The focus of the EmbedterLabs project on urban transformation as a socio-technical reconfiguration and ULLs as a generator and test-bed of more sustainable and resilient practices means that the socio-geographic and politico-cultural context are important determinants. By conducting research in three very different European cities, located in Western, Northern and Central Europe, a variety of contexts are used to draw robust conclusions from a joint and comparative analysis and for the credibility of the resulting guidelines. To ensure broad European relevance and applicability of the 'embedded' Living Lab guidelines, testing and refining workshops will be organised with the help of the A&DB members in southwest, southeast and northeast European cities (Santander, Bucharest and Helsinki). The diversity and geographic spread of the networks that the consortium partners and A&DB members are part of, is expected to significantly increase the potential for Europe-wide dissemination and impact of the guidelines to be developed.
The novel (i.e. 'better-embedded lab'-) approach will be developed, tested and refined on the basis of retrospective analysis of successful and poorly embedded mobility-infra ULLs in Central- (Gdansk), North- (Stockholm) and West-Europe (Maastricht), and on the basis of action research in ULL experiments in implementation projects towards resilient urban public space and mobility infrastructure (in each of the three cities). All three involved cities and public administrations in our consortium have had experiences with ULLs. In all cities, the organizations involved in implementation welcome these experiments and have become co-applicants or cooperative partners. The project will also include principles of the so-called 'Living Labs 2.0' that seek to institutionalise ULLs within urban governance structures (Bylund et al 2020).