Cristina is Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Knowledge-Based Development. She collaborates frequently with universities, governments and innovation ecosystems to advance participatory approaches for more sustainable, resilient and knowledge-driven cities.
Rafael de Lucena Perini
Professor and Researcher, University of Caxias do Sul, and Founding Member, CityLivingLab
Rafael de Lucena Perini
Professor and Researcher, University of Caxias do Sul, and Founding Member, CityLivingLab
Rafael de Lucena Perini is a professor and researcher at the University of Caxias do Sul (UCS), Brazil, where he teaches at undergraduate and graduate level and is a permanent faculty member of the Professional Master’s Programme in Planning and Management of Sustainable Cities.
He coordinates the distance learning Business Administration programme and is a founding member of CityLivingLab. He holds a PhD in Business Administration from UCS and was a visiting doctoral researcher at Wayne State University in Detroit.
His research centres on knowledge-based development, urban capital systems, territorial innovation, sustainability, and the transition from industrial cities to knowledge cities. He is currently conducting postdoctoral research on international models of urban transformation and collaborative governance.
Mateus Panizzon
Professor and Researcher in Anticipatory Governance, University of Caxias do Sul
Mateus Panizzon
Professor and Researcher in Anticipatory Governance, University of Caxias do Sul
Dr Mateus Panizzon is a professor and researcher at the University of Caxias do Sul (UCS), Brazil, specialising in anticipatory governance systems. He is a faculty member of the doctoral Graduate Programme in Business Administration, contributes to the Innovation and Competitiveness research line, and conducts research with CityLivingLab.
His projects include GaIA, GeoAI, Cities+I, Living Labs Maturity, and Anticipatory Knowledge Transfer and Exchange. He holds a PhD in Innovation Management from PUCRS and completed a doctoral research period at the École de technologie supérieure, Université du Québec.
His research focuses on anticipatory governance, artificial intelligence, knowledge management, resilience and capabilities for innovation, with publications in journals including Futures, Technology in Society, the Journal of Knowledge Management and AI and Ethics. He is a member of the Futures4Europe community and Associate Editor of the International Journal of Knowledge-Based Development.
Cintia Paese Giacomello
Professor and Researcher in GeoAnalysis for Sustainability, University of Caxias do Sul
Cintia Paese Giacomello
Professor and Researcher in GeoAnalysis for Sustainability, University of Caxias do Sul
Cíntia Paese Giacomello is a professor and researcher at the University of Caxias do Sul in Brazil, affiliated with the Graduate Programme in Business and the Graduate Programme in Planning and Management of Sustainable Cities.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Statistics, a master’s degree in Production Engineering and a PhD in Business. At CityLivingLab she leads and contributes to projects that integrate data analytics, artificial intelligence, management and urban planning.
Her work emphasises robust research methodologies, the analysis of key indicators and the generation of evidence to inform strategic decision-making in urban development. She is also actively engaged in training researchers and in fostering collaboration between universities, public institutions, private organisations and society.
Marcelo Benetti Correa da Silva
City Living Lab Team
Marcelo Benetti Correa da Silva
City Living Lab TeamProf. Dr. Marcelo Benetti Correa da Silva - City Living Lab Team - University of Caxias do Sul (UCS) - Researcher in Sustainability and Citizen Engagement at the Master Program of of Sustainable Cities Planning and Management
Daniel Notari
City Living Lab Team
Daniel Notari
City Living Lab TeamProf. Dr. Daniel Notari - City Living Lab Team - University of Caxias do Sul (UCS) - Researcher in AI at the Master Program of Sustainable Cities Planning and Management, and the Master Program of Applied Computer Science
Dr. Gilman Yücel
Founder, Bahçeşehir Ortodonti & Dr. in Orthodontic
Dr. Gilman Yücel
Founder, Bahçeşehir Ortodonti & Dr. in OrthodonticDr. Gilman Yücel – Orthodontist Founding orthodontist at Bahçeşehir Ortodonti and board member of Bahçeşehir University Faculty of Dentistry and lead of Bahçeşehir Ortodonti Living Lab. Dr. Yücel is an award-winning clinician specializing in pediatric orthodontics and stress-reducing clinical design. Her team and she developed Animo AR, an augmented reality application deployed across clinical spaces to transform children's healthcare experiences, and has published extensively on its impact on pediatric dental anxiety.
