From 23 to 27 March 2026, Sorbonne Paris Nord University successfully hosted the UNINOVIS International Week dedicated to Excellence Hubs and Living Labs.
The event brought together Sorbonne Paris Nord University academics and administrative staff as well as colleagues from our UNINOVIS partner universities: Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt (THWS), The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THUAS), Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK), University of Malaga (UMA), University of Tirana (UT), and Kauno Kolegija (KK).
Together, we explored two key concepts shaping the future of academic innovation: Living Labs — spaces for co-creation in real-life contexts — and Excellence Hubs — the UNINOVIS-aligned structures that strengthen innovation and collaboration ecosystems.
Throughout the week, participants engaged in a rich programme of workshops and interactive sessions combining theory, practice, and real-world applications.
From concepts to practice
Hosted by Dr Peter Roelofsma, Professor of Risk Management & Cyber Security at THUAS, Annemiek Hanevel, coordinator of the 'SME Digiworkplace' and student agency New Designers at THUAS and Heleen Geerts, Researcher Living Labs and Coordinator of the Center for Entrepreneurship at THUAS, sessions highlighted how Living Labs foster innovation through collaboration between students, researchers, and external partners.
Concrete examples illustrated their impact across fields such as cyber security, retail, digital transformation, and sustainable food systems. Participants also discovered how Living Labs can gain international recognition through certification within the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL), enhancing their visibility and impact.
Innovating with students through collaboration and experimentation
Several workshops, animated by Tiina Koskiranta, senior higher education development expert, project manager, and facilitator in business development, change leadership, and innovation facilitation at TAMK, were focused on education and student engagement. They showcased innovative approaches such as TAMK's Sprint Innovation Festival, where students work intensively with experts on real-world challenges.
Participants also explored how to better involve students as active partners in learning and how to connect teaching with research and industry via Living Lab environments.
Learning from best practices
A joint session from TAMK provided participants with some best practices, showcasing their university's extensive experience with Living Labs while also not shying away from the challenges they faced in implementation.
Sanna Luoto, researcher and degree programme coordinator from TAMK's Faculty of Business and Media, showed how RDI projects are embedded in the Hospitality Management programme through RestoLab, illustrating co-creation around sustainable food systems.
Jaana Vainionpää, a Senior Lecturer and PhD student in health sciences, shared her experience with the WellTech Lab, highlighting how this project used the Living Lab approach to provide usability testing to industry partners. Both examples led to a fruitful discussion on the practical aspects of Living Lab implementation and participants brainstormed on how these models could be adapted to their local context.
Exploring future-oriented innovation and moving forward in our Excellence Hubs
Thanks to the presentation of Dr. Pirita Ihamäki, Ph.D., M.Sc. Principal Lecturer in Innovation Management at TAMK and leader of the Industry Metaverse and XR World RDI group, participants also examined emerging topics such as the role of the metaverse in research, training, and collaboration within Excellence Hubs, as well as the development of immersive and inclusive innovation ecosystems.
Susan Höfner (THWS) and Yamina Seamari (UMA) from our UNINOVIS coordination staff then led a workshop on making the connection between the Living Lab approach and our own UNINOVIS Excellence Hubs, facilitating a practical session where participants collaborated and discussed critically the challenges and next steps that we face.
Key outcomes
As a result, participants:
- ✔️ Gained a better understanding of Living Labs and Excellence Hubs
- ✔️ Developed initial ideas and plans for implementation within their institutions
- ✔️ Strengthened international networks to support ongoing collaboration
- ✔️ Highlighted areas of improvement and challenges to overcome regarding our Excellence Hubs
The International Week created a dynamic space for exchange, co-creation, and partnership building, bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise.
A special thanks to our inspiring speakers for sharing their knowledge and experience, and to all participants for their engagement in making this week a success.