The Smart Control of Climate Resilience in European Coastal Cities (SCORE) project, funded under Horizon 2020, brought together innovative technologies and participatory approaches to tackle climate challenges in coastal areas. A cornerstone of the project was its network of 10 Coastal City Living Labs (CCLLs), which provided spaces for local stakeholders, citizens, policymakers, researchers, and industry, to co-create solutions for their communities to increase climate resilience.
ERINN Innovation led and contributed to several Living Lab implementation activities throughout SCORE, helping partners apply participatory methods in practice. Their involvement across different project phases, from concept and design to on-the-ground delivery, has given ERINN Innovation well-rounded expertise in the Living Lab approach.
ERINN Innovation’s Role in SCORE’s Living Labs
Throughout the SCORE project, ERINN Innovation played a pivotal part in ensuring that SCORE’s Living Labs achieved real impact and generated transferable knowledge. Leading the Lessons Learned task, ERINN Innovation worked closely with partners to capture valuable insights from the experience of implementing the 10 CCLLs.
The team took a systematic and mixed-methods approach, drawing on interviews, surveys, and interactive sessions, to document challenges, successes, and best practices. This effort was not just about reporting on what worked but about distilling learnings that could guide future projects.
The result was the Navigating Living Labs: Lessons Learned from SCORE’s 10 Coastal City Living Labs guide, along with an associated course with these insights available here. This course features videos of CCLL Core Teams in conversation with ERINN Innovation partners, along with video on the Living Lab Integrative Process from SCORE project partners European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL). It serves as a great resource for those interested in learning how to create and implement a successful Living Lab.
Key Insights for Horizon Europe Projects
One important finding from ERINN Innovation’s work is that Living Labs in EU-funded projects present unique challenges and opportunities compared to other types of Living Labs, such as those led by municipalities or the private sector. Horizon Europe projects, with their specific timelines, funding and reporting structures, and multi-partner consortia, require careful adaptation of Living Lab methodologies.
To address this, ERINN Innovation developed a dedicated chapter in Navigating Living Labs: Lessons Learned from SCORE’s 10 Coastal City Living Labs which focused on applying Living Lab approaches within the context of Horizon Europe and other EU programmes. This chapter offers actionable insights for project managers and partners involved in European-funded initiatives and is summarised in the video below.
Overall, key advantages of Horizon Europe funding include financial stability, long-term collaboration opportunities, and pathways to future funding, which are benefits that have already enabled some CCLLs to extend their work beyond SCORE.
- Best practices for project design stress the importance of:
- Building strong, well-resourced Core Teams with at least one municipal partner and two funded organisations per CCLL.
- Carefully considering the number and geographic distribution of Living Labs.
- Designing flexible work packages that allow time for relationship-building, community engagement, and knowledge sharing.
The CCLLs also noted the need to integrate technical and local partners to ensure tools and methods are relevant and actionable. Reflections on collaboration models recommend moving away from rigid “frontrunner vs follower” roles toward more balanced knowledge sharing systems based on shared challenges. Sustainability considerations highlight the value of diverse partner teams, clear post-project branding, ongoing engagement through communities of practice, and well-managed project closure strategies that maintain stakeholder trust and momentum.
Ultimately, SCORE’s experience shows that with the right project structure, integrating Living Labs into EU-funded projects can create lasting, high-impact Living Labs that foster innovation, resilience, and strong community ties.
Looking Ahead
Building on the success of their work in SCORE, ERINN Innovation is looking to continue its involvement in participatory methods and Living Lab approaches. The team is actively seeking opportunities to bring this expertise to new projects, across a range of societal challenges.
With proven experience in supporting collaborative innovation across the project lifecycle, ERINN Innovation is well-positioned to help support the design and delivery of Living Labs that empower communities and foster meaningful engagement, ensuring that solutions are not only innovative but grounded in real-world needs.