Dr. Ferruh Semir Smail
Prosthodontist, Bahçeşehir Ortodonti Living Lab
Dr. Ferruh Semir Smail
Prosthodontist, Bahçeşehir Ortodonti Living LabProsthodontist and digital dentistry specialist at Bahçeşehir Ortodonti Living Lab. Dr. Smail leads the clinic's education and research programs and actively contributes to the prototyping and testing of digital platforms within the Living Lab.
Feyza Öz
International Relations & Project Specialist, Bahçeşehir Ortodonti Living Lab
Feyza Öz
International Relations & Project Specialist, Bahçeşehir Ortodonti Living LabInternational Relations & Project Specialist International relations and project specialist at Bahçeşehir Ortodonti Living Lab. Feyza coordinates external partnerships, supports the Lab's integration with international networks, and drives engagement with the ENoLL community.
Burcu Demir
Postdoctoral Researcher, Bahçeşehir Ortodonti Living Lab
Burcu Demir
Postdoctoral Researcher, Bahçeşehir Ortodonti Living LabPatient pyschology and academic processes specialist at Bahçeşehir Ortodonti Living Lab. Burcu supports the Lab's research collaborations, academic content development, and publication efforts, and is currently conducting postdoctoral research in the United States.
Nicola Marsden
Professor of Social Informatics, Heilbronn University
Nicola Marsden
Professor of Social Informatics, Heilbronn UniversityNicola is Professor of Social Informatics at Heilbronn University, Germany, where she leads the Lab for Social Informatics. Her research focuses on gender-responsive innovation, inclusive technology design, and the socially responsible development of AI. Using participatory and living lab approaches, she works with industry and society to address bias and foster human-centered innovation. She serves as an expert for several national and international bodies on gender, technology, and AI.
Edda Sellin
Researcher, Lab for Social Informatics, Heilbronn University
Edda Sellin
Researcher, Lab for Social Informatics, Heilbronn UniversityEdda is a researcher at the Lab for Social Informatics at Heilbronn University. She holds an M.A. in Gender Studies and a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology and combines deep theoretical expertise with practical experience in applying gender and diversity concepts across organizational and tech contexts.
Gabriella Quaranta
Head of Network, ENoLL
Gabriella Quaranta
Head of Network, ENoLLGabriella works in EU funded projects since more than ten years, working with multidisciplinary teams, fostering collaboration among a wide range of stakeholders. She also served as one of the Italian National Contact Point (NCP) for Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe, in the fields of transport and security. Throughout her career, she coordinated numerous EU-funded projects, not only overseeing project management but also leading dissemination, communication, and stakeholder engagement activities. This experience has enabled her to develop deep expertisein these areas. Additionally, she delivered dozens of training sessions on project management issues, Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe, helping to build capacity across the R&I community. After a long period in APRE, the Italian Agency for the Promotion of European Research, and two years at EMSO ERIC, the European Multidisciplinary Seafloor and Water Column Observatory, she enthusiastically joined ENoLL as Head of Network Unit and Senior Project Manager. In this role, she also coordinated the EU-funded project GILL - Gendered Innovation Living Labs.
Arianna Marucci
Project Manager, ENoLL
Arianna Marucci
Project Manager, ENoLLArianna is a Project Manager at ENoLL. She is part of the Projects Unit and the Proposals Writing team. In her role, Arianna was part of the coordination team for the GILL (Gendered Innovation Living Labs) project, where she has gained valuable experience in the coordination of EU projects. Arianna is the SPOC of the ENoLL Gender in Innovation Working Group, which explores the intersections between gender, entrepreneurship, and innovation in Living Labs.
