DATE & TIME
30 September 2026, 14:00 – 15:15
TRACKS
TRACK 1: Living Labs for Grand Societal Challenges
TRACK 2: Living Labs for Policies, Governance, Collaboration and Innovation Ecosystems
TRACK 3: Living Labs for Inclusive Soci(et)al Engagement
ROOM
Marble
TYPE OF SESSION
Topic debate
Description
The challenge of achieving sustainable and net zero carbon campuses is multi-dimensional across technical, financial, institutional and social domains. Universities function like small cities, making them important for tackling broader societal issues and transitions. Large buildings, aging infrastructure, data collection, high energy demand through operational hours, and extensive mobility/transport foot print create significant challenges for sustainability. Living Labs offer an important opportunity to demonstrate how innovative approaches can be integrated with learning and education to deliver impacts that go far beyond the campus.
This panel session is a showcase of best practice examples from Living Labs working on the co-design of Sustainable and Net Zero campuses.
Agenda
Speakers
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 in the University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland (HES-SO) since 2019. Fiona is currently chair of the ENoLL Working Group on Energy and Environment. Prior to working in research, Fiona worked as an energy and environmental management professional for 20 years internationally with energy services companies, governments and utilities on developing sustainability projects. With a diploma in Business & Energy Management and a Masters in Environmental Management for Business, Fiona is now developing her academic career through a PhD in sustainable transitions at the DRIFT Institute. Fiona is originally Irish but relocated to Switzerland in 2016 where she lives with her two daughters. She is passionate aboutbiodiversity and enjoys open water swimming in her free time.
Tuija Hirvikoski
Director, Laurea University of Applied Sciences
Tuija Hirvikoski
Director, Laurea University of Applied SciencesTuija 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 & Advisor, Utrecht University (CLU) | Chair, Campus & Higher Education Thematic Group, ENoLL
Claudia Stuckrath
PhD Researcher & Advisor, Utrecht University (CLU) | Chair, Campus & Higher Education Thematic Group, ENoLLClaudia Stuckrath is a doctoral 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 (CLU). 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. 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.