Insights from Our Multiplier Event: Co-Creating Urban Futures through Learning Communities

On May 14th, the University of Twente hosted the second Multiplier Event in a hybrid format at Connect-U, an innovation hub in the city of Enschede that brings together education, research, entrepreneurship, and the public sector.

The program began with a welcome from Angela Rijnhart from Enschede Municipality, who highlighted the importance the region and city place on transdisciplinary collaboration in addressing today’s societal and environmental challenges and recognised the  ULALABS potential for learning from across different European regions in tackling those joint challenges. The event took place during the period of the celebrations for the 700th anniversary of Enschede’s founding.

First part of the event included showcasing the results of the project a presentation and incorporation of a poster-session elements, providing the participants an overview of the progress and key outcomes.

The highlight of the event, roundtable titled “Tackling Urban Challenges: How do Urban Experimentation Spaces develop learning communities?”,  served as both a reflection and a springboard.

The roundtable was moderated by Wiro Kuipers and included the following participants:

• David Muñoz (Ajuntament de Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain)

• Alfons Mias (UAB Open Labs, Spain)

• Torill Steinback Hoel (Nordic Edge, Stavanger, Norway)

• Helene Eiliott (Stavanger Kommune, Norway)

• Sara Malmgren (online - Ebbepark, Sweden)

• Maya van den Berg (DesignLab UT, Enschede)

• Wilja Jurg (Tetem, Twente, Netherlands)

• Eric Wolkotte (ChallengeLAB Twente, Netherlands)

Roundtable during the multiplier event

Drawing perspectives from across Europe—from Cerdanyola del Vallès to Stavanger, Linköping to Enschede—the conversation explored how living labs and other urban experimentation spaces, and transdisciplinary collaboration can foster resilient and inclusive urban learning ecosystems that can drive sustainable urban transformation.

Transdisciplinary Collaboration is Essential—But Challenging

One of the key messages from the event was that learning communities are not just academic constructs—they are lived experiences.

Speakers emphasized the importance of moving beyond academic silos to genuinely co-create knowledge and solutions with citizens, practitioners, municipalities, and other stakeholders. Mutual respect, shared methodologies, and patient dialogue were highlighted as foundational for success, as well as a need to develop a shared vocabulary—one that embraces curiosity, encourages openness, and supports the process of unlearning established norms.

Participants also stressed the need to unlearn traditional roles and assumptions, especially in academia and governance.

“We’re not just talking about transdisciplinary learning—we’re doing it,” one speaker noted. “And it takes time, humility, and a willingness to unlearn.”

Experiences were shared from different regions on initiatives that build bridges between academia and society, creating spaces where local challenges become shared learning opportunities.

Organic Growth and Emotional Ownership

Another key insight was that learning communities grow organically, driven by citizen demand and local energy. Rather than imposing top-down agendas, it is crucial to allow communities to define their own priorities.

Living Labs and other experimentation spaces as Creative Translators

Described as “creative translators,” living labs and other spaces can facilitate transformative learning through real-world experimentation. But there was also a call for caution: the term “living lab” risks becoming too vague if not clearly defined and rooted in practice.

From Shared Vision to Urban Governance

A common thread was the need for co-defining urban futures in alignment with sustainability and SDG goals. Municipalities were identified as key enablers in integrating experimentation into governance structures.

Rethinking Success and Embracing Uncertainty

Another key message was that success in learning communities should not be defined by whether predetermined outcomes are achieved. Instead, real learning often emerges through unexpected developments—failures, pivots, and new directions. The true measure of success lies in a community’s ability to adapt, to reflect on setbacks, and to evolve collectively over time.

Distributed and Hybrid Models Are the Future

Flexible, distributed living labs are emerging as scalable models for local innovation. But they need support: toolkits, platforms, and syllabuses are necessary to help replicate and adapt successful practices across regions.

However, participants also cautioned against over-reliance on digital tools. Face-to-face interaction, trust-building, and experiential learning remain irreplaceable.

The event concluded with an open discussion and networking session, reinforcing one of the day’s core messages: relationships drive ecosystems.

---

Stay connected for updates on upcoming activities, insights, and tools!

In the meantime, we invite you to read more on our approach in Learning Communities, and Transformative and distributed learning here.