Andra Tanase
Programme Manager, Transilvania IT Cluster
Andra Tanase
Programme Manager, Transilvania IT ClusterCurrently serving in the management team of Transilvania IT Cluster and engaging as programme manager, expert, trainer, mentor and coach, Andra's passion is to create projects and environments of personal, organisational and societal sustainable, innovative, strategic and systemic learning and development always working in pioneering fields. She gathers experience from working in international, multi-stakeholder environments (civil society, policy makers, businesses, academia, media and citizens) on topics related to green and digital transformation, conflict transformation, development cooperation and non-formal education. Her motto characterized by her realistic idealism is "be the change you want to see in the world".
Konstantina Tsimpita
Project Manager in European initiatives and Living Labs in the Health and Well-being sector
Konstantina Tsimpita
Project Manager in European initiatives and Living Labs in the Health and Well-being sectorKonstantina holds a Bachelor's degree in Physics (2021) and a Master's in Biomedical Engineering from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. She has experience in project management, particularly in European initiatives and Living Labs in the Health and Well-being sector. Her research focuses on Assistive Technologies and the use of AI and machine learning to extract health metrics from daily life data and predict health outcomes. She is also actively working on applying Living Lab methodologies in healthcare settings.
Emanuela Buzenche
Bioengineer, User Experience & Living Lab Researcher, Good Tech Living Lab
Emanuela Buzenche
Bioengineer, User Experience & Living Lab Researcher, Good Tech Living LabMy work focuses on co-creation, innovation project development, stakeholder engagement, and the assessment of innovation impact through Living Lab methodologies. I facilitate innovation workshops, conduct applied research, and contribute to national and international initiatives that support user-centered and socially impactful innovation.
Cristina Baghiu
Living Lab and European Digital Innovation Hub Coordinator. PhD researcher in AI Ethics
Cristina Baghiu
Living Lab and European Digital Innovation Hub Coordinator. PhD researcher in AI EthicsExpert in technology validation, test-before-invest, EU AI Act and societal readiness. Looking to expand Living Labs in Eastern Europe innovation ecosystems.
Brina Antunez Pineda
Researcher, Alimara Living Lab (CETT-UB, University of Barcelona)
Brina Antunez Pineda
Researcher, Alimara Living Lab (CETT-UB, University of Barcelona)Brina Antunez Pineda is a Lecturer at CETT Barcelona School of Tourism, Hospitality and Gastronomy and a Researcher at the Alimara Living Lab. She holds an MSc in Management, Organization, and Business Economics (2024) from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and is currently pursuing a PhD in Business at the University of Barcelona. Her research mainly explores how shaping customer behavior can enhance productivity, efficiency, and sustainability in the hospitality sector.
Helena Pérez
Integration Manager, Alimara Living Lab (CETT-UB, University of Barcelona)
Helena Pérez
Integration Manager, Alimara Living Lab (CETT-UB, University of Barcelona)Helena Pérez serves as Integration Manager at the Alimara Living Lab (CETT-UB, University of Barcelona), where she works on bridging the gap between academia and industry at Europe's first university hotel. In this role, she designs and leads real-world projects at the intersection of education, innovation, and hospitality — including initiatives that have served as the basis for applied research. Her Master's thesis, which drew on one such project, was recognised with the Best Thesis Award in Spain by RedIntur Icarion 2025. She is also a Lecturer, Researcher and Academic Coordinator at EUHT CETT-UB, where she is a member of the GRATiR Research Group and coordinates postgraduate programmes in hospitality and revenue management. Her areas of expertise include hotel innovation, customer experience, strategic management, and the integration of technology within tourism businesses and services. She holds a degree in Tourism and Hotel Management, and a Master's in Tourism Project Development and Launch with a mention in Business and Experience Digitalisation.
Marta Martorell Camps
Director, Digital Society Technologies (DST) research group, i2CAT
Marta Martorell Camps
Director, Digital Society Technologies (DST) research group, i2CATMarta Martorell Camps is the director of the Digital Society Technologies (DST) research group at i2CAT and a member of the Board of the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL). A specialist in digital social innovation, Living Labs, digital rights, and value-based impact assessment (Key Value Indicators – KVIs), she promotes ethical, inclusive, and people-centered approaches to digital transformation. She leads European and international projects related to the digital and green transition, socio-digital inclusion, international cooperation, and the development of open innovation ecosystems. She is a frequent speaker at international forums such as OpenLivingLab Days, the UN Science Summit, ISIRC, and the Smart City Expo World Congress. She is currently a PhD candidate in the Sustainability program at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), where she researches methodologies for assessing the impact of social and digital innovation aimed at generating public and social value.
