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As of today, Utrecht ľ�ϸ���Ӱ�� has a centre for living labs. The UULabs initiative which started in 2022 continues under the name Centre for Living Labs UU (CLU). “A welcome change for a growing initiative,” says Susanne Nijssen, who is the manager of the centre.

In the past years, CLU, which is a part of the Sustainability Office, has devoted itself to the development of living labs at the university campuses. Within living labs, collaboration between operational management, research and education is essential. CLU works as a connecting and facilitating organ, and has the main goal of making collaboration between fields of expertise and parts of organisations the norm." The most common form for these collaborations is living labs, but CLU supports similar collaborations too. 

A growing initiative

In 2023 and 2024, a number of promising living labs were started under the leadership of CLU. For instance, there are the living labs Healthy Heidelberglaan, PFAS Remediation, Zero Waste and Greening the UBB Square. The common denominator in these living labs is sustainable development. The focus is often on ecological sustainability. But CLU is expanding the scope. “With the launch of the new name, we want to be a centre for all living labs which are connected to the university,” Susanne explains. “However, the focus is on ecological and social sustainable development. The Sustainable Development Goals are a good starting point for this.” 

Fund for sustainable development

In May, the Sustainability Office launched a fund which enables staff members and students at Utrecht ľ�ϸ���Ӱ�� to obtain funding for the founding of green initiatives and living labs on campus. The goal of the fund is to encourage transdisciplinary approaches to sustainability challenges. It provides scholarships to big and small projects from € 50 to € 50,000 euros. Project proposals for living labs can be submitted until 30 August 2024.

Platform for living labs

The centre wants to be a platform for all living labs. Are you coordinating a living lab at the university and would you really like to add it to the CLU website? If you do, please contact clu@uu.nl.