UEL and Siemens launch Living Lab for sustainable innovation

Published

12 May 2023

UEL and technology giant Siemens have launched an ambitious Living Lab project to create a smart and sustainable environment that will act as a test bed for green innovation.

The Living Lab development team came together on 3 May 2023 with colleagues from Siemens, including the CEO of Siemens Advanta, Aymeric Sarrazin, joining Provost Professor Dr Hassan Abdallah and representatives from across the University.

The Living Lab will offer UEL students, staff and researchers access to campus energy data, which they can use to understand UEL’s energy usage and simulate changes. The project is part of the University’s core commitment to sustainability outlined in its Vision 2028 strategy which includes a commitment to become carbon net zero by 2030.

It will allow the University to develop and run hackathons and an internship programme, supporting sustainable enterprise across campus. UEL has developed a Siemens-sponsored Sustainable Cities MSc, which represents the first of many collaborative, future-focused degree programmes that aim to address sustainability issues.

The Living Lab will provide students, staff and researchers with a place to research and adapt technology in a real-world living test bed. It will be a digital and physical space that creates learning opportunities in a smart, business inclusive environment.

UEL is committed to ensuring that sustainability opportunities are available for students and the communities it serves. The University plans to provide Internet of Things (IoT) training and include students in IoT Living Lab implementation.

This development produces an urban blueprint for zero-carbon, green innovation and green enterprise globally.

Sustainability runs through nearly everything the University does, including its research: our Sustainability Research Institute - one of the first of its kind in the UK – is a centre of excellence for environmental research and development.

The University’s Knowledge Dock will be re-cycled and re-developed into The Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability later this year. Part of this transformation means that energy consumption data will be digitised and opened to detect inefficiencies and run sustainability analytics. Digital software, such as IoT platform Mindsphere and smart building analytics app Navigator, are set for scale and will act as the digital backbone of UEL’s net zero transformation and Living Lab.

The Living Lab will infuse new methodologies, such as co-creation, design thinking, UI/UX app, and AI development, and bring best practices from global sustainability beacons, such as Smart City Berlin, inspired by on-site visits including expert exchanges.

Professor Abdalla said,

“By partnering with Siemens to launch our Living Lab project, we are creating an inclusive space for students, staff, researchers, and the wider community to come together and develop innovative solutions for sustainability.
As a careers-first university, it is imperative that our students have access to real-world opportunities to develop their skills and knowledge. With the Living Lab, we create an environment where they can experiment with cutting-edge technologies and gain hands-on experience that will prepare them for the workforce of the future.”

UEL Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Amanda Broderick said,

“This trail-blazing investment is an excellent example of how the University is driving positive cultural change, encouraging the development of sustainable practice and developing the skills and innovation for a green economy.
“UEL shares many similarities with a city in itself. Our urban zero-carbon blueprint provides a scalable roll-out to London’s only Enterprise Zone, to the London Borough of Newham and to our wider community. This is a powerful way of achieving our common goal of mitigating climate change and transitioning to a carbon net-zero future."