Navigating or steering Urban Living Labs? The critical role of researchers in knowledge co-production
In a growing number of European cities, Urban Living Labs (ULL) emerged involving citizens, civil society organisations, researchers and public authorities in the implementation of place-based local solutions to respond to growing urban challenges and support socio-ecological transformations. AIn a growing number of European cities, Urban Living Labs (ULL) emerged involving citizens, civil society organisations, researchers and public authorities in the implementation of place-based local solutions to respond to growing urban challenges and support socio-ecological transformations.
As spaces for experimentation, urban Living Labs are known for creating the conditions for transdisciplinary action research where researchers develop knowledge in participation, with other actors (including different fields of study) that has both a practical and reflective dimension (Reason & Bradbury, 2008). At the core of this process is knowledge co-production « that more fully grounds scientific understanding in a relevant social, cultural, and political context. » (Schuttenberg & Guth, 2015, p. 1).
In this new research environment, the role of researchers (affiliated to academic institutions) broadens from observers of a phenomenon, to engaged participants that trigger and sustain change. Cross disciplines reflections are urgently needed to support researchers in navigating this new and tangled waters (Kruijf et al., 2022).