Seven months before the 2025 OpenLivingLab Days, the ENoLL team visited Andorra la Vella for the first time. The Pyrenean capital sits enclosed by mountains on every side, and in front of the conference centre stood a large public square, still under renovation.
That square became the Networking Village.
As ESAE’s official media partner, Boardroom followed up with Spela Zalokar, Alessandra Tricarico and from the ENoLL team to learn more about the conference’s creative approach and impact.
The Living Labs
ENoLL is the international, non-profit association of certified Living Labs worldwide. These labs are user-centred, open-innovation ecosystems built on systematic co-creation, integrating research and innovation into real-life communities and settings. Citizens, government, industry, and academia work together to address complex challenges directly in communities rather than in controlled settings.
The organisation represents 200 members across 42 countries, facilitating knowledge exchange and advocacy for Living Lab approaches across Europe and beyond. OpenLivingLab Days is ENoLL’s flagship annual conference, drawing innovators and decision-makers from around the world.
The 2025 conference theme, “Living Labs for Regenerative Futures: Connecting Local and Global Innovation Ecosystems,” explored how to build systems to actively restore ecological, social, and economic health. The programme included 5 tracks:
- TRACK 1: Living Labs for Grand Societal Challenges
- TRACK 2: Living Labs for Policies, Governance, Collaboration and Innovation Ecosystems
- TRACK 3: Living Labs for Inclusive Soci(et)al Engagement
- TRACK 4: Living Labs for Business and Emerging Technology
- TRACK 5: Living Labs Operation, Methods, Tools, and Impact
The event was co-organised with the Andorra Research and Innovation Foundation, which hosts the country’s own Living Lab. The theme had a local foundation before the conference arrived.
The Networking Village
The Networking Village transformed Andorra la Vella’s main square into an open extension of the conference programme.
“It felt like the perfect spot to set up a networking space and invite locals to connect with participants and discover more about Living Labs,” the ENoLL team said.
Surrounded by beautiful mountains, participants could truly experience the natural environment, which helped create a more relaxed atmosphere and opened the event up to more informal, spontaneous connections.
The square featured exhibition booths, an outdoor smart-working area, and lounge areas with deck chairs, allowing people to relax, enjoy the surroundings, and connect beyond the usual conference setting. Scheduled Village Talks punctuated the day with short conversations and pitches, with some of the best exchanges happening in between sessions. The goal was to open the conference beyond its usual boundaries, making it accessible to anyone curious about Living Labs or simply drawn to the energy of the square. Entry was free and no badge was required. “It was the first time in the history of the OpenLivingLab Days that we were able to open up our conference to the whole city,” the ENoLL team said.
The space felt accessible and inviting even to those who hadn’t planned to attend. Families who had been crossing the square stopped to speak with exhibitors. Children tried on Augmented Reality visors, and elderly residents ended up in conversation with researchers from across Europe.
“What was particularly striking was the diversity of people engaging with the space,” the ENoLL team said. “The conference attendees and the local citizens were blended together, which created a dynamic and truly inclusive environment.”
The team said the Networking Village had a significant positive impact, making this edition more memorable and vibrant. The closing day extended that spirit further, with site visits to local innovation spaces and time set aside for delegates to reconnect with Andorra’s unique surroundings.
Networking as a Design Principle
The Village revealed how ENoLL thinks about events at a fundamental level. “Networking is not only an element, it is a design principle aimed at creating a real sense of community,” the ENoLL team said. The open innovation approach also encourages the team to bring the local community into the conference wherever possible. In Andorra, the Networking Village did both.
“What we would encourage other associations to take from this is the importance of designing events as open ecosystems,” they said. “This way, you can create opportunities for unexpected interactions, local engagement, and exchange.” They arrived in Andorra and found a square under renovation. They built the Networking Village around it.
The destination itself is becoming increasingly part of the programme. Organisers are extending beyond the venue walls, building activities and conversations into the broader community. For associations, the goal is to create spaces where communities can exchange ideas, build trust, and leave a legacy. The Networking Village in Andorra is one answer.
What’s Next
ENoLL is now preparing the 2026 edition of the OpenLivingLab Days, taking place across Brussels and Antwerp from September 29th to October 2nd, with the theme “Living Labs Impacts and Values for a Changing World.” The programme will open with a Policy Event in Brussels, continue at the Room with a ZOO venue in Antwerp, and close with field visits to Belgian Living Labs and cultural activities in the city.
“We are already preparing a few surprises,” the ENoLL team shared, “and of course, everyone is welcome to join.”
Further information is available at openlivinglabdays.com.