At the Western University of Timișoara, on April 4, 2024, the press conference was held "The role of innovation priorities in the Western region in the context of living laboratories and open innovation for the sustainable development of communities". This event marked an important moment in promoting innovation as a central pillar for the sustainable development of local communities.

The Western University of Timișoara has reaffirmed its commitment as the core of the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, highlighting the achievements of recent years, including the opening of the first living laboratory in Romania and joining the European Network of Living Laboratories (ENoLL). Through its complex approach, UVT Digital & Green Living Lab integrates all three plans of the living laboratories: at the macro level, through participatory governance, at the meso level, through collaborative programs with partners from the public administration, the private environment and civil society, respectively at the micro level, through projects that offer concrete answers to challenges received from partners. 

Discussions focused on deepening regional priorities and presenting living labs as successful models for co-creating and solving community challenges through innovation. The joint vision of UVT and ENoLL leadership highlighted the importance of open innovation and its impact on sustainable development.

The conference started with the intervention of Mr Marius Niculae, from the West Regional Development Agency, which emphasized the role of ADR West in promoting research, innovation and increasing the competitiveness of SMEs. The focus was on digitalisation, skills development and strengthening collaboration between innovation ecosystem actors to diversify skills in key sectors and boost regional development.

Assoc. Univ. Dr. Mădălin Bunoiu, vice-chancellor of the Western University of Timișoara, presented the central role of living laboratories for ensuring an integrative framework between the University's three missions, through educational living laboratories, scientific living laboratories as well as living laboratories for innovative and sustainable entrepreneurship.

Martina Sorry, Director of the European Network of Living Laboratories (ENoLL), provided an international perspective on the importance of living laboratories in promoting open innovation and highlighted ENoLL's role in facilitating collaboration and exchange of best practices among network members, alongside creating the framework for informed public policies on evidence, for the benefit of the community.

Prof. Univ. Dr. Florin Alin Sava, Director of the Doctoral School of UVT, discussed the importance of research and innovation within the university and their role in addressing societal challenges, emphasizing collaboration between the technical and humanities fields, to stimulate social and societal acceptance of the results obtained in research projects doctoral and not only.

Assoc. Univ. Dr. Andrei Pelin, Coordinator of the Student Entrepreneurial Society within the UVT, presented the results of the steps taken at the UVT level to stimulate student entrepreneurship, in accordance with the principles of the three university missions.

UVT Innovation and Technological Transfer Center was the host of this conference, and Dr. Alexandra Petcu, Director of the Center, highlighted the successful projects and initiatives in the field of innovation and technological transfer, emphasizing their impact on the community and the local economy, in relation to the three strategic directions of the UVT living laboratory , namely: digital transformation, green transition, respectively health and quality of life.

The press conference also covered the details of the event "Open Living Lab Days", which will take place during September 25-27, 2024 in Timișoara, with the participation of over 350 open innovation practitioners, having as main themes:

• TRACK 1: Living laboratories for major societal challenges, such as health and wellbeing, climate change, energy and transport, agriculture and natural resources;
• TRACK 2: Living Labs for Policy, Governance, Collaboration and Innovation Ecosystems: promoting evidence-based, iterative and collaborative approaches to policy-making and governance of innovation ecosystems; 
• TRACK 3: Living laboratories for inclusive social engagement: equity, diversity and inclusion, gender, citizen engagement strategies and citizen science;
• TRACK 4: Living Labs for Emerging Businesses and Technologies: blockchain, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT);
• TRACK 5: Operations, methods, tools and impact of living laboratories: tools, services, business models and impact measurement.

The local and regional community is invited to take part in the work of the conference to increase the innovation capacity. The benefits for the regional community relate to the catalysis of innovation based on scientific evidence, the development of collaborative projects for sustainable innovation, with a direct impact on increasing the quality of life and the stimulation of investment in the Western region.

Moreover, before the start of the conference, it will be organized Day0 – a full day of training for the basics of living laboratories, respectively for people with advanced open innovation practices, a good opportunity to explore the benefits of living lab practices in different organizational contexts.

In conclusion, the event highlighted the commitment of UVT and its partners to promote a vibrant innovation ecosystem and to strengthen the West region as a center of excellence in the field of open innovation and sustainable development.