Spatial Adaptation programme facilitates first Living Lab
We are facing the steep challenge of making our country resilient to changes in the climate. The province of Overijssel is the first to receive support, in the form of a Living Lab, as a result of the implementation of the Spatial Adaptation programme (a component of the Delta Programme). The Living Lab initiative focuses on innovation. How can you ensure that plans are financially viable and how can you make intelligent use of existing funding and budgets? What technical innovations can you use? How can you create awareness and support?
A Living Lab is a research environment in which research and innovation are merged based on co-creation and participatory designs. In an existing context, for example a district, city or region, public and private parties collaborate on spatial planning projects; from idea to design, from plan to implementation. The focus in this process is on learning from one another. The Spatial Adaptation programme wants to encourage this way of collaborating because it is the only way to realise fully climate-resilient building and management from 2020 onwards. The aim is to be truly resilient to all the challenges of a changing climate by 2050.
The Living Lab focuses on the low-lying IJssel-Vecht delta and the high-lying delta of the Twente conurbation. This is the first Living Lab under the Delta Programme. As a Living Lab, the regions can count on expertise, communications support, the removal of any obstacles in legislation and regulations, and a financial subsidy. Bert Boerman, Executive Councillor for the province of Overijssel, is happy with decision of the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment to establish a Living Lab. ‘With this Living Lab we can work more effectively on flood risk management and the climate resilience of the IJssel-Vecht delta and the Twente conurbation. I also regard it as recognition for our position as a leader and the efforts that we in Overijssel, together with our partners in both regions, have already delivered in this important area.’