In collaboration with The Lisbon Council and Laurea University of Applied Sciences, ExPEDite has organized a series of internal workshops to shape the activities of the ExPEDite Living Lab—a user-centered innovation ecosystem. These workshops bring together stakeholders from diverse sectors to co-create solutions that are not only practical and relevant but can also address real-world challenges.

The ExPEDite digital twin aims to provide real-time monitoring, visualization, and management of district-level energy flows, guiding planning actions towards the creation of positive energy districts. To achieve this, we are actively going to engage a wide range of stakeholders through the Living Lab Quadruple Helix approach. A Living Lab is a collaborative space where public and private partnerships—comprising business, research, authorities, and citizens—work together with ExPEDite partners to co-create solutions and test them in real-life environments.

During the past and upcoming workshops, ExPEDite has introduced partners to the Living Lab framework and started the co-creation process for the ExPEDite Living Lab, gathering insights from the project partners. The first session focused on aligning partners around the Living Lab concept and defining key focus areas. In the subsequent sessions, the partners will work to map out key stakeholders, owners, the solutions and services being developed, the anticipated impact, and the challenges that need to be addressed.

Engaging stakeholders from the outset is crucial for co-creating solutions that are not only impactful but also tailored to the specific needs of the communities involved. This participatory approach fosters innovation and ensures that the ExPEDite Living Lab is built to address real-world needs and contribute to the development of sustainable urban solutions.

The outcomes of the five workshops, along with the ExPEDite Living Lab activities, will be presented to the ExPEDite Stakeholder and Advisory Board in June 2025. Stay tuned for more!