Living Labs – Co-operation for sustainable products

... 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

Sustainable economy: targets for 2050

Source: Wuppertal Institute

Resource consumption of households

Sustainableinnova.onso/enfailinthemarket

Consciousconsumerscan‘tfindwhattheywant

We need sustainable innovations – but

and

?

AEuropeanInfrastructureofLivingLabs–Fosteringsustainableinnova8onsaroundthehome

www.livinglabproject.org

7/21 LIVING LAB • Introduction

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

User-centred innovation

9/21 LIVING LAB • Introduction

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.

10/21 LIVING LAB • Introduction

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.

11/21 LIVING LAB • Introduction

Phasing of infrastructure development

LIVING LAB network LIVING LAB infrastructure

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

design study

International coordination office (ICO)

Academic partners and network members

Industrial partners locations under construction

locations with research infrastructure

Note that this map is indicative: locations of ICO, facilities, etc. are not yet defined

12/21 LIVING LAB • Introduction

Now it’s your turn:

Which kind of questions Living Lab research should focus on?

How should CSO be involved?

13/21 LIVING LAB • Introduction

Michael Lettenmeier

Research Group Sustainable Production and Consumption, Wuppertal Institute michael.lettenmeier@wupperinst.org

www.wupperinst.org

Thanks for your interest!

Living Lab Coordinator: Prof. ir. Daan van Eijk

Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology d.j.vaneijk@io.tudelft.nl

www.livinglabproject.org