Funding Living Labs: Insights from South Africa, Canada, and EU Funding Agencies

Living Labs are dynamic ecosystems that facilitate innovation by providing user-centered, real-world environments where public, private, and community stakeholders can collaborate. As these labs are increasingly seen as essential for addressing complex societal challenges, understanding their funding models is crucial for ensuring their success and scalability.

The session titled “Funding Living Labs: Insights from South Africa, Canada, and EU Funding Agencies,” hosted by the South African Mission to the United Nations and organized by the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL), aims to explore the diverse funding mechanisms and strategies utilized across three continents: Africa, North America, and Europe. This session will convene representatives from South Africa, Canada, and the European Union to share their insights and experiences in funding Living Labs.

The primary objective of this session is to gain a comprehensive understanding of how Living Labs are financed in different regions, facilitating the exchange of knowledge on funding strategies and approaches. Through presentations and discussions, the session will showcase successful case studies, highlighting best practices in the implementation and management of Living Labs. Additionally, the session will identify potential areas for international collaboration to support the scaling and sustainability of these innovation ecosystems.

Draft Agenda:

14:30 – 14:40 | Opening Remarks

Moderator: Martina Desole

Welcome and introduction, outlining the session’s objectives and importance.

14:40 – 14:55 | South Africa’s Strategic Vision: Empowering Living Labs through Targeted Funding

Speaker: Busisiwe Ntuli, Director, Technology for Sustainable Livelihoods Department of Science and Technology of South Africa Exploring South Africa’s funding mechanisms for Living Labs, showcasing key strategies and success stories.

14:55 – 15:10 | Canada’s Blueprint: Innovative Funding Pathways for Living Labs

Speaker: Ted Hewitt, President of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), Canada

Insight into Canada’s funding landscape for Living Labs, highlighting successful initiatives and strategies.

15:10 – 15:25 | EU Strategies: Leveraging Living Labs for Citizen Engagement and Research Impact

Speaker: Kerstin Rosenow, Head of Unit – DG Agriculture and Rural Development European Commission

Examining how EU funding models use Living Labs to foster citizen participation, the quadruple helix, and enhance research impact.

15:25 – 16:00 | Moderated Discussion

Moderator: Martina Desole, ENoLL Panel discussion on common challenges, opportunities for international collaboration, and potential policy recommendations.

16:00 – 16:15 | Q&A Session

Interactive session allowing participants to engage with speakers and share insights.

16:15 – 16:30 | Closing Remarks 

Speakers: Evdokimos Kostantinidis, Martina Desole 

Summary of key takeaways, next steps, and follow-up actions.