Deanne Brettle from University of Birmingham (UoBIR) and Eleni Toli from Athena Research & Innovation Information Technologies (ATHENA-RC) represented the CARMINE Project at the European Network of Living Labs’ annual conference held in September 2024. This three-day event gathered hundreds of Living Lab enthusiasts, policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders from regions including Europe, Australia, Colombia, Japan, and Canada.
Deanne also participated in “Day 0,” a beginner’s training session focused on establishing sustainable Living Labs. The conference kicked off with a powerful opening ceremony and a keynote by Haydee Sheombar, which can be viewed on catch-up. Haydee’s talk explored how Living Labs address complex challenges—often called “wicked problems”—such as climate change, with a focus on what she called the “four men of the apocalypse”: 1) geopolitical tensions, 2) the climate crisis, 3) global mistrust, and 4) the dark side of technology.
For those interested, the full conference proceedings, including all research papers, are available on the Enoll website.
Haydee Sheombar giving her keynote speech. Credits: YouTube video OpenLivingLab Days 2024 Opening Day 1 by European Network of Living Labs.
At the conference, participants discussed the diverse landscape of Living Labs and the rapid increase in accredited Living Lab members. Currently, up to 3,000 projects funded through the H2020 and Horizon Europe frameworks now incorporate Living Lab activities. However, a gap remains in research literature between recognized ‘accredited Living Labs’ and general ‘Living Lab activities,’ raising questions around the distinction between fully integrated Living Labs and temporary “project lifespan” Living Labs that close with their projects.
Eleni Toli from CARMINE, representing ATHENA-RC, presented her paper on The Living Lab Modeler, a robust tool designed to support the sustainable management of Living Labs. This tool aims to ensure that data and resources are digitally stored, accessible, and preserved beyond the duration of individual projects, helping Living Labs to thrive long-term.
Eleni Toli presenting CARMINE during one of the sessions. Credits: Deanne Brettle.
The conference featured a variety of research presentations and an insightful workshop led by Nele De Witte and Leen Broeckx. They highlighted three essential considerations for a successful Living Lab workshop: knowing your target group, working with skilled moderators, and adapting protocols to fit community needs.
Deanne Brettle presented a research paper on behalf of ATHENA RC, emphasizing the importance of incorporating the voices of vulnerable communities into Living Labs. While climate change affects everyone, it presents unique challenges for these communities, potentially deepening socio-economic disparities and introducing new risks for marginalized groups.
In the conference’s final session, ENoLL introduced its new Living Lab Research Group, organized by Prof. Dr. Dimitri Schuurman and Koen Vervoort. Anyone interested in participating is encouraged to reach out via email at research@enoll.org.