Viviana Pérez Clausen
International Project Manager, Digital Society Technologies research group, i2CAT
Viviana Pérez Clausen
International Project Manager, Digital Society Technologies research group, i2CATViviana Pérez Clausen is a sociologist and international project leader specializing on social and digital innovation. She currently leads European and international projects in the Digital Society Technologies area at i2CAT, focused on creating inclusive, sustainable, and collaborative innovation ecosystems. She promotes Living Lab methodologies and Quadruple Helix collaborations to reduce social and digital gaps. She has over 20 years of experience in public administration, European project management, and international cooperation, and serves as a European expert for the SOCIEUX+ program, advising third countries on employment and social protection policies.
Joëlle Mastelic
Living Lab Manager, Researcher, and Full Professor, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland (HES-SO Valais-Wallis)
Joëlle Mastelic
Living Lab Manager, Researcher, and Full Professor, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland (HES-SO Valais-Wallis)Dr. Joëlle Mastelic is an experienced Living Lab manager, researcher, and Full Professor at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland (HES-SO Valais-Wallis), with a background in social marketing. She is the author of the Living Lab Integrative Process (LLIP), further developed and applied in multiple projects, educational activities, and Living Labs worldwide. She is a founding member and Vice President of the Energy Living Lab Association and coordinator of the SWEET Lantern project (2021–2029), a Swiss consortium of more than 20 institutions advancing energy transition through co-created and evidence-based solutions. A former council member of ENoLL and co-organiser of the Open Living Lab Days in Switzerland, she is also developing initiatives at the intersection of regenerative innovation, medicinal plants, and the transmission of traditional herbal knowledge through participatory and community-based approaches.
Anastasia Ponomareva
Senior Researcher and Living Lab Practitioner, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland (HES-SO)
Anastasia Ponomareva
Senior Researcher and Living Lab Practitioner, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland (HES-SO)Living Lab practitioner with a multidisciplinary background in urban planning, architecture, and innovation management. Senior researcher at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland (HES-SO), specialising in social innovation and urban transition. Co-author of multiple capacity-building and educational programmes based on Living Lab methodology, tailored to project goals such as zero-carbon neighbourhoods, place-based education, integrated climate & energy action plans, and digital transition roadmaps. Contributor to national (SWEET Lantern, SmartCity4Cities, Play4Change) and international (MICAD, oPEN Lab, 2ISECAP) initiatives, with a focus on knowledge transfer and learning platforms & services development and dissemination. Member of the CITÉ interdisciplinary center for urban transition in Geneva, integrating Living Lab approaches into participatory activities that support citizens and local stakeholders in urban retrofit processes. Committee member of the Energy Living Lab Association, participating in design and coordination of interactive tools – ranging from serious games to digital platforms – that support stakeholder engagement and collaborative decision-making.
Iris Kerst
Programme Manager, ENSUT & Co-lead of the ENoLL Working Group on Regenerative Placemaking and Tourism
Iris Kerst
Programme Manager, ENSUT & Co-lead of the ENoLL Working Group on Regenerative Placemaking and TourismIris Kerst is Programme Manager of the Expertise Network Sustainable Urban Tourism (ENSUT) at Inholland University of Applied Sciences and is actively involved in the Rotterdam location of the Urban Leisure & Tourism Lab. She supervises students in applied research and graduation projects on a range of topics, including placemaking, sustainable tourism and urban development. Iris also co-leads the ENoLL Working Group on Regenerative Placemaking and Tourism, fostering international collaboration and knowledge exchange on regenerative approaches to destinations and communities.
