On Monday, May 5th, 2025, the PREPARE network, in collaboration with the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL), hosted a successful Living Lab Info Session webinar. The event brought together stakeholders from across Europe to explore how Living Lab methodologies and Open Innovation can foster citizen participation and drive sustainable development in rural areas.
The session, held via Zoom, attracted participants from PREPARE member organizations, the GRANULAR project’s Replication Labs, and other rural development networks. It served as an engaging platform to learn directly from leading experts and to reflect on how these approaches can be applied in local and national contexts.
A Collaborative Agenda
The Info Session opened with welcome remarks from Miodrag Miki Matavulj (PREPARE), followed by presentations from key rural development initiatives:
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Goran Soster presented the GRANULAR project, outlining its goals and relevance for rural data and innovation.
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Michela Petruzzo introduced the EU RURALITeast project, emphasizing Eastern European perspectives on rural policy.
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Vanessa Halhead shared insights from the European Rural Parliament, highlighting grassroots engagement across rural Europe.
Deep Dive into Living Labs
The main portion of the session was delivered by ENoLL, offering:
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A comprehensive introduction to Living Labs and Open Innovation
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Practical tools and case studies illustrating successful applications in rural and territorial development
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Strategies for adapting Living Lab methodologies to support community-led initiatives
Interactive Exchange
The final segment was dedicated to Q&A and open discussion, where participants raised questions, shared experiences, and explored opportunities for future collaboration between PREPARE, ENoLL, the European Rural Parliament, and beyond.
This Info Session was part of a broader effort to explore innovative tools that support bottom-up rural development, and to encourage cooperation among key European networks and projects.
Thank you to all who participated!
PREPARE looks forward to continuing this conversation and working together to bring innovation and inclusivity to rural communities across Europe.