The Navarra Network of Citizen Experimentation and Collaboration Laboratories was presented on 16 September in Pamplona, marking the beginning of a new phase of participation and open innovation in the Comunidad Foral. The initiative brings together ten citizen laboratories promoted by public entities and civil society organisations that will work collaboratively to address challenges related to care, health, culture, heritage, volunteering, sustainability and technology.

Promoted by the Directorate General of Presidency, Open Government and Relations with the Parliament of Navarra, the Network seeks to consolidate spaces for experimentation where people with different experiences, knowledge and perspectives can collaborate in creating innovative solutions with a real impact on their communities.


Spaces to Experiment, Learn and Build Collective Solutions

Citizen laboratories are open environments where citizens, public administrations, social organisations, companies, professionals and researchers work together to identify needs, share knowledge and develop projects capable of generating positive transformations in the region.

Unlike other innovation models, these laboratories are based on collaboration between people with diverse profiles and on the conviction that many solutions to current challenges can emerge when spaces are created that facilitate interaction, co-creation and collective learning.

Over recent months, the ten selected initiatives have taken part in a support process to define their lines of work, design their challenges and prepare the calls that are now open to public participation.


Ten Laboratories to Address Navarra's Challenges

The Network consists of ten laboratories that reflect the diversity of needs and opportunities in Navarra. Their areas of activity include strengthening community care networks, recovering cultural heritage, promoting foster care, the circular economy, youth participation, community culture and technological innovation with social impact.

Among them is the VidAAs Sarriguren Citizen Laboratory: Community Innovation and Technological Experimentation, promoted by the Department of Presidency and Equality of the Government of Navarra and managed by the public company Nasertic. This initiative seeks to connect technological innovation, social innovation and citizen participation to develop projects that help improve people's quality of life and address present and future challenges from a collaborative perspective.


Open Calls for New Ideas and Participants

One of the main milestones of this new phase is the opening of the different laboratories' calls for ideas. Through these calls, any interested individual, group, association or organisation can propose projects, contribute knowledge or join working teams focused on developing specific solutions to the challenges identified.

With the launch of this Network, Navarra takes a step forward in promoting participation models that place citizens at the heart of innovation processes, fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders and the collective development of responses to shared challenges.

The initiative also represents an opportunity to strengthen the region's capacity for experimentation and generate new ways of working based on participation, shared responsibility and mutual learning.