Living Labs are collaborative platforms where stakeholders—including researchers, companies, public agencies, and citizens—come together to develop innovative solutions for environmental and societal challenges. These labs emphasize:

• Co-Creation: Engaging all stakeholders to ensure solutions are practical and inclusive.
• Real-World Testing: Innovating in real-life environments to validate ideas and adapt them effectively.
• Sustainability: Focusing on long-term impact through iterative feedback and collaboration.

By bridging research with practical implementation, Living Labs tackle complex issues like water management, biodiversity, and climate resilience. EcoDaLLi's Living Labs are transforming the Danube River Basin into a hub of innovation, empowering communities to create sustainable solutions that can be replicated worldwide.

Living Labs are open-innovation platforms where diverse stakeholders—researchers, companies, public agencies, citizens—collaborate to co-create solutions for real-world problems. They address ecological, social, and political challenges like climate change, water, and soil management, bridging the gap between research and practical implementation.

Core Principles

• Collaboration: Engaging multiple stakeholders to address complex challenges.
• Co-Creation: Developing solutions that integrate the needs of all participants.
• Real-World Context: Testing and refining innovations in real-life environments.
• Iterative Feedback: Continuously improving solutions through stakeholder input.

Living Lab Phases

• Initiation: Identifying challenges and forming stakeholder groups.
• Planning: Setting goals, methodologies, and metrics for success.
• Development: Co-creating and developing innovative solutions.
• Implementation: Testing solutions in real-world settings.
• Evaluation: Assessing performance and impact.
• Refinement: Improving solutions based on feedback.
• Dissemination: Sharing results with broader audiences.
• Replication: Adapting successful solutions to new contexts.

Domains of Application

• Climate Change: Developing and testing climate resilience strategies.
• Water Systems: Innovating in water management and conservation techniques.
• Biodiversity: Enhancing conservation through community-led initiatives.
• Urban Development: Creating sustainable urban environments via participatory planning.

Data Collection and Management

• Input: Capturing data from stakeholders and various sources.
• Processing: Analyzing raw data to generate meaningful insights.
• Dissemination: Sharing processed data to guide decisions and actions.

The EcoDaLLi project integrates Living Labs with citizen science and digital tools, empowering local stakeholders, fostering transparency, and strengthening governance for effective water resource management. By fostering collaboration and co-creation, Living Labs ensure innovative solutions are effectively developed, implemented, and sustained.

Living Labs were implemented across the Upper Danube, Middle Danube, Lower Danube, and Danube Delta to foster community-driven initiatives and promote innovative solutions for local environmental challenges. These labs progressed through phases such as initiation, planning, development, implementation, evaluation, and refinement.

Key Activities and Outcomes

• Tulcea, Romania: The Danube Delta Living Lab focused on water management and biodiversity conservation, engaging local communities and experts to develop adaptive conservation measures.
• Draž, Croatia: Stakeholders, including entrepreneurs and NGOs, collaborated on solutions for climate resilience and sustainable water use.
• Workshops and Discussions: At the "Deltas and Wetlands" symposium, 178 participants developed actionable plans for social, environmental, and economic challenges, which were integrated into the EcoDaLLi action plan.

PLLS Framework: A Tool for Collaboration

The Practices Living Labs System (PLLS), developed by Smarter Mobility Solutions Ltd, served as a practical tool for stakeholder engagement. The framework is built on eight pillars—policy, governance, human capital, innovation, and more—to gather insights, foster collaboration, and inform engagement strategies.

• Danube Delta Living Lab: Focused on biodiversity, with 200 participants discussing resource protection.
• Lower Danube Living Lab: Addressed water supply system innovations with 200 participants contributing diverse perspectives.
• Middle Danube Living Lab: Centered on climate change adaptation, engaging 150 participants from local authorities, experts, and communities.

Impact and Collaboration

The Living Labs and PLLS framework have demonstrated practical value in real-world settings. They fostered meaningful collaboration among stakeholders—including government agencies, NGOs, and local communities—and supported the development of strategic local action plans. Iterative stakeholder feedback ensured sustainable and innovative solutions to environmental challenges.

Surveys played a crucial role in the EcoDaLLi project by collecting diverse perspectives on the needs and priorities of the communities involved. This ensured that stakeholder engagement strategies were well-informed and impactful.

