Inauguration of the ‘Living Lab for Just Transitions (LLJT) – A project of IIT Bombay to engage in process of inclusive and sustainable transition’ (Alleppey). The venue: R.No.21, VMCC, IIT Bombay, on 02 March 2023 at 7.00 PM.
The European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL) defines the Living Lab as innovative ecosystems in real–life environments that focus on implementable solutions through co –creation, iterative feedback processes involving stakeholders, testing, and scaling–up of solutions. The Living Labs operate among stakeholders that include government institutions across various levels, research organizations, communities, private sector companies, etc.
Our work in Alleppey, Kerala over the last five years has been in the broader areas of water, sanitation, climate change, disaster management, and livelihoods. This experience, over time, has led to pedagogical evolution in the role of academia in the translation of technical knowledge to bring contextual solutions at local governance levels. The dynamic nature of the policy problems and lack of capacities at the level of local self-governments has required our constant presence to develop and implement innovative solutions through knowledge co–production and incorporation into practice through alternate approaches, in turn addressing the larger concerns of climate resilience, disasters, drinking water, sanitation, and related social issues. It is now understood that evolving effective solutions for these problems is not possible without deepening the participation of all the stakeholders (local communities in particular) in the decision-making process. The Living Lab in Alleppey is now intended to facilitate and deepen the same.
The inauguration of the Living Lab will be followed by a two-day workshop in Alleppey on 09 and 10 March 2023. The larger agenda of the workshop is to discuss the current progress, future activities, areas of improvement, and potential solutions in the sectors mentioned above.