Skellefteå brings rural perspectives to Europe

More than 300 participants from over 40 countries gathered to share experiences of living labs. These are real world environments where new solutions are developed and tested together with the people who will use or be affected by them, such as residents, businesses, researchers and the public sector.

Skellefteå Science City shared experiences of rural mobility, generative AI and how new solutions can move from testing to wider adoption.

A recurring topic throughout the conference was how living labs can help reduce risks when developing new solutions and contribute to addressing societal challenges. Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of local conditions and adapting solutions to the places where they will be used.

“Living labs are playing an increasingly important role in Europe’s future. For Skellefteå, it is important to be part of that discussion early on. We want to learn from the best while also sharing what we are doing here, in a place where the green transition is happening for real,” says Jimmy Antonsson, Senior Innovation Manager at Skellefteå Science City.

Why rural areas matter when developing new solutions

Niccolas Albiz and Mårten Edberg presented the research paper The Value of Rural, which was accepted for the conference under the theme “Living Labs for Inclusive Soci(et)al Engagement”.

The paper draws on experiences from a transport focused living lab in Tavelsjö and Rödå in northern Sweden. The work has explored how autonomous transport can improve mobility in rural areas and the benefits of developing and testing solutions in rural environments.

Much of Europe consists of rural areas. This means that new solutions, including those supporting the green transition, must work beyond major cities. Sustainable mobility, for example, may require very different solutions in a village compared with a city.

Solutions designed to work in rural areas can often benefit urban communities as well. However, transport solutions developed for cities rarely translate directly to rural settings. This makes a rural focus particularly valuable.

Despite this, rural perspectives remain underrepresented in living lab research and data. There is also limited open data showing what results living labs actually achieve. The Value of Rural contributes knowledge in both areas.

“Innovation does not happen in a vacuum. It happens in a specific place, and a solution cannot be put into practice without adapting it to local conditions. Context cannot be replaced, and that is where living labs come in,” says Niccolas Albiz, Innovation Manager at Skellefteå Science City.

From testing to real world use

Skellefteå Science City also shared experiences of generative AI and how successful tests can lead to wider adoption. One local example involving AI and minority language development attracted attention for its approach. A key lesson was the importance of building trust among children, parents and teachers before introducing the technology.

Another discussion focused on what it takes to move a solution from testing to wider use. Promising solutions can lose momentum when several organisations need to work together, but no single organisation has the responsibility, authority or funding to take the next step.

Skellefteå Science City also presented experiences of a more flexible approach to development, compared with traditional projects that have fixed timelines, roles and objectives.

Why this matters for Skellefteå

When new solutions affect how we live, work and travel, they need to be developed and tested together with the people who will actually use them.

For Skellefteå Science City, this means creating opportunities for businesses, residents, researchers and the public sector to come together and develop solutions. The need for these collaborative environments will remain strong, a point also highlighted by EU representatives during the conference.

“We hope to strengthen collaboration with other living lab organisations in northern and sparsely populated regions to share experiences and create greater value together. By building on our different strengths and the unique conditions of our region, we can achieve a greater impact,” says Jimmy Antonsson.

The next step is to follow up on the connections made during the conference and explore opportunities for new collaborations. The aim is to bring together experiences from different northern regions and create better conditions for developing and testing solutions that work in sparsely populated areas.