Antwerp will welcome around 400 researchers, policymakers, entrepreneurs and innovators this week as OpenLivingLab Days 2026 brings the international Living Lab community to the city. The conference will take place at A Room with a ZOO on 30 September and 1 October, followed by field visits on 2 October.
The annual flagship event of the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL), co-organised with LiCalab – Living and Care Lab hosted by Thomas More, explores how new ideas can be developed and tested with the people who will use them. Living Labs bring citizens, researchers, businesses and public authorities together in real-world settings.
This year’s theme, ‘Living Labs Impacts and Values for a Changing World’, will guide discussions across five tracks: societal challenges; policy and governance; inclusive engagement; business and emerging technology; and operations and impact.
Martina Desole, director of ENoLL, said: “Belgium is home to many of our members and one of the most active Living Lab communities in Europe, so bringing OpenLivingLab Days here felt like a natural choice. Antwerp in particular stands out as a place where innovation is part of everyday city life, and we are delighted to explore it together with our co-organisers at LiCalab.”
On 2 October an Antwerp Innovation Walking Tour will take delegates to the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp Design Factory, The Beacon and Orange 5G Demo Lab, offering a closer look at work spanning global health, design and digital innovation. Other field visits across Belgium will show Living Labs in action in settings including health, agriculture and the arts.
Further information: https://openlivinglabdays.com/
