How to become a Water-Oriented Living Lab

Water-Oriented Living Labs (WOLLs) have emerged over the past decade as an effective instrument for accelerating water innovation under real-world conditions. Unlike traditional research infrastructures or short-term project-based initiatives, WOLLs are permanent, multi-stakeholder collaboration environments that bring together government, industry, academia and civil society to co-create, test and validate solutions to complex, territory-specific water challenges.

Formalised through the Water4All Partnership, WOLLs offer documented benefits, including faster and more targeted innovation, stronger stakeholder trust, access to a European peer-learning network of more than 30 recognised WOLLs, and increased attractiveness to public and private funders.

The AWR4Climate Cluster projects — RECREATE, AWARD and MARCLAIMED — are developing innovative Alternative Water Resources (AWR) solutions across Europe. This webinar will introduce the WOLL concept and the pathway towards WOLL recognition to case studies from across the Cluster, providing a practical framework to help sustain, strengthen and scale their activities while maximising their long-term territorial impact.