Written by: Anželika Dautartė, VMU

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VMU Presents ᴇNᴀBʟS at the 1st International Living Labs Conference in the Baltic Region

ᴇNᴀBʟS’ Lithuanian Living Lab, coordinated by the Vytautas Magnus University (VMU), took part in the 1^st International Living Labs Conference, held on 27 May, 2025, at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU) in Kaunas. The conference, titled ‘Living Labs: Opening Innovation Ecosystems for Co‑creation and Impact’, marked a milestone in promoting open and co-creative innovation practices across the Baltic region. It was jointly organised by the National Network of Living Labs (LLLNet), LSMU, the Research Council of Lithuania, and the Lithuanian Social Research Centre.

The event brought together more than 80 participants from 21 countries, representing academia, public institutions, and international innovation networks. Discussions focused on how Living Labs can address urgent societal and environmental challenges by fostering collaboration between science, policy, business, and communities.

One of the highlights of the conference was the presentation of the ᴇNᴀBʟS project, which was introduced by acad. dr. Gediminas Brazaitis, representing VMU and its active engagement in the field of sustainability education, biodiversity, and stakeholder co-creation. His presentation underscored the project’s vision to integrate nature-based solutions into education systems and empower communities to act for biodiversity conservation.

The ᴇNᴀBʟS project aligns closely with VMU’s Living Lab development strategy. As part of its activities, the university has been strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration, creating platforms for public engagement, and contributing to Horizon Europe missions, particularly in the areas of soil health, sustainable agriculture, and bioeconomy.

Participants received the first collective publication titled ‘Lithuanian Living Labs 2025’, showcasing current and emerging labs working in health, ecology, education, and social innovation.

VMU’s ᴇNᴀBʟS LL participation in this conference not only strengthened its national and international partnerships but also positioned the university as a key contributor to the co-creation ecosystem that is rapidly gaining momentum across Europe.