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- PAST EVENTHybrid
- Hybrid
16 Jan 2026
11:00 am
1:00 pm
About
This two-hour online workshop – organized within the Horizon Europe project ASSETS (AdvancementS in Social Economy through Technological Solutions) – explores and discusses how co-creation and living lab approaches can strengthen innovation, participation, and impact within the social and solidarity economy (SSE).
ASSETS aims to advance innovation, collaboration, and impact assessment across the Social Economy. In this context, the workshop introduces practical methods that Social Economy Organisations can use to engage stakeholders, co-design services, prototype solutions, and create stronger pathways toward social inclusion, quality jobs, and sustainability.
The session combines case insights and open discussion to support meaningful peer learning, delving into aspects such as what co-creation means in practice for Social Economy organisations, how living lab methodologies can be applied in community-driven settings, and how collaborative processes can help SEOs improve their services and generate shared value. The workshop will also reflect on the policy relevance of these approaches, exploring how insights from co-creation and living labs can inform more adaptive, participatory, and evidence-based policies for the Social Economy.
Agenda
11:00 - 11:15
Welcome and Introduction
By project coordinator, Georgios Chatzichristos, Adjunct Lecturer at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
11:15 - 12:00
Case Presentations
Presentation of 3–4 cases, showcasing practical examples of co-creation and living lab approaches in the Social Economy.
Speakers:
- Giulia Granai, University of Pisa (Italy) – Social Farming and Job Inclusion pathways
- Jorge Garcia Valbuena, Tecnalia (Spain) – Participatory theory of change in culture and creativity ecosystems
- Adam Thorpe, Public Collaboration Lab at Central Saint Martins – University of the Arts London (UK)
12:00 - 12:25
Moderated Discussion
Moderated by Laura Martelloni, Strategic Innovation Designer at P2P Lab
12:25 - 12:45
Q&A
12:45 - 13:00
Closing remarks
SPEAKERS
Georgios Chatzichristos
Adjunct Lecturer, School of Political Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Georgios Chatzichristos is an economist (BA in UoM) with postgraduate studies in Political Theory (MSc, LSE) and Philosophy (MA, King’s College London), and holds a PhD from the University of the Aegean as a Marie Curie ITN fellow (RurAction). Since 2022, he has been teaching in the Department of Political Science at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and has held teaching positions at academic institutions in Greece and abroad. Since 2024, he has been the coordinator of the Horizon Europe project ASSETS. He is also co-founder and director of the research company SInopsIs , through which he participates as a principal investigator in multiple Horizon Europe projects. His research focuses on rural development, social innovation, social economy, and qualitative research.
Laura Martelloni
Strategic Innovation Designer, P2P Lab
Laura is a social innovation and strategic design expert with over 18 years of experience in international research and innovation projects focused on sustainability and socially driven transitions. She designs and facilitates innovation strategies, co-creative processes, and solution testing across complex public-interest challenges. Alongside her strategic development role at P2P Lab, she also collaborates with the Municipality of Prato, where she supports the development of the Climate City Contract for Carbon Neutrality by 2030. She has worked for public and private entities across Europe, including ANCI Toscana, Politecnico di Milano, Dark Matter Labs, LAMA, University of Florence, University of Vienna, Impact HUB Florence.
Adam Thorpe
Professor, Socially Responsive Design, University of the Arts London
Adam Thorpe is a Professor of Socially Responsive Design at Central Saint Martins College, University of the Arts London (UAL) where he leads the Public Collaboration Lab, a platform for teaching & learning, knowledge exchange and research, focused on participatory design for social, service and policy innovation. Additionally, Adam is chair of the UAL Placemaking Group and founding member of the coordinating committee for the UAL DESIS Lab. Adam is also co-founder of socially responsive clothing brand Vexed Generation (1993-present).
Giulia Granai
Junior Researcher at the University of Pisa, Department of Veterinary Sciences
Giulia obtained a PhD in Veterinary Sciences from the University of Pisa, where her work focused on Social innovation and Animals supporting quality of life in the urban environment, but her research interests also relate to the topics of Social Farming and Rural development processes. Her research experience includes also participation in the Horizon 2020 IN-HABIT project, focusing on human-animal interactions and social
innovation in urban settings. Alongside research on urban animals, she also developed expertise in social innovation in Social Farming, consolidating research processes in the economic-agricultural research group active at regional, national, and international levels.
Jorge Garcia Valbuena
Senior Project Manager at the Tecnalia Research & Innovation Foundation
Mr. Jorge García Valbuena works as Senior Project Manager at the Tecnalia Research & Innovation Foundation, where he manages projects in the field of digital cultures, digital social innovation and digital humanism. His current interests focus on the intersection of technology and society: Digital Social Innovation (Human-Centred Design for Social Innovation), User-Friendly Technology (Usability, User Experience, HCI), User-Driven Open Innovation (User-Driven Open Innovation) and Science, Arts and Technology (cross innovation, cross fertilization).
Location
- Online
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