1. Living Labs – Co-operation for sustainable products

2. ... as if we had four planets ...
"The industrial countries act as if there were
several earths available. Thus, without a
radical increase in resource productivity there
will be no sustainable development."
Schmidt-Bleek (2009): The Earth.
Source: Wuppertal Institute 2007

3. Sustainable economy: targets for 2050
Source: Wuppertal Institute

4. Resource consumption of households

5. We need sustainable innovations – but
?
Conscious consumers can‘t Sustainable innova.ons o/en
find what they want and fail in the market

6. A European Infrastructure of Living Labs –
Fostering sustainable innova8ons around the home
www.livinglabproject.org

7. Need for a user-centred approach
Sustainable innovations often fail in the market
• technology push
• lack of user understanding
> rebound effects
> mismatch between societal & individual benefits
A user centred approach is needed to better predict
commercial value and sustainable impact
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8. User-centred innovation

9. Living Lab: Research Agenda
1. Flexible homes
2. Building integrated systems
3. Virtualisation
4. Sustainable lifestyles
5. Customized products and services
LIVING LAB will provide the necessary expertise,
facilities and research methods.
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10. Development of the infrastructure
Core part of physical research infrastructure at partner
locations will be:
Flexible, modular dwellings for
• user observation
• longitudinal research
• co-creation and prototyping
Each location has a similar set-up
adapted to local culture, climate
and research interests.
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11. Phasing of infrastructure development
design LIVING LAB network LIVING LAB infrastructure
study
Note that this map is indicative: locations of ICO, facilities, etc. are not yet defined
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
International coordination office (ICO)
locations with research infrastructure
Industrial partners
Academic partners and network members locations under construction
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12. Now it’s your turn:
Which kind of questions Living Lab research
should focus on?
How should CSO be involved?
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13. Thanks for your interest!
Michael Lettenmeier
Research Group Sustainable Production and Consumption,
Wuppertal Institute
michael.lettenmeier@wupperinst.org
www.wupperinst.org
Living Lab Coordinator: Prof. ir. Daan van Eijk
Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology
d.j.vaneijk@io.tudelft.nl
www.livinglabproject.org
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