A fundamental focus of our SEED program is research collaboration with living labs. Our doctoral researchers, together with our partners, both contribute to and employ our existing living labs to advance their research topics. 

Dhirendra Mishra, our doctoral candidate specialised in frugal innovation and additive technology had the opportunity to visit Vigyan Ashram, a 30 years old living lab, operating in the village of Pabel, in Western India, together with our IITB (Indian Institute of Technology Bombay) SEED’s scientific director, prof. Rangan Banergee and the project coordinator, Danish and Kumal.

Years after its establishment, the living lab expanded its core activities to education through small projected, implemented with local schools. All the projects directly cater to teh needs of local residents and include the development of electric Rikchas (airy three wheeler vehicles popular in India), biogas facilities, drip irrigation experiments, water conservation initiatives and the maintenance of a FABLAB (Fabrication Lab), with 3D printers and laser cutter machinery for creating and testing small-scale prototypes.

Our doctoral researchers will be visiting and working with different living labs and innovation institutes as part of the SEED research program and will be traveling to various countries in the Global South for collaborative work.