Living Labs

Living Labs are a core feature of our work. We use the term "lab" to refer to an inspiring and creative learning space where people from a range of backgrounds meet, share ideas, and create new knowledge in the context of sustainability. The term Living Lab was first used by MIT to refer to collaborative real-life environments where innovation, products and services are created and validated, but we also draw on the German concept of Reallabor – real world laboratory. We are member of the international external pageNetwork of Real World Labs (German website).

We have a long-term commitment to three labs that range in proximity and scale: a Swiss village called Wislikofen, a Zurich neighbourhood the "Hunziker Areal", and the Seychelles island state. In these living labs we commit to addressing local issues with inhabitants and practitioners. We work together to frame and analyse problems, design research, co-produce knowledge and test and monitor potential solutions.

In these living labs we also undertake integrated teaching and research activities in the field of sustainability. This could be running case studies, organising workshops, setting up student internships or supervising theses projects on local issues. In the three locations we address in a diverse range of topics from waste management to sustainable consumption or planning. Over the years we have worked with a variety of local partners from administration and government, to the private sector and civil society.

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