Unite! Transregional Living Labs Day 2026

This international online conference will bring together researchers, practitioners and university leaders working on sustainability, ESG integration, campus transformation and stakeholder collaboration. The meeting will take place on MS Teams and create space for open exchange across institutions and regions. 

Why join?

The event is designed to strengthen collaboration between Unite! universities in developing University Campus Living Labs as structured, long-term mechanisms for cooperation and experimentation. Living Labs are not only projects — they are ways of working: connecting research, education and real-life implementation in a systemic way. 

Throughout the day, we will reflect on the university’s evolving role as a neutral mediator of knowledge and a broker of competences — an institution that offers not only infrastructure, but also advanced research methods, analytical tools and evaluation capacities necessary for experimentation in real-world settings. 

Participants will: 

• discover existing Living Lab initiatives across the Unite! alliance, 

• exchange good practices in integrating research, teaching and external engagement, 

• explore common pathways for strengthening Unite! Living Labs as drivers of institutional transformation and ESG integration. 

Who is it for?

The event is open to the Unite! academic community and all those involved in sustainability, ESG, Living Labs initiatives, campus transformation and stakeholder cooperation. Representatives of partner organisations and socio-economic stakeholders engaged in Unite! Living Labs are warmly invited to join. 

Practical information

• Date & Time: 13 March 2026, 10:15–16:00 CET 

• Format: International online expert conference 

• Platform: MS Teams meeting link 

• Registration deadline: 9 March 2026 via the online form 

Detailed agenda 13 March 2026 | 10:15 –16:00 CET | Online 

10:15 – 10:25 Welcome & Opening   
Magdalena Baborska-Narożny & Izabela Sówka, Wroclaw Tech 

• Objectives of the Living Labs Day
• Living Labs, sustainability & ESG in the Unite! alliance 
• Structure of the day 

BLOCK I – FRAMING TRANSFORMATION: LIVING LABS, PEOPLE AND CHANGE  

10:25 –10:40 The definition of a Living Lab in the light of Unite! Community (8 research areas), Agnieszka Tubis, Wrocław Tech 

10:40–11:05 How to support deep change with inner development and capacity building, Lucie Jiraskova, Grenoble INP UGA 

11:05–11:15 – Discussion 

BLOCK II – ESG INTEGRATION, MONITORING & GOVERNANCE MODELS 

11:15–11:40 ESG in small and medium-sized companies: burden, obligation or value? Joanna Kott,  Wrocław Tech 

11:40–12:05 Climate Contribution at TU Graz – internal carbon pricing as a Living Lab instrument, Günter Getzinger, TU Graz 

12:05–12:30 Student-driven evidence base for University Living Labs and ESG integration (MS20), Tomasz Kania, Wrocław Tech 

12:30–13:30 Lunch break 

BLOCK III – CAMPUS AS A LIVING LAB: TOOLS & SYSTEMS 

13:30–14:15 UserGrids: Tools and Roadmap for a Carbon-Neutral Energy District 

Lisa-Marie Fochler, TU Graz 

14.15 -14.25 UPC CAMPUSLAB: Beyond the Classroom: How CampusLab is Redefining University Sustainability, Pere Losantos, UPC 

14:25–14:35 EDUPED Project: Educational Campuses as Drivers for Positive Energy Districts, Núria Garrido Soriano, UPC 

14:40–15:05 ProtoLAB – design & manufacturing socially oriented architectural objects, Jerzy Łątka, Wrocław Tech 

15:05–15:20 GreenLivingLab@Lisbon: where agri-food excellence meets innovation 

Joana Costa, Universidade de Lisboa 

15:20–15:35 CIÊNCIAS Sustainability Living Lab – experimentation & community engagement, Margarida Santos-Reis, Universidade de Lisboa 

15:35–15:50 Sustainable events Checklist and Student Sustainability Hub, Patrizia Lombardi, Politecnico di Torino 

BLOCK IV – SYNTHESIS & FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR UNITE! LIVING LABS 

15:50–16:00 Wrap-up & next steps