The Crucial Role of Living Labs in Advancing EU Missions and Partnerships

Date: 30th May 2024

Brussels, Belgium — In a landmark event held on 30th May, experts and stakeholders gathered to explore the pivotal role of Living Labs in European Union (EU) Missions and Partnerships. The event highlighted the importance of these innovative ecosystems in driving forward EU goals through active collaboration and citizen involvement.

Morning Session: Living Labs in EU Missions

The morning session, opened by Centelles Santana Ignasi (Representative of the Government of Catalonia to the European Union), set a hopeful tone for the event, emphasising the potential of partnerships to create a better world. “We want to continue to be a reliable partner and contribute to a better future,” stated Ignasi. He encouraged attendees to leverage the event as a platform for exchanging ideas and fostering partnerships.

Arthur Serra (Deputy director i2CAT/Colaboratoris Catalunya), a prominent advocate for Living Labs, remarked on the evolution of the European innovation landscape. “We have spent the last 20 years advocating for a new innovation system in Europe, and we are witnessing its realisation.” Serra said. He underscored the role of Living Labs as symbols of social innovation and crucial components of a greener ecosystem.

Evdokimos Konstantinis (ENoLL Chair), highlighting the integration of citizens in research through Living Labs, stated, “Living Labs enable active involvement of citizens and the quadruple helix. They are not just about project KPIs but about involving citizens in improving their lives.” Konstantinis stressed the importance of long-term sustainability and real-life environments in creating relevant and impactful solutions.

The morning session featured an engaging roundtable discussion titled “Living Labs: A Catalyst for Innovation and Impact in Achieving the European Commission’s Missions,” moderated by Martina Desole (ENoLL Director). Esteemed representatives from the five European Missions shared insights on the crucial role of Living Labs in promoting and advancing their objectives.

Kerstin Rosenow (Head of Unit Research and Innovation at DG AGRI and Head of Mission Secretariat for Mission A Soil Deal for Europe) emphasised the pivotal role of Living Labs in their mission. “Living Labs are at the heart of implementing the Mission Soil. They are integral to addressing the main societal challenge of healthy soil,” Rosenow stated. She highlighted ENoLL’s coordination of the SOILL project, which supports Living Labs and Lighthouses under the Mission “A Soil Deal for Europe.”

Philippe Froissard (Head of Unit Strategy, Policy Coordination & Urban Transitions, Mission 100 Climate-Neutral Cities by 2030) underscored the principles of the Living Lab methodology in advancing the mission. “Living Labs are the natural candidates for supporting the implementation of the Mission. Co-creation, rapid prototyping, and scaling up innovative solutions are essential for cities to achieve climate neutrality strategies,” Froissard noted. ENoLL is actively involved as a partner in the Urban Transitions Mission and the supporting project, Urban Transitions Mission Center.

Philippe Tulkens (Head of Unit Climate and Planetary Boundaries at DG RTD and Deputy Mission Manager for Mission Adaptation to Climate Change) underscored the necessity of Living Labs for addressing climate change through localised and regional actions. He provided insights into how these collaborative environments test solutions and assess their transformative power, and addressed the evolving nature of the Climate Change Mission and how Living Labs are crucial for its ongoing effectiveness “Living Labs need to test all kinds of solutions, evaluate their impact, and understand their transformative power,” Tulkens remarked. He encouraged Living Labs addressing climate change to explore collaboration opportunities with the mission via Climate-Adapt.

Elisabetta Balzi (Head of Unit Mission and Partnerships Oceans and Waters at DG RTD, Mission Restore Our Ocean and Waters) acknowledged the significance of Living Labs in public mobilisation and citizen engagement. “Public mobilisation and citizen engagement are key enablers of transitions. The Living Labs approach and co-created processes are essential to involve people at their local level, extending up to the regional level,” Balzi explained. Within ENoLL, the SCORE project is a reference on how Living Labs address water and climate-related hazards to enhance coastal city climate resilience. For more information regarding the Mission, please visit the link. 

Lastly, Jan Willem Van de Loo, PhD (Cancer Theme Lead – Science and Stakeholders at DG RTD and Cancer Mission Senior Expert in Cancer Research and Innovation) highlighted the importance of stakeholder engagement in Living Labs. “The Living Lab methodology, with its participatory approach, fosters a closer relationship between physicians and patients, allowing for greater attention to patients’ needs and a more patient-oriented discovery process,” Van de Loo stated. A proof of the success of the Living Lab methodology in the health and wellbeing sector is the Vitalise project, which was recognised as a Best Practice of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) in Research Infrastructures in the “Integration of Social Sciences and Humanities in Horizon 2020” report.

This roundtable session underscored the transformative impact of Living Labs in achieving the European Commission’s missions, highlighting their essential role in fostering innovation, collaboration, and sustainable solutions across various domains.

Afternoon Session: Leveraging Living Labs in EU Partnerships

The afternoon session focused on the strategic use of Living Labs in EU partnerships. Susana Gaona Saez (Research Programme Officer at DG AGRI), discussed the development of a partnership on agroecology. “Living Labs are central to our approach, allowing us to co-create with countries and stakeholders to achieve more sustainable farming practices.” she explained.

Simone Maccaferri (Circular Biobased Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU)) highlighted the interdisciplinary nature of Living Labs. “Our projects involve diverse actors, from consumers to brand owners, fostering direct participation across sectors.” Maccaferri noted. He emphasised the importance of events like these in promoting and consolidating the Living Lab concept.

Tiina Laiho (CLIC InnovaLon Oy Clean Energy TransiLon Partnership) spoke on the necessity of bridging the gap between business and innovation. “We need a penta-helix approach to engage regions, cities, and consumers. Living Labs play a critical role in overcoming the ‘valley of death’ between business and projects.” Laiho stated. She also called for more regional financing instruments to support Living Labs.

Key Takeaways and Future Directions

The event concluded with a consensus on the need for enhanced collaboration and regional focus. “If we can coordinate better and ensure practical community involvement, we will achieve our objectives more effectively.” Maccaferri asserted.

Gaona Saez added, “Living Labs are a promising approach with strong potential to deliver on our goals. We need more events like this to discuss both successes and challenges.”

In closing, Konstantinis reinforced the importance of continuous dialogue and collaboration. “We have shown today the potential for collaboration across sectors. Our mission is to change the world for citizens, and Living Labs are at the heart of this transformation.”

The event underscored the important role of Living Labs in fostering innovation, sustainability, and citizen engagement within EU Missions and Partnerships. With continued support and collaboration, these dynamic ecosystems are poised to drive significant advancements across Europe.

To view the morning session, visit this link.