A Fast-Track Training Program for Living Lab Methodologies: program components, acceptability, and participant perceptions.

Background: Living Labs have proven to be valuable environments for fostering innovation through user-centred approaches. However, many researchers and companies still face challenges in implementing these methodologies sustainably. Addressing these challenges requires not only structural solutions within Living Labs, but also the cultivation of expertise among researchers and practitioners. It is crucial to educate researchers and innovators in practices aligned with user-centred research, living lab practices and co-design, emphasizing societal relevance and Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) within the research community.

Method: This paper presents and evaluates a novel training program developed within the VITALISE project, aimed at onboarding external researchers and familiarizing them with Living Lab Research Infrastructures through transnational visits and collaborations. Results The program features a modular design covering key topics such as Living Lab methodology, harmonisation of research practices, and participant recruitment and panel management. A total of 49 participants completed an evaluation questionnaire, with results indicating high satisfaction and perceived usefulness across all training modules. Post-training, most participants reported feeling confident in applying Living Lab methodologies after the training. Notably, individual differences in interest across training blocks highlighted the need for flexible, tailored programs that accommodate varying levels of prior knowledge and specific research needs.

Conclusion: This study suggests that targeted, adaptable training initiatives are acceptable. Self-reported feedback suggests that it could help to enable researchers to integrate Living Lab methodologies into their work. However, further formal evaluation of learning gains is needed. Continued development of structured, scalable, and context-sensitive training programs, supported by international collaborations and standardized approaches, will be essential for fostering sustainable and impactful Living Lab research across disciplines and borders.