COMON – Living Lab Ghent

COMON is an open Living Lab in Ghent, Belgium, where scientists, technologists, creatives, and citizens collaborate to co-create human-centered, technological solutions for complex urban challenges. Founded in 2020 by the City of Ghent, imec, Ghent University, and Library De Krook, COMON aligns with Ghent’s vision for inclusive and innovative urban development. 

Based on state of the art methodologies COMON fosters a culture of experimentation, inclusivity, and continuous learning. It brings together citizens, researchers, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to tackle ‘wicked’ problems through tangible, real-world actions. 

COMON’s initiatives include roundtables, rooftop events, co-creation workshops, and make-a-thons, resulting in impactful prototypes like Dolox (a wearable for pain patients), RingMe (a multilingual phone bot), ExplainMed (a medical document translator), and MIA (a mental health matchmaking platform). 

By valuing process over product, promoting visible knowledge, and amplifying unheard voices, COMON bridges technology and society. It stands as a beacon of sustainable innovation, where unconventional partnerships thrive and meaningful change is catalysed – together, making Ghent an even better city.

Areas of work:

• Culture and Creativity (Creative Sectors)
• Education and/or Vocational Training
• Emerging Technologies (e.g. AI, AR/VR)
• Health and Well Being
• Smart Cities and Regions
• SME and Start-ups
• Social Innovation and Inclusion