Donagh Horgan
Senior Researcher, New Urban Tourism & Co-lead of the ENoLL Working Group on Regenerative Placemaking and Tourism
Donagh Horgan
Senior Researcher, New Urban Tourism & Co-lead of the ENoLL Working Group on Regenerative Placemaking and TourismDr. Donagh Horgan is a Senior Researcher in New Urban Tourism at Inholland University of Applied Sciences and is actively engaged in the Rotterdam location of the Urban Leisure & Tourism Lab. He supervises students undertaking graduation and research projects across a variety of themes, including placemaking, community engagement and sustainable urban transformation. Donagh co-leads the ENoLL Working Group on Regenerative Placemaking and Tourism, bringing together researchers and practitioners to explore innovative, place-based approaches to tourism and urban development.
Zac Woolfitt
Learning Director, Urban Leisure & Tourism Lab Amsterdam
Zac Woolfitt
Learning Director, Urban Leisure & Tourism Lab AmsterdamZac Woolfitt is Learning Director and Learning Coach at the Urban Leisure & Tourism Lab Amsterdam. His expertise lies in educational innovation, experiential learning and digital learning environments. He supports interdisciplinary learning experiences that connect students, researchers and community partners to address real-world tourism and urban challenges.
Kyle Christian Steele
Executive Director & COO, Rally
Kyle Christian Steele
Executive Director & COO, RallyKyle Christian Steele envisions, designs, and guides the organizations, systems, and spaces that are sustainable and affirm human dignity. His mission is to help people find and fearlessly move into the power of their unique story. As co-founder and Managing Partner at The Conduit, he has spent ten years building Central Florida's top workspace, anchored by an 18,000-square-foot flagship and a community of more than 380 members who stay three times longer than the national average. As Executive Director and COO of Rally, civic innovation infrastructure wholly owned by the Central Florida Foundation, he designed the strategy the organization now executes across the region, helping it source, build, test, and scale solutions to its most pressing challenges alongside partners that include the City of Orlando, Orange County, the University of Central Florida, and regional healthcare systems. He has also served as a Visiting Social Entrepreneur at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business Center for Social Innovation. A Detroit native, Kyle lives in Orlando with his wife and son, where his focus has turned to improving the systems and infrastructures that quietly decide who gets to flourish.
Johannes (Hans) Lodders
Co-founder, XQuote
Johannes (Hans) Lodders
Co-founder, XQuoteHans Lodders (Dutch) holds a Master’s degree in Media and Innovation and has over 25 years of experience as a consultant, project and programme manager. His work focuses on the development of new services, platforms, and building organisations at the intersection of innovation, sustainability, education and collaboration. He is specialised in setting up and facilitating broad multi-stakeholder partnerships across public, private, academic, and civil society actors. Hans is currently also a social entrepreneur and co-founder of QXote in 2021, a quintuple helix Living Lab in the rural south of Portugal, that brings together education, research, business, government, and local communities to support sustainable regional development through learning, experimentation, and co-creation.
Sunamita Borges da Costa
Co-founder, XQuote
Sunamita Borges da Costa
Co-founder, XQuoteSunamita (Brazilian) holds a PhD in the Geography of Innovation and public policy in Science, Technology, and Innovation. She also holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Management and Policies, with a focus on alternative technologies for family farming in semi-arid regions. Her research adopts a transdisciplinary approach within the social sciences, combining qualitative and quantitative methods. She focuses on innovation-related inequalities, asymmetries, and territorial imbalances resulting from the global diffusion of contemporary scientific and technological paradigms. Sunamita has extensive experience in international research projects in partnership with universities in Europe and Latin America and in mobilising public and private research funding. She is currently a social entrepreneur and co-founder of QXote, a quintuple helix Living Lab in the rural south of Portugal, where she contributes to sustainable regional development through education, research, and collaborative innovation.
Paméla Magotte
Board Member, La Fabrique du Futur
Paméla Magotte
Board Member, La Fabrique du FuturPaméla Magotte is an independent researcher and founder of the Symbiote research programme, on the Board of La Fabrique du Futur. Following a burnout, she embarked on a journey to understand her own cognitive mechanisms and certain experiences that could not be satisfactorily explained within existing scientific frameworks. This led her to explore epistemology, the limits of complex systems modelling, and the identification of cross-domain dynamic invariants. Her work progressively resulted in the formalisation of an Organisational Computational Unit (OCU), a computational building block designed to represent the dynamics of organisation, regulation, and reconfiguration observed in living and complex systems. This approach opens new perspectives for simulation, decision support, and the design of more resilient systems in fields such as organisations (notably living labs), energy, materials science, critical infrastructures, and artificial intelligence.
