Implementing living labs to support local climate change adaptation and resilience strategies using a system innovation approach

Alice Guittard, Isabelle La Jeunesse, Ebun Akinsete, Maria Tziva, Ana Lorena Barrueto Munoz, Alicia Blanchi-Sic, Alexandra Spyropoulou and Phoebe Koundouri
Additional contact information
Alice Guittard: ICRE8
Ebun Akinsete: ICRE8

No 2605, DEOS Working Papers from Athens University of Economics and Business

Abstract: Climate change impacts in Europe are accelerating, creating urgent adaptation needs across diverse local contexts. This paper presents the implementation of a Systems Innovation Approach (SIA) through living labs to co-design climate resilience strategies in nine European case studies. SIA provides a structured, participatory framework for systemic change through a stepwise approach enabling the development of tailor-made sustainability strategies by co-designing a portfolio of short, mid, and long-term innovative solutions. Living labs can successfully support open innovation ecosystems by enabling knowledge exchange, trust-building, and co-creation of tailored innovation pathways for adaptation. Results demonstrate that through the SIA, living lab can enhance stakeholder networks and capacity building, co-create knowledge and mutual understanding across a diversity of stakeholders while fostering actionable strategies. However, challenges remain regarding sustaining living labs beyond project funding, maintaining engagement, and bridging planning-to-implementation gaps. The paper concludes with recommendations for institutionalizing living labs within governance frameworks to accelerate Europe's transition toward climate resilience.

Keywords: Living Lab; System Innovation Approach; Climate Change Adaptation; Stakeholder Engagement; System Thinking (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-02-19
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://wpa.deos.aueb.gr/docs/2605.ARSINOE.Methodology.paper.V4.pdf First version (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aue:wpaper:2605

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in DEOS Working Papers from Athens University of Economics and Business Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Ekaterini Glynou ().