Role of living labs in policymaking

Addressing complex societal challenges such as water management and sustainable land use requires evidence-based policymaking supported by interdisciplinary collaboration across science, policy, and society. In this context, living labs are increasingly recognized as valuable platforms for generating evidence by engaging diverse stakeholders and fostering citizen engagement. However, there is a limited understanding of how living labs are positioned with different policy stages, and how they can support policymaking meaningfully. Thus, this study aims to address this gap by investigating how living labs contribute to agenda-setting, formulation, adoption, implementation, and evaluation. Additionally, this study also aims to identify how these labs can be assessed effectively using robust M&E tools to better identify their impacts. The study will analyze five living labs operating in policy contexts, aiming to identify their positioning within policy stages and strategies adopted by them to strengthen their link to policy outcomes.