Surveys in WP5

• Developed by: ICARTI, Acteon SARL, and SMS.
• Focus: Stakeholders within the innovation chain, particularly those engaged in IA Mission Ocean projects and the wider Danube region.
• Goal: Strengthen stakeholder capacities by addressing specific needs and priorities.
• Method: Surveys distributed online and through the WP4 community to collect data on stakeholder requirements.
• Outcome: Feedback was used to design training programs tailored to stakeholder needs, ensuring effective capacity building.

Focus groups served as a valuable tool in the EcoDaLLi project, offering qualitative insights from community members and stakeholders. These discussions provided a deeper understanding of local challenges and potential solutions.

Focus Groups in Draž and Tulcea

• Purpose: Address issues related to water resource management and explore sustainable solutions.
• Participants: Local officials, environmental experts, and community members.
• Locations: Draž and Tulcea.
• Session Size: 15-20 participants per session.
• Outcome: Generated qualitative data that complemented survey results, enriching the overall stakeholder insights.

Workshops were a key component of stakeholder engagement in the EcoDaLLi project, fostering collaboration and co-creating solutions for local environmental challenges.

Workshops in Draž and Tulcea

• Focus: Water resource conservation and ecological restoration.
• Date: Held in May 2024.
• Participants: Local authorities, NGOs, and experts.
• Activities: Interactive exercises and group discussions to develop practical implementation strategies.
• Outcome: Facilitated the exchange of ideas and collaborative problem-solving.

Workshops as Dissemination Activities

• Organized by: SEZ, IP Tulcea, and Acteon SARL.
• Event Highlight: International Forum on Sustainable Development in the Danube River Delta.
• Focus: Presenting research results and developing new strategies for ecosystem conservation.

Interviews offered a platform to gather personal experiences and insights from key stakeholders, complementing data from surveys and focus groups.

Interviews with Local Leaders

• Locations: Draž and Tulcea.
• Participants: Local officials, community leaders, and environmental experts.
• Focus: Challenges in water resource management and conservation.
• Outcome: Provided in-depth insights that supported the development of local action plans.

This practical framework ensures that Living Labs not only foster innovation but also create sustainable, scalable solutions. EcoDaLLi’s Living Labs showcase how collaborative approaches can transform challenges into opportunities for growth and resilience.

Dissemination activities complemented EcoDaLLi’s stakeholder engagement efforts by sharing project results through events, workshops, and online platforms. These initiatives raised public awareness of environmental conservation challenges and solutions.

Key Dissemination Activities

• Prefectural College Presentation: In November 2023, IP Tulcea presented EcoDaLLi’s activities and plans to local authorities, fostering awareness and collaboration for regional conservation efforts.
• Mission Ocean Forum in Brussels: SEZ represented EcoDaLLi at the annual forum in February 2023, showcasing the project alongside other EU-funded initiatives and engaging participants through an informational stand.
• European Maritime Day in Romania: In June 2023, SEZ highlighted the project during the "Innovative Partnership for the Restoration of the Danube and Black Sea Ecosystem" forum, connecting innovators and stakeholders.

This practical framework ensures that Living Labs not only foster innovation but also create sustainable, scalable solutions. EcoDaLLi’s Living Labs showcase how collaborative approaches can transform challenges into opportunities for growth and resilience.

To maximize the effectiveness and relevance of EcoDaLLi’s activities, all project materials—including surveys, questionnaires, and workshop content—were carefully adapted to the linguistic, cultural, and regional needs of the communities involved. This localization was essential for ensuring meaningful engagement and successful outcomes.

Examples of Localization

• Workshops in Croatia, Romania, and Hungary: Materials were tailored to ensure participants of diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds could easily understand, actively participate, and provide valuable feedback.
• Surveys and Questionnaires: Translated and customized to address the specific challenges and priorities of each region, enabling the collection of relevant and actionable data.

Impact of Localization

By adapting materials to local contexts, EcoDaLLi empowered stakeholders to engage in decision-making, understand complex issues such as water resource management and climate change, and contribute to sustainable, region-specific solutions. Localization ensured that all activities were inclusive, accessible, and impactful.

This practical framework ensures that Living Labs not only foster innovation but also create sustainable, scalable solutions. EcoDaLLi’s Living Labs showcase how collaborative approaches can transform challenges into opportunities for growth and resilience.