International Conference “Transfer and transformative change in and through Living Labs: from practice to theory, and back again”

The Living Labs Incubator at RWTH Aachen University is organising the international conference “Transfer and transformative change in and through Living Labs: from practice to theory, and back again”, taking place 8–10 June 2026 in Aachen, Germany.

The event will bring together researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and Living Lab actors to explore how Living Labs contribute to innovation, knowledge transfer & transformative societal change. Participation is free of charge, with lunch and dinner on 9 June as well as refreshments during session breaks included.

Event overview

Living Labs are increasingly recognised as critical infrastructures for addressing complex societal challenges such as sustainability transitions, health and well-being, climate adaptation, and digital inclusion.

Rather than serving solely as environments for testing solutions, Living Labs function as spaces of mutual learning, where academic knowledge, policy expertise, professional practice, and the lived experiences of citizens and communities are combined and mobilised.

This conference will explore how Living Labs act as vehicles for innovation and technology transfer, while also enabling transformative change through collaborative and transdisciplinary approaches. The programme aims to strengthen the dialogue between theory and practice, examining how Living Lab experiences inform academic research and policy development, and vice versa.

Themes of the conference

Contributions are invited around the following topics:

• Transforming innovation and innovation theory – how Living Labs generate insights into goal-oriented transformative change
• Mission-oriented engagement – the role of Living Labs in EU Missions and national innovation agendas
• Transdisciplinary co-creation – collaboration between academia, policymakers, industry, and civil society
• Local laboratories for societal change – urban and rural environments as spaces for experimentation and resilience
• Knowledge transfer and impact – mechanisms connecting research, practice, and societal transformation

Practical information

Location:
forum M
Buchkremerstrasse 1–7
52062 Aachen, Germany

Date and time:
8 June 2026 (from 12:00 CET) – 10 June 2026 (until 12:00 CET)

Participation is free of charge. Participants only need to cover travel and accommodation costs.