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Living Labs for Rural Areas: Contextualization of Living Lab Frameworks, Concepts and Practices

Author

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  • Veronika Zavratnik

    (Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Tržaška Cesta 25, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia)

  • Argene Superina

    (Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Tržaška Cesta 25, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia)

  • Emilija Stojmenova Duh

    (Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Tržaška Cesta 25, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia)

Abstract

Living Labs are spaces for innovative and participative research, development and activities that use multidisciplinary approaches and promote the co-creation paradigm. Our specific interest lies in exploring the value of the Living Lab concept for creating environments that enable equal opportunities for people living in rural and urban areas, and for making rural areas attractive places to live. Moreover, through the existing practices and research results available, Living Labs are seen as one of the important building blocks of smart rural development and an important step towards establishing a Smart Village environment. Living Labs are a valuable player in enhancing circular economy, digital transformation, local self-sufficiency and other elements of sustainable living. The main aim of this paper is therefore to put Living Labs in the context of rural areas and evaluate their possible contributions for sustainable rural development. This paper argues that the element of community and social change should be considered as a key element in enabling sustainable living.

Suggested Citation

  • Veronika Zavratnik & Argene Superina & Emilija Stojmenova Duh, 2019. "Living Labs for Rural Areas: Contextualization of Living Lab Frameworks, Concepts and Practices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(14), pages 1-17, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:14:p:3797-:d:247411
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tirziu, Andreea-Maria & Vrabie, Catalin, 2017. "Living labs – instruments of social innovation in rural areas," MPRA Paper 79868, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Veronika Zavratnik & Andrej Kos & Emilija Stojmenova Duh, 2018. "Smart Villages: Comprehensive Review of Initiatives and Practices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-14, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Annemarie Polderman & Andreas Haller & Diego Viesi & Xavier Tabin & Stefano Sala & Annamaria Giorgi & Loïc Darmayan & Jakob Rager & Jelena Vidovič & Quentin Daragon & Yves Verchère & Uroš Zupan & Nadi, 2020. "How Can Ski Resorts Get Smart? Transdisciplinary Approaches to Sustainable Winter Tourism in the European Alps," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-19, July.
    2. Toffolini, Quentin & Hannachi, Mourad & Capitaine, Mathieu & Cerf, Marianne, 2023. "Ideal-types of experimentation practices in agricultural Living Labs: Various appropriations of an open innovation model," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    3. Simona Stojanova & Nina Cvar & Jurij Verhovnik & Nataša Božić & Jure Trilar & Andrej Kos & Emilija Stojmenova Duh, 2022. "Rural Digital Innovation Hubs as a Paradigm for Sustainable Business Models in Europe’s Rural Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-20, November.
    4. Marcelo Dionisio & Sylvio Jorge Souza Junior & Fábio Paula & Paulo César Pellanda, 2024. "The role of digital social innovations to address SDGs: A systematic review," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(3), pages 5709-5734, March.
    5. Igor Calzada, 2023. "Smart Rural Communities: Action Research in Colombia and Mozambique," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-23, June.
    6. Sphokazi Phelokazi Mbatha & Josephine Kaviti Musango, 2022. "A Systematic Review on the Application of the Living Lab Concept and Role of Stakeholders in the Energy Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-20, October.
    7. Orfeas Roussos & Efthalia Thaleia Grigoriadou & Antigoni Voudouri & Lito Papadopoulou & Triantafyllia Gkogkou & Aikaterini Basdeki & Maria P. Papadopoulou, 2025. "Living Labs for Sustainable Protected Area Management in Greece: The Prespa Lakes Case," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-24, September.
    8. Hvitsand, Christine & Raanaas, Ruth Kjærsti & Gjøtterud, Sigrid & Nicolaysen, Anna Marie, 2022. "Establishing an Agri-food living lab for sustainability transitions: Methodological insight from a case of strengthening the niche of organic vegetables in the Vestfold region in Norway," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    9. Valentino Marini Govigli & Sophie Alkhaled & Tor Arnesen & Carla Barlagne & Mari Bjerck & Catie Burlando & Mariana Melnykovych & Carmen Rodríguez Fernandez-Blanco & Patricia Sfeir & Elena Górriz-Mifsu, 2020. "Testing a Framework to Co-Construct Social Innovation Actions: Insights from Seven Marginalized Rural Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-26, February.
    10. Chris McPhee & Margaret Bancerz & Muriel Mambrini-Doudet & François Chrétien & Christian Huyghe & Javier Gracia-Garza, 2021. "The Defining Characteristics of Agroecosystem Living Labs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-25, February.
    11. Nathalie Haug & Ines Mergel, 2021. "Public Value Co-Creation in Living Labs—Results from Three Case Studies," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-22, July.
    12. Zhang, Qian & Webster, Natasha A. & Han, Shengnan & Ayele, Workneh Yilma, 2023. "Contextualizing the rural in digital studies: A computational literature review of rural-digital relations," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    13. Zhen Liu & Jing Liu & Mohamed Osmani, 2021. "Integration of Digital Economy and Circular Economy: Current Status and Future Directions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-27, June.

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