What are Living Labs?
Living Labs are dynamic, co-creation spaces within the ROBOCOOP-EU project, developed to encourage new ideas, test solutions, and develop strategies for the future of agriculture.
We're establishing three Living Labs focused on creating circular bio-based business models in different European rural regions. These areas are home to small-scale, family-run farms and agricultural businesses, often working with cooperatives to navigate through distributors, retailers, and food processors.
Why are Living Labs important?
Each region has its own specific challenges and needs. These Living Labs will bring together experts, partners, and stakeholders to identify these unique needs and test cooperative business models that suit the local agricultural systems.
What do our Living Labs do?
The Living Labs have several key objectives that they work on:
· Mapping and assessing the sustainability of European value chains related to grapes, wine, cherries, and peaches, including their by-products.
· Helping farmers and processors develop the ability to handle these by-products efficiently.
· Co-creating solutions and business models based on the challenges and needs that are specific to each region
· Boosting the innovation potential of the value chain actors and other beneficiaries.
· Improving understanding of available public and private funding.
· Creating new opportunities and income venues for farmers and new opportunities for end-users
How do the Living Labs operate?
The Living Labs were designed to operate in three phases.
Phase 1 involves discussions and validation of four business models among primary partners.
In Phase 2, Living Labs unite to share knowledge and experiences across Europe, aiming to overcome economic, technical, legal, and environmental barriers. Various actors will help to deploy the Labs regionally and generate products and services that cater to customer needs and technical challenges.
Phase 3 involves testing Business Models for the products and solutions
Actors supporting the implementation (SATIBA, TROIL, ACVJ, DIMITRA, ENTEKA, INOFA) will work alongside those addressing technical challenges (UEX, BBEPP, VITO, INS, INEUVO, FM, NTUA, NATAC) and customer needs (ARION, ROELMI, ADME, ENO).
The Living Labs aim toward a thriving and sustainable future for agriculture by fostering collaboration, innovation, and problem-solving in diverse European rural regions.
