How can Living Labs remain active and impactful beyond the lifetime of a research project?

This question was at the core of the ECO-READY 2nd Exploitation Pathways Workshop, organised by White Research, in late May, as part of the project’s activities supporting the long-term sustainability of the ECO-READY Living Labs.

Building on the first Exploitation Pathways Workshop held in 2025, the online session marked the second phase of the project’s sustainability pathway process. It brought together representatives from the ECO-READY Living Labs, consortium partners, and external experts to exchange knowledge and refine strategies to ensure the long-term continuity of the Living Labs after the project ends.

A central element of the workshop was the presentation of the Sustainability Roadmaps, developed by each Living Lab after completing their Business Model Canvases. The roadmaps reflected a variety of regional contexts and priorities, showcasing different sustainability pathways, from community-driven ecosystems and innovation-focused models to data – and knowledge-based approaches. Despite these differences, several common priorities emerged, including adaptive governance, stakeholder engagement, diversified funding, climate resilience, digital tools and stronger integration with the ECO-READY Observatory.

Participants also took part in an interactive stress-testing exercise, designed to assess the robustness of the proposed sustainability strategies, identify potential risks, compare approaches across Living Labs, and explore opportunities for collaboration beyond the project’s lifetime.

The workshop also featured contributions from ENoLL and Cranfield University, offering practical perspectives on designing Living Labs for continuity, strengthening governance structures and reinforcing links with regional innovation ecosystems and the ECO-READY Observatory. The session concluded with an introduction to key economic feasibility concepts and practical tools to support long-term sustainability planning.

Facilitating these collaborative processes is part of White Research’s role in supporting Horizon Europe projects to strengthen the long-term exploitation and sustainability of project results, fostering collaboration between partners and helping translate strategic planning into actionable pathways for lasting impact.