Distributed agency in living labs for sustainability transitions

Abstract

This chapter examines how the concept of a living lab can be used to establish distributed agency on a limited scale with relatively low risks in the context of a transition towards sustainability. As the current literature on the impact of living labs and distributed agency on sustainability transitions is nascent, we explore the concept of distributed agency in a case study, the Hiedanranta living lab, located in the city of Tampere in Finland. The case study relies on qualitative research design containing interviews with key stakeholders and broad secondary data. Findings of the study point out that in order to advance the resource efficiency and thus sustainability in living labs, all actors including researchers, equipment providers, city planners from the municipality, regulators, companies and users need each other to test solutions and contribute with their expertise, knowledge, equipment and facilities. The shared goal of the transition to sustainable lifestyles, which includes use of renewable energy and recycling, requires many autonomous stakeholders, thus raising the need for distributed agency. The study contributes to the urban living lab and sustainability transition literature by uncovering the individual and mutual acts of living lab actors.