NWO grants funding for innovative research on physical experimental environments
The Netherlands, recognised as a European leader in innovation, is home to more than 100 experimental environments. These environments range from controlled field labs to more open, participatory urban living labs. A consortium, including Alfons van Marrewijk (MBE), has been awarded a prestigious grant from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO). They want to explore how various forms of innovation in field labs such as the Green Village, in urban living labs such as the Energielab Zuidoost in Amsterdam and all kinds of civic initiatives contribute to sustainability transitions. How can you mainstream innovations from experiments?
Pilot paradox
Whether in urban or rural settings, many of these initiatives share the ambition to contribute to climate adaptation, increased biodiversity, renewable energy, and circularity. A major challenge is a persistent “pilot paradox” where a lot is experimented but this does not lead to long-term, systemic change. The project ‘From EXperiment to sustainable change: TRAnsformative methodologies for Innovation and learning’ (EXTRA) seeks to overcome a persistent “pilot paradox”. In this paradox, much experimentation takes place but long-term systemic impact remains difficult. Researchers together with all sorts of change makers will synthesise existing knowledge on how to mainstream, upscale, spread, broaden and deepen developed innovations.
‘We want to explore how we can test and scale up new organisational and revenue models earlier and better in living labs focused on circular construction and infrastructure projects, for example. Think, for instance, of the changed role of demolishers who are now brought in as experts of used materials at the front end of circular projects,' commented Alfons van Marrewijk.
Hands on tools
The project EXTRA, led by Tamara Metze (TPM), is crucial for accelerating sustainability transitions. By refining methodologies for mission-driven experimentation and develop hands on tools for all sorts of change-makers, it will be easier to mainstream the sustainable lessons and innovations. ‘These tools will not only aid grassroots innovators but also influence institutional and organisational structures, ensuring that lessons learned from experiments are better anchored in policies, regulations, and organisations’, explains Metze.
Tamara Metze (TBM): ‘I am excited to unravel what are effective ways of cocreation that lead to mainstreaming the positive changes made in experimental environments. We will figure out how learning and innovation can lead to lasting changes in regulations, policies, and financial systems and the biophysical environment.’
More information
The project ‘From EXperiment to sustainable change: TRAnsformative methodologies for Innovation and learning’ (EXTRA) is led by Tamara Metze of TPM.
Project partners are TU Delft, VU Amsterdam, Wageningen University & Research, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, The Green Village, AMS Institute; PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, WoonFriesland, Dijkstra Draisma, Province North Holland, Ministry of Internal Affairs, PRICE /Almere, BouwLab, Alliantie Samen Nieuw-West, Innovation Quarter and CirkelStad.
The project collaborates with the Growth Fund Team Future-proof Living Environment (Groeifondsteam Toekomstbestendige Leefomgeving) in which Ellen van Bueren and Aksel Ersoy are working with others to create a Living Lab Learning Environment, building on the extensive experience gained at AMS with the Living Lab Way of Working.
Read the NWO press release.