Practice Abstract - Research and innovation

Guidelines for implementation and replication of Citizen Science Labs

Belgium, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, Slovenia

The Citizen Science Labs (CSLs) in the SPOON project form a network of territorial communities connecting diverse local stakeholders through participatory methodologies, enabling them to act as researchers who co-create, implement, and evaluate context-specific knowledge and interventions. The project addresses the diversity of food-related behaviours and motivations in each territory while enabling the cross-analysis of data collected across territories. The diversity of players in the urban ecosystem presents a major challenge for conventional one-size-fits-all policy and innovation approaches. CSLs respond to this complexity by providing structured spaces for dialogue, collective learning, and co-design, in which capacities, opportunities, and motivations of different stakeholders can be identified and translated into actionable solutions.

The effective deployment and replication of CSLs relies on a set of core pillars:

  1. Clear organisational structures, timelines, and goals for iterative cycles.
  2. A shared thematic focus that mobilises and brings the community together.
  3. Identification of obstacles and risks for implementation and tools to avoid or solve them.
  4. Tailored recruitment strategies ensuring both sufficient numbers and diversity.
  5. Long-term engagement mechanisms based on belonging, commitment, and informal interaction.
  6. Robust co-design processes that support the collaborative generation of knowledge.
  7. The implementation and evaluation of interventions directly in the territory, linking evidence generation to real-world change.

The primary innovation of the CSL model lies in the integration of citizen science and living labs, combining bottom-up knowledge production with participatory experimentation and impact-oriented territorial innovation in real-world environments. This methodological approach does more than democratising knowledge; it ensures that solutions are built upon needs, experiences, and priorities of the people that will use them.

Additional information

Obstacles and limiting factors: 

  •  Uneven participation levels and risk of participant fatigue over long engagement periods.
  • Difficulty in ensuring representative recruitment beyond already active or engaged communities.
  • Resource intensity (time, facilitation capacity, and funding) for co-design and iterative testing.
  • Methodological protocols and timelines may not be equally suitable or effective for all audiences.
  • Variability across territories that can complicate replication without adaptation.
  • Limited institutional capacity to absorb and mainstream co-created solutions.
  • Data harmonisation challenges when combining results from different local contexts.
  • Dependence on skilled facilitators to maintain quality of participatory processes.
     

Suggested future actions:

  • Develop a practical replication toolkit with step-by-step guidance, roles, and templates for CSLs deployment in new territories.
  • Create training modules for facilitators and local coordinators on participatory methods and co-design processes.
  • Strengthen links with local authorities, stakeholders, and advisory services to support uptake of validated interventions.
  • Implement participant retention strategies, including feedback loops and visible short term benefits.
  • Promote peer-learning exchanges between territories to accelerate adaptation and scaling.
  • Improve flexibility and adaptability in the implementation of CSL activities across different participant groups to ensure higher levels of engagement.
Source Project
Food Systems in Transition – Participatory, Open Citizen Research for Sustainable Nutrition
Ongoing | 2024-2028
Main funding source
Horizon Europe (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
Geographical location
Austria, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Spain
Project details

Project Keywords