Finding and utilizing innovations in Europe poses significant challenges in the coming years. Globally, 85% of development efforts focus on products and services that never reach the market, creating gaps in political economies. Meanwhile, the potential of certain innovations, such as SMS, is often underestimated, leading to unexpected market opportunities. The Living Labs concept was developed to stimulate user-driven innovations, enhancing understanding and exploitation of these innovations. As more enterprises and regions in Europe and worldwide adopt Living Lab principles, their starting points vary widely. This work outlines the origins of the Living Lab movement, highlighting the potential unlocked by placing customers at the forefront of innovation. It discusses existing methods and methodologies to achieve this goal and classifies various successful practices across Europe. Additionally, it examines the technological infrastructure needed for Living Labs and envisions future cooperation and standardization of services, enabling entrepreneurs to launch their innovations and products across Europe effectively.
