The i2CAT Research and Innovation Centre, through its Digital Society Technologies research group, reaffirmed its leadership in co-creation and human-centric digital innovation through an active and multifaceted participation at OpenLivingLab Days (OLLD) 2026, held from 29 September to 2 October in Brussels and Antwerp, Belgium.
Organized by the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL), this year’s flagship event brought together international living labbers, public policy officials, researchers, corporate leaders, and entrepreneurs under the central theme “Living Labs Impacts and Values for a Changing World.” The event bridged key European governance discussions in Brussels with hands-on sessions, workshops, and research tracks in Antwerp.
As a founding member of ENoLL, i2CAT played a prominent role throughout the week, leading strategic debates on policy alignment, operationalizing social value, bridging industry with academia, and relaunching key working groups focused on digital rights. During the event, ENoLL officially recognized i2CAT for its 20-year journey as an active member and continuous contribution to the European living lab ecosystem.
i2CAT’s contributions kicked off in Brussels at the European Committee of the Regions, which aimed to present Living Labs as an open innovation methodology to various European Commission bodies and agencies. The session highlighted successful ENoLL case studies and demonstrated how Living Labs bridge technological experimentation with public policy and citizen needs to be considered in upcoming calls.
Throughout OLLD 2026, a core focus for i2CAT was the operationalization of Key Value Indicators (KVIs), a framework designed to complement traditional technical metrics (KPIs) by measuring the societal and ethical impact of innovation. Through sessions led by Martorell, the team addressed how KVIs can demonstrate trust and social value in governance during the opening round table, guided participants on translating core values into measurable indicators in a hands-on training workshop, and showcased how KVIs serve as active learning feedback loops during ongoing co-creation processes.
Parallel to impact measurement, i2CAT researchers presented practical frameworks for bridging academic research and technological capabilities with real-world industry needs. Martorell co-authored research examining how Living Labs can evolve from testing environments into strategic co-investors by integrating businesses into governance structures. Additionally, in a joint workshop with Alimara Living Lab / CETT-UB, Martorell and Viviana Pérez, Researcher on Social Innovation at i2CAT, demonstrated how Living Labs translate sector-specific challenges into joint research initiatives while evaluating success through Social Readiness Level (SRL) assessments alongside KVIs.
The team also highlighted how living lab methodologies extend into emerging tech sectors, such as translating satellite data and space-based technologies into tangible community benefits. By actively involving local stakeholders in defining project success, i2CAT illustrated how space-enabled services can drive real social impact, underscoring the center’s commitment to aligning cutting-edge technology with human-centric priorities.
Reinforcing its long-term commitment to strategic leadership within ENoLL, i2CAT spearheaded the relaunch of ENoLL’s Social Innovation & Digital Rights Working Group.
Chaired by Marta Martorell alongside Viviana Pérez as co-lead, the group unveiled a renewed agenda focusing on three core pillars: Public Value & Impact, Digital Rights & Trustworthy Technologies, and Global Digital Cooperation. The initiative aims to foster knowledge exchange, test collaborative methodologies, and pave the way for new European projects and partnerships.
Finally, during the poster and networking sessions, the team shared key insights from ongoing initiatives such as SaGE-HUB and Benestarum, fostering synergies and future collaborations across European research networks.
September 30, 2026
September 22, 2026
