Living Labs

Genuine user engagement lies in the heart of the Living Lab approach. It includes both a toolset of various co-creation methods, inclusive and iterative user involvement throughout the product or service development process, and, most importantly, a set of demonstrations and experiments in real-life settings with the users.  

In Living Labs, we conduct agile, user-oriented experiments with engaged citizens and other stakeholders in real-life settings such as in cities, neighbourhoods and communities. The experiments can range from small-scale, everyday products and services to system-level, complicated solutions. In all cases, users and their voices are at the heart of the experiment. User feedback guides the development in the right direction throughout the human-centered design process. 

In Tampere Region, we carry out Living Lab activities in many ways. For example, the old Hiedanranta industrial area has provided our research and development projects and education with a unique Living Lab environment, for example, as part of the Learning Society project.  

We have also been involved in experiments that develop the food services offered by the Särkänniemi Experience Park and the selection of local food together with thousands of visitors to the adventure park.  

The KIVIREKI project (only in Finnish) created new business and functional farming solutions for urban spaces. These included, for example, a roof garden and an edible park.  

TAMK is an active participant in the international European Network of Living Labs, which we can use for learning, exchanging good practices and deepening cooperation.  We also collaborate across Europe in several living lab projects, such as developing socially responsible urban logistics solutions (SPOTLOG), strengthening the uptake of energy communities across Europe (LIFE-BECKON) and finding solutions to pan-European challenges in food systems (FUSILLI).  

The project develops innovative processes and tools to increase the use of imagination in the development of public spaces and streets across Europe. The aim is to develop cities towards more sustainable solutions. The project is part of the European 15-minute city focus area of the Driving Urban Transitions European Partnership. 

In the project, local communities are involved in the creation of socially responsible logistics systems based, where possible, on carbon-neutral solutions. This is achieved by making smart use of all available resources and by leveraging the digitalisation of freight and passenger services.

The Living Lab gathers and develops producer networks in the creative sector nationwide. It will create a national producer center network and its operational and organisational model. The project strengthens the competence of producers through free training and supports professional development through coaching, mentoring and work supervision.  

LIFE-BECKON strengthens the roll-out of energy communities across Europe. The project develops training content that meets competence needs and comprehensive support mechanisms for authorities, developers and local practitioners, among others. The content will be piloted in the project's three living lab areas: Copenhagen, Avila and Sofia.  

The FUSILLI Joint European Project supports participating cities and urban areas in addressing global challenges to food systems. Innovations and experiments are at the heart of the project. During the project, a living lab for a sustainable food system will be built in Tampere.  

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) play a significant role in providing open innovation platforms and learning environments. The aim of the InnoHEIs project was to improve the efficient and effective use of higher education institutions' research, development and innovation services regionally.