Living Labs
Discover the Living Labs that are part of the SIXFOLD consortium!
Pilot plants are increasingly outgrowing their closed environments. They are evolving into living labs where cross-sector collaboration for idea and product development takes precedence. These living labs are gradually forming European networks. This gives companies access to shared knowledge, technology, and financial support. Within the Sixfold project, we aim to further develop a network of living labs within the SS4AF partnership.
What about Living Labs?
The concept of Living Labs is transforming the digital innovation landscape in the agri-food industry. These innovation hubs act as dynamic catalysts, fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders within the industry 4.0 ecosystem. The purpose? To invent, create, refine, test, and validate groundbreaking digital solutions tailored to address specific challenges within the agri-food sector. By bringing together food processing companies, researchers, technology providers, digital solution developers, and policymakers, these living labs drive practical advancements, tailored to regional needs and priorities. Together, we are transforming ideas into impactful, real-world outcomes.
Living labs as innovation centers that foster cross-sector collaboration and promote the advancement of cutting-edge technological solutions for the food industry.
The services of a living lab
The services they offer, and which companies can make use of, fall into two categories: “test before investment” and “skills and training”.
Under “test before investment” we include:
- Contract research such as specific R&D, concept development, proof of concept
- Testing and validation services such as certification, product demonstration, and qualification
- Strategic Research, Development, and Innovation such as pre-competitive research
- Provision of technological infrastructure such as renting equipment, facilities, or offering favorable commercial production
- Technical support in scaling up such as concept validation, prototyping, and small-scale series production
A survey within the Sixfold project shows that “contract research” and “testing and validation services” are the most sought-after by companies.
Under “skills and training” we include:
- Courses and workshops for skills development
- Provision of technological infrastructure for educational purposes
The role of living labs for Industry 4.0
The implementation of Industry 4.0 in the food industry requires close collaboration between various partners such as food processing companies, researchers, technology providers, developers of digital solutions, and policymakers. A living lab is therefore the ideal place to innovate in the context of Industry 4.0. It provides a safe environment to test new technologies and explore unconventional solutions.
Living labs are strongly rooted in their regions. However, some themes, such as the implementation of Industry 4.0 in the food industry, are not region-specific but universal. This makes them an excellent theme around which living labs can form a network.