Eric Seulliet
Founder, La Fabrique du Futur
Eric Seulliet
Founder, La Fabrique du FuturEric Seulliet is a graduate of HEC Paris. He is the founder of La Fabrique du Futur, a think tank and innovation ecosystem created in 2006 to explore desirable futures, foster responsible innovation, and strengthen the dialogue between technological progress, societal transformation, and sustainable development. Recognized as a Living Lab by the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL) since 2008, La Fabrique du Futur brings together companies, public organizations, researchers, entrepreneurs, and citizens to co-design and experiment with innovative solutions addressing major societal challenges. As an innovation strategist, facilitator, and coach, he supports organizations, entrepreneurs, and startups in the design of innovative projects, business models, and collaborative ecosystems. His work focuses particularly on the transformative potential of deep technologies, including artificial intelligence, blockchain, immersive technologies, virtual worlds, and emerging digital ecosystems. Today, within La Fabrique du Futur, Eric is leading the development of the Alliance of Manufacturers of the Future, an international ecosystem of impact makers, innovators, and changemakers committed to building more desirable, sustainable, and human-centered futures.
Dolf Nijsen
Lecturer, Fontys University of Applied Sciences
Dolf Nijsen
Lecturer, Fontys University of Applied SciencesDolf Nijsen is a lecturer, facilitator, researcher and trainer at Fontys University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands. His work focuses on collaboration in complex societal challenges, with a particular interest in uncertainty, change and transformation processes. Drawing on systemic approaches, dialogical practice and relational perspectives, he explores how professionals can work more consciously within complex multi-actor ecosystems. Dolf has extensive experience as a boundary crosser and facilitator in both national and international Living Labs, where he supports collaboration across organizational, disciplinary and societal boundaries. He is actively involved in practice-based research on professional roles, relational dynamics and systemic change, and advises on bridge building in Living Labs. As a trainer within the Fontys Bridging Professionals programme, he has contributed to the development of professionals who operate at the interface of research, education, policy and practice. His workshops create reflective learning spaces that help participants navigate complexity, build meaningful relationships and strengthen collaborative impact.
Sónia Alves
Scientific Researcher, K8 Institute for Strategic Aesthetics
Sónia Alves
Scientific Researcher, K8 Institute for Strategic AestheticsSónia Alves is a scientific researcher at K8 Institute for Strategic Aesthetics (Saarbrücken, Germany). She works in Art, Culture, Technology, Learning Ecosystems and Future Skills, and Public Sector Innovation. Currently, she is active in EU Projects CYANOTYPES (Erasmus+) and Twin4Resilience (Interreg NWE). Her research interests include systems design, cybernetics and ecologies of technology; foresight and future knowledge systems. She holds a Diploma in Art History and a master in Communication Sciences with a research focus on Contemporary Culture and New Technologies
Tobias Meyer
Researcher, K8 Institute for Strategic Aesthetics
Tobias Meyer
Researcher, K8 Institute for Strategic Aesthetics
Tobias Meyer's research interest is enabling people to use technology. Coming from the technical side and with a Systems Engineering view, he expanded into Socio-Ecological-Economic Systems to create acceptance for novel technical solutions and to establishtheir application.
Before joining K8 Institute for Strategic Aesthetics, he headed the group Advanced Control Systems at Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems (IWES). His research focused on cross-system control loops and their use to optimally operate wind turbines and wind farms.
He received his Diploma and his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Paderborn University.
Jedda Desmond
PhD Researcher, Cork Centre for Architectural Education, University College Cork
Jedda Desmond
PhD Researcher, Cork Centre for Architectural Education, University College CorkJedda Desmond is a PhD Researcher at Cork Centre for Architectural Education, University College Cork whose work examines feminist approaches to Living Labs, spatial politics, and climate justice. Her practice moves between research, pedagogy, and creative praxis, with a focus on how feminist approaches can strengthen Living Labs as collaborative and transformative spaces for social change.
