Meeting in Karlskrona. Karina Barquet leads C2B2’s LivingLab East. – When we meet, everyone has an equally strong voice, no one has more mandate than anyone else, she says.
The work within C2B2’s LivingLabs is progressing as planned. In May, LivingLab East had its second workshop, located in Karlskrona.
– A very good meeting, people came from all over Stockholm, Gothenburg and even Gotland, says Karina Barquet, SEI.
According to Karina Barquet, who leads LivingLab East, the group has a good composition.
– Yes, I think so. We have wind power companies, representatives from authorities, the fishing industry and more.
According to her, the LivingLabs method creates good soil for achieving results: finding a way forward to handle conflicts of goals around the blue economy in the Baltic Sea Proper, LivingLab East’s focus area.
– When we meet, everyone has an equally strong voice, no one has more mandate than anyone else. And it’s about bringing different arguments to the table and bumping and soaking them together, she says.
Does it work?
– Yes, it does. The participants are very committed and work hard to move forward with the issues.
But, she says, it’s not just about work.
– We also have fun along the way and build new relationships that are at least as important for creating long-term change.
You have met in Stockholm and most recently in Karlskrona. Where will the next workshop be?
– It will be this autumn, somewhere along the Baltic coast with good connections to our stakeholders, but we have not decided exactly where yet.
In the summer of 2027, C2B2’s first four years will end, will you have time to achieve results in the two years that remain?
– Even though we have been working with LivingLab East for almost a year, we are still in the start-up phase. Despite that, we are already seeing results.
Can you name a few?
– Yes, we have created open dialogue and are now seeing identified needs being translated into concrete efforts and new projects. The goal is for our stakeholders to feel that their efforts are beneficial and to continue to be engaged.
What do you think about a continuation after 2027?
– That is our hope, so that we can build on another four years ahead.
Watch the film from LivingLab East’s workshop in Karlskrona, click here.
Watch the film from LivingLab North’s workshop in Luleå, click here.
Read more about how the work in LivingLab East is organized, click here.