Introduction
Communities serve as the foundation of social, economic, and cultural development. They provide the environment where individuals share common goals and address challenges. Institutions play a crucial role in facilitating solutions through research and public service for these communities in facing complex issues such as environmental sustainability, social inequality, and economic transformation. Institutions, particularly higher education institutions and research organizations, act as catalysts for knowledge generation and innovation that contribute to community development.
In recent decades, the concept of sustainable development has emerged as a guiding framework for addressing present needs while ensuring the well-being of future generations. Sustainable development emphasizes the balanced integration of economic growth, environmental protection, and social inclusion. Achieving these objectives requires innovative approaches capable of responding to rapidly changing societal demands and technological advancements.
Innovation has become a critical driver of sustainable development by enabling new methods, products, and services that address societal challenges more effectively. Traditional innovation models, however, often focus primarily on technological advancement and economic competitiveness. Contemporary perspectives recognize that innovation should also create social value and promote equitable participation among diverse stakeholders. This shift has led to the emergence of inclusive innovation approaches, which seek to ensure that the benefits of innovation are accessible to all sectors of society.
The advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has further transformed the innovation landscape. AI technologies offer unprecedented opportunities to improve decision-making, automate processes, analyze large volumes of data, and develop solutions to complex societal problems. AI has demonstrated potential in supporting sustainable development objectives. Sectors such as education, healthcare, agriculture, governance, and environmental management in its developments are significantly supported by AI. Nevertheless, concerns regarding accessibility, fairness, ethics, and participation highlight the importance of adopting inclusive innovation approaches when implementing AI-driven solutions.
One emerging framework that embodies the principles of inclusive innovation is the Living Laboratory (Living Lab) approach. Living Labs are user-centered, open-innovation ecosystems that facilitate collaboration among community members, researchers, institutions, government agencies, and industry partners. Through real-world experimentation and co-creation processes, Living Labs enable stakeholders to actively participate in the design, development, testing, and evaluation of innovative solutions. This approach promotes knowledge exchange, strengthens community engagement, and enhances the relevance and sustainability of innovation outcomes.
Given the increasing interest in leveraging Artificial Intelligence within inclusive innovation ecosystems, understanding the role of Living Labs in fostering sustainable and community-centered innovation has become an important area of research. Various studies have explored how Living Labs facilitate stakeholder collaboration, support AI-driven innovation, and contribute to sustainable development goals across different contexts and sectors.
To provide an understanding of these developments, this review examines five research articles that investigate the intersection of Artificial Intelligence, inclusive innovation approaches, and Living Laboratory frameworks. The selected studies offer insights into the theoretical foundations, implementation strategies, challenges, and outcomes associated with applying Living Lab principles to support sustainable and inclusive innovation. Through the analysis of these articles, this review seeks to identify emerging themes, best practices, and research gaps that may inform future initiatives and scholarly investigations in this evolving field.
Application of artificial intelligence in a digital platform for sustainability in the floating community in the Amazon Brazil
This study presents a model that integrates artificial intelligence (AI) to promote the sustainability of the floating community of Lake Catalão in the Amazon region of Brazil. Three significant factors are combined to understand and address critical challenges in the lake community. The study applies a mixed-methods approach to mapping various socio-environmental aspects and infrastructure. Nine AI-based prototype projects were developed for water quality monitoring, waste management, and environmental education. The development of these tools, in collaboration with the community, was a result of the study to ensure contextual relevance and social inclusion. The study also recommends enhancing public policies in areas such as contextualized education, basic infrastructure, the local economy, participatory governance, and technological innovation.
The WELL-E Approach to Data-Driven Inclusive Innovation: Working with and for the Canadian Dairy Industry
WELL-E is a digital living laboratory (Living Lab) co-created by two research facilities in Australia, which aims to involve real stakeholders to address their needs and create a positive impact on both society and the environment. The collaborative effort provides inclusive innovation through the integration of new knowledge and technologies into the dairy industry. This directly affects the target industry while ensuring consistent feedback that supports improvements in welfare development, sustainability, and reinforces the importance of stakeholder participation. The findings recommend exploring new ways of handling and analyzing data that could pave the way for new discoveries.
A Botanic Garden As A Potential Social Leader In Education For Sustainable Development Through Computer-Mediated Communication
The study emphasizes the importance of botanical gardens, as humans experience a disconnect with the natural environment. It proposes computer-mediated communication (CMC) to expand knowledge sharing and encourage pro-sustainability actions in communities. A mixed-methods study was conducted in a botanical garden inside a university in the UK. The results show that staff and volunteers are encouraged to increase the use of CMC tools to enhance community engagement and information dissemination. Dependency on an institution is also identified as a challenge, as it is constrained by its regulations and organizational structures. The study recommends broadening the scope of the research and increasing linkages to provide greater visibility to the community.
A Living Lab Model for Elementary Informatics Education: Enhancing Sustainability Competencies Through Collaborative Problem-Solving, Computational Thinking, and Communication
The study introduces living lab-based collaborative approaches in various educational models amid ongoing rapid digital transformation. Students are encouraged to embrace these developments to equip themselves to address real-world problems. According to the findings, these living lab-based educational models are effective contributors to building sustainable and interconnected futures. The collaborative problem-solving and computational thinking skills of students are greatly enhanced through the use of these living labs that engage with real-life problems. The study suggests that future research should explore longitudinal effects, cross-contextual adaptability, and technological integration to continually enhance instructional effectiveness.
The Twin Transition in Higher Education: Bibliometric Insights Into Digital and Green Convergence
This study explores the convergence of digitalization and sustainability within higher education. The study employs a bibliometric analysis of a significant number of publications indexed in the Web of Science from 2006 to 2025 to map research trends, conceptual clusters, and collaboration networks. The findings reveal six interconnected domains that collectively support the development of a sustainable digital university ecosystem.
Conclusion
The five research articles explore different fields while introducing and applying the concept of the living laboratory. Collectively, these studies make significant contributions to the existing body of knowledge. The articles also demonstrate that direct collaboration among diverse stakeholders across various fields is a key factor in the success of the solutions developed to address identified challenges. Furthermore, the findings highlight that inclusive innovation and the continuous development of educational initiatives can foster more sustainable development.
References
Machado, A. L. S., & Marreiros, M. G. (2026). Application of artificial intelligence in a digital platform for sustainability in the floating community in the Amazon Brazil. Discover Sustainability, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-026-02847-0
Vasseur, E., Hambly, H., Roche, S., & Diallo, A. B. (2026). The WELL-E Approach to Data-Driven Inclusive Innovation: Working with and for the Canadian Dairy Industry. Canadian Agri-food & Rural Advisory Extension and Education Journal, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.21083/caree.v1i1.8971
Beresford-Dey, M., Cooper, A., Crabb, M., Herd, K., & Syme-Smith, L. (2024). A botanic garden as a potential social leader in education for sustainable development through computer-mediated communication. The Living Lab, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.20933/40000106
Son, J., & Kim, S. (2025). A living lab model for Elementary Informatics education: Enhancing sustainability competencies through Collaborative Problem-Solving, Computational Thinking, and communication. Sustainability, 17(13), 5811. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17135811
Bulut, A., & Haçat, S. O. (2026). The Twin Transition in Higher Education: Bibliometric Insights into digital and green convergence. European Journal of Education, 61(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/ejed.70526