A solid partner for community innovation and long-term policy impact

What we offer as a partner

MiA and MiAlab combine implementation capacity, living lab methodologies, and urban innovation expertise to support research and innovation projects that move beyond planning into real-life testing, demonstration and replication.

Our strengths include:

• Living labs and real-world testbeds for urban transition and innovation

• Adaptive reuse and activation of heritage sites, museums and public spaces as neighbourhood assets

• Co-creation methodologies engaging municipalities, residents, civil society, researchers and local businesses

• Community-centred approaches for inclusive neighbourhood development and 15-minute city principles

• Nature-based solutions, heritage landscapes and urban greening for climate adaptation, biodiversity and wellbeing

• Participatory evaluation, social impact assessment and place-based monitoring

• Cross-sector collaboration between local authorities, cultural institutions, academia, civil society and the private sector

• Development and testing of governance models that strengthen local resilience, stewardship and long-term place management

Our approach is highly practical and iterative. We co-design, prototype, test and evaluate solutions in real neighbourhoods, generating transferable methods and evidence that can be replicated across different urban contexts.

Relevant experience

MiA is currently involved in several national and international research and innovation projects addressing urban resilience, sustainability, participation and environmental transition, including:

• BestPrepared (2026–2028) – Urban agriculture, foraging and local preparedness for resilient communities (Research Council of Norway)

• Into the Fjords (2025–2029) – Museums as learning environments for sustainable management of vulnerable ecosystems

• Early Education in Museums (2025–2028) – Inclusive museum-based learning and early childhood education (Erasmus+)

• SAMBA (2024–2027) – Sustainability communication and behavioural change through museums

Across these projects, MiAlab develops, tests and evaluates innovative approaches for participatory governance, place-based innovation, urban greening and community engagement, with strong emphasis on implementation and knowledge transfer.

What we are looking for in DUT 2026

We are particularly interested in joining consortia addressing one or more of the DUT Transition Pathways, especially projects focusing on:

• Adaptive reuse of existing urban structures and public spaces

• Innovative maintenance and community stewardship of urban green and blue infrastructure

• Nature-based solutions for climate adaptation, biodiversity and neighbourhood resilience

• Inclusive, walkable and socially connected neighbourhoods aligned with 15-minute city principles

• Local governance, co-creation and citizen participation in urban transitions

• Circular approaches linking culture, heritage, food systems and local resource use

• Urban resilience, preparedness and community capacity-building

• New models for evaluating social, environmental and place-based impacts of urban interventions

MiAlab contributes tested participatory methodologies, experienced facilitation, strong implementation capacity and established living lab sites where innovative solutions can be developed, demonstrated and evaluated together with municipalities, researchers, citizens and other stakeholders. Our ambition is not only to pilot new approaches, but to generate knowledge and practical models that can be replicated across European cities.