Jokin Garatea
International Business Director of International Projects, GAIA
Jokin Garatea
International Business Director of International Projects, GAIAHe is an expert on dissemination and exploitation plans. Has participated in more than 80 EU projects. Member of different European networks (ENoLL, Greenovate Europe, EIIT culture KIC), promoter and evaluator of Living Labs, coordinator of the Basque District of Culture and Creativity Vice-president of Ocean Living Lab for promotion and technological innovation of water-related culture and sport activities in a preserved environment of Urdaibai. Jokin is counsellor for sustainability in the municipality of Forua, at the Reserve of the biosphere of Urdaibai. Its cultural and natural heritage is critical to be maintained through innovative projects. Jokin has a Law Degree, from Deusto University, Spain, a MSc in CSR in Football Clubs and is a PhD candidate in Industrial Psychology.
Nancy Azevedo
Coordinator, Feil & Oberfeld JRH-CRIR Research Centre
Nancy Azevedo
Coordinator, Feil & Oberfeld JRH-CRIR Research CentreNancy Azevedo is the coordinator of the Feil & Oberfeld JRH-CRIR research centre and was the research coordinator for the Montreal branch of the VITALISE Living Lab project. She completed a BA in Psychology with a minor in Linguistics followed by a PhD in Rehabilitation Science at McGill University. Since obtaining her diploma, her interest in the Living Lab approach has grown and her research programme has been guided by the desire to transfer research techniques from the laboratory to the real world and to bring real-world problems to the laboratory. Nancy’s research interests mainly focus on 1) lexical access and representation across the adult lifespan and in individuals with post-stroke aphasia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and 2) on better understanding how to make public spaces, such as museums, more accessible to people with various limitations.
Eva Kehayia
Associate Professor and Director of Research, School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University
Eva Kehayia
Associate Professor and Director of Research, School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill UniversityEva Kehayia is Associate Professor and Director of Research at the School of Physical and Occupational Therapy at McGill University, Adjunct Professor at the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders at McGill University and Scientific Co-Director of Feil Oberfeld research site of the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of greater Montréal (CRIR). Her research program spans two main streams of local, national and international activities and funding. The first stream, in the area of psycholinguistics/neurolinguistics, focuses on the study of the architecture of the Mental Lexicon in unilingual, bilingual and multilingual adults, healthy aging and individuals with language limitations due to acquired neurological conditions. The second stream of research addresses health and well-being, accessibility, inclusion and participation of persons living with physical disabilities. Using a Living Lab approach for the past 15 years, she has been conducting and fostering interdisciplinary and intersectoral projects in the community, in everyday lived spaces, leisure environments, including museums. Her recently published, co-edited book Musée pour tous-Aude Porcedda-Editions Hermann, provides a collection of views on accessibility and inclusion in museum environments in Europe and Canada.
Jokin Garatea
International Business Director of International Projects, GAIA
Jokin Garatea
International Business Director of International Projects, GAIAHe is an expert on dissemination and exploitation plans. Has participated in more than 80 EU projects. Member of different European networks (ENoLL, Greenovate Europe, EIIT culture KIC), promoter and evaluator of Living Labs, coordinator of the Basque District of Culture and Creativity Vice-president of Ocean Living Lab for promotion and technological innovation of water-related culture and sport activities in a preserved environment of Urdaibai. Jokin is counsellor for sustainability in the municipality of Forua, at the Reserve of the biosphere of Urdaibai. Its cultural and natural heritage is critical to be maintained through innovative projects. Jokin has a Law Degree, from Deusto University, Spain, a MSc in CSR in Football Clubs and is a PhD candidate in Industrial Psychology.
