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LJUtomer LIVING LAB
RESULTS
A Community-Driven Model for Sustainability
The Ljutomer Living Lab, established in 2022 within the 2ISECAP project in northeastern Slovenia, is a collaborative initiative aimed at addressing energy and climate challenges. Hosted by the Municipality of Ljutomer and supported by the Local Energy Agency Pomurje (LEAP), it focuses on facilitating cooperation among residents, businesses, experts, and public authorities. The lab’s primary goal has been the creation of the region’s first Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP), which is now in its final stages.
A Collaborative Approach to Energy and Climate Planning
The Living Lab provides a dynamic platform where diverse stakeholders converge to exchange ideas, co-create solutions, and align efforts toward achieving sustainable energy and climate goals. Utilizing a comprehensive range of tools such as brainstorming sessions, stakeholder interviews, and strategic analyses like SWOT, PESTEL, and TWOS, the lab ensures its plans are deeply embedded in local realities while aligning with broader regional and cross-border objectives.
Workshops and discussions with stakeholders are at the heart of the lab’s success. By fostering collaboration among local governments, businesses, residents, and experts, the lab creates an open, inclusive space for dialogue and trust-building. This participatory approach has proven effective in addressing challenges, such as initial skepticism from communities and the complexity of aligning diverse interests, by promoting transparent communication and continuous engagement.
The lab’s success underscores the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration, clear goal-setting, and robust monitoring tools. By creating a real-world environment for testing ideas and gathering data, it not only prepares actionable plans but also demonstrates the transferability of its approach, encouraging other regions to adopt similar methods.
Overcoming Challenges and Expanding Influence
One of the main challenges faced by the Living Lab was the lack of experience in cross-sector collaboration. Initially, stakeholders were unfamiliar with working together on large-scale projects like SECAP (Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Planning). However, the lab overcame these barriers through inclusive discussions, trust-building, and ensuring that all participants felt valued.
The impact of the Ljutomer Living Lab extends beyond its locality. Its model has been successfully transferred to neighboring municipalities, such as Razkrižje, and has inspired cross-border collaborations with Croatia, particularly in areas like flood management and sustainable energy planning.
Key Achievements and Lessons Learned
The lab has achieved several milestones:
- Completion of the foundational work for the SECAP.
- Establishment of a collaborative culture among diverse sectors.
- Expansion of its influence to regional and cross-border projects.
Important lessons from the lab include the need for clear goals, broad stakeholder involvement, and ongoing monitoring to measure progress. These principles are essential for replicating the success of the Living Lab in other regions.
Future Plans for Ljutomer Living Lab
Looking ahead, the Ljutomer Living Lab plans to further its efforts by developing a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) and extending SECAP initiatives across the entire Pomurje region. These projects aim to build on the lab’s achievements and continue driving sustainable energy and climate action in the region.
The Ljutomer Living Lab stands as an excellent example of how communities can come together to tackle complex challenges. By facilitating collaboration, innovation, and adaptability, it serves as a model for other regions striving for sustainability and resilience.
“A living lab can be an effective tool for preparing energy action plans by providing a real-world environment where stakeholders can collaborate,test ideas, and gather data.
The most important impact was the encouragement and collaboration across different sectors.”
Štefan Žohar, LEAP
