Urban Labs and Urban Living Labs in Poland: Models, Practices, and Potential in Urban Transformation

Cities increasingly use experimental and participatory approaches to address sustainability challenges, yet knowledge about Urban Labs (ULs) and Urban Living Labs (ULLs) in Central and Eastern Europe remains limited. This article provides the first nationwide overview of ULs and ULLs in Poland and examines their role in sustainable urban transformation. Using desk research based on systematic searches of official websites, government reports, EU programme databases, academic sources, and social media, 34 ULs and 15 ULL initiatives operating as of July 2025 were identified. The cases were geolocated and analysed in terms of funding, collaboration models, and thematic orientations. ULs were classified into four functional types, while ULLs were grouped by their main areas of activity. The results indicate two development paths: a centralised model linked to national programmes and a bottom-up model driven by NGOs, universities, and civic initiatives. Most cases are concentrated in metropolitan areas, remain rare in towns with fewer than 60,000 inhabitants, and depend on short-term external funding. Despite organisational diversity, the initiatives consistently use co-creation, stakeholder engagement, and rapid prototyping. The study provides a first empirical evidence base for Poland and identifies challenges related to institutional durability and the scaling of urban innovation.