Nancy Azevedo
Coordinator, Feil & Oberfeld JRH-CRIR Research Centre
Nancy Azevedo
Coordinator, Feil & Oberfeld JRH-CRIR Research CentreNancy Azevedo is the coordinator of the Feil & Oberfeld JRH-CRIR research centre and was the research coordinator for the Montreal branch of the VITALISE Living Lab project. She completed a BA in Psychology with a minor in Linguistics followed by a PhD in Rehabilitation Science at McGill University. Since obtaining her diploma, her interest in the Living Lab approach has grown and her research programme has been guided by the desire to transfer research techniques from the laboratory to the real world and to bring real-world problems to the laboratory. Nancy’s research interests mainly focus on 1) lexical access and representation across the adult lifespan and in individuals with post-stroke aphasia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and 2) on better understanding how to make public spaces, such as museums, more accessible to people with various limitations.
Raija Kaljunen
Service Designer and Learning Facilitator, Laurea University of Applied Sciences
Raija Kaljunen
Service Designer and Learning Facilitator, Laurea University of Applied SciencesRaija Kaljunen (MA, Master’s Degree in Service Design) is a Service Designer and Learning Facilitator at Laurea University of Applied Sciences. She works in EU‑funded R&D projects, applying Living Lab principles and methods to support sustainability-driven and participatory development. Raija has extensive experience in designing and facilitating co‑creative and futures‑oriented processes that foster collaborative learning and create practical impact in real‑world contexts. Her work focuses on facilitating shared understanding and enabling meaningful dialogue, drawing on a strong background in communication.
Mayron Dalla Santa de Carvalho
City Living Lab Team
Mayron Dalla Santa de Carvalho
City Living Lab TeamMayron Dalla Santa de Carvalho holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of Caxias do Sul (UCS), with a focus on Innovation and Competitiveness. His academic and professional work is centered on digital transformation, smart cities, the Internet of Things (IoT), and data-driven approaches to urban management and citizen-centered innovation. He is a researcher at the ABES Think Tank, a member of the City Living Lab, and teaches Digital Transformation in MBA programs at UCS. In addition to his academic activities, Mayron has extensive experience in technology, strategic management, innovation, and business consulting. He is also a partner at Murbi, combining research, entrepreneurship, and consulting to support organizations and cities in their digital transformation and innovation initiatives.
Dolinda Cavallo
Project Manager, ENoLL
Dolinda Cavallo
Project Manager, ENoLL
Dolinda Cavallo is a Project Manager at the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL). She holds a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Bologna – Forlì Campus, along with a bachelor’s degree in foreign languages and cultures where she studied English, Spanish, and Russian at the University of Pavia.
Her career spans various European countries where she has contributed to non-profit organizations as both a Project Manager and Coordinator of EU-funded projects covering diverse areas such as agriculture, soil, environment, migration, and social inclusion.
Currently, Dolinda is actively engaged in ENoLL’s portfolio of Agri and Soil-related projects and co-chairs the working group on Agriculture, Agrifood, and Rural issues.
Mehdi Khouadja
Head of Research & Chief Impact Officer, My AloeOléa
Mehdi Khouadja
Head of Research & Chief Impact Officer, My AloeOléa
Mehdi brings more than 25 years of high-level experience in the financial industry, with deep expertise in EMEA sourcing, origination, and leveraged finance. Currently based between London and Tunisia, he has led complex trading desks, covering leveraged loans, high‑yield and mid‑cap bonds, as well as structured debt instruments at top investment firms.
His unique skillset ensures My AloeOléa isn’t just mission-driven, but financially robust and growth-ready. Mehdi bridges ecological vision and commercial viability, shaping our strategy to scale sustainably while delivering European-grade quality and traceability.
Riccardo Saraco
Project Manager, EU Funds and Innovation Department of the Municipality of Turin
Riccardo Saraco
Project Manager, EU Funds and Innovation Department of the Municipality of TurinRiccardo Saraco is a project manager at the EU Funds and Innovation Department of the Municipality of Turin. He has a BA in Political Sciences and a master's degree in public policies. Having gained previous experience in various municipal sectors, he has held his current position since 2016, managing EU and national-funded projects, especially those related to the environment, nature-based solutions (NBS), emerging technologies, and the ethical impact of AI systems.