“Cities in Action for Learning Labˮ is a a reflexive and experimentation space open to diverse contributes and inputs from researchers and practitioners of different backgrounds.
CALL is a research lab working at the intersection of:
• theoretical reflection across spatial planning, collaborative learning and innovation studies
• collaboration with institutions and communities
• innovative use and development of methods and tools

Research topics

Sustainability Transition
• Transition Theory
• Scaling Dynamics
• Innovation Drivers & Mechanisms
• Sustainability Challenges

Governance and Policy Innovation
• Strategic Envisioning
• Policy Analysis & Design
• Multi-Level Governance
• Decision-Making Under Uncertainty

Service Innovation
• Public Service Delivery
• (Public) Service Co-Design
• Institutional Learning
• Digital Technologies
• (Solutions/Methods/Strategies)

Urban Transformations
• Action-Research
• Community Engagement
• Place-Making
• Experimental Design

Experties

CALL builds on competencies developed by the research team throughout research projects, field activities, experiments, and innovative teaching initiatives in collaboration with a variety of national and international scholars and institutions.
CALL works in multiple contexts [urban/territorial, institutional, community-based], at the interface among organisational structures, ecosystems of actors and practices, and the spatial dimension.
CALL explores and activates transformative processes through:

• knowledge co-production, experience sharing, reflective practices, capacity building, awareness raising | learning
• hybridisation and cross-fertilisation of knowledge and practices | experimentation
• exploration of future horizons | transformative innovation

Research networks and collaborations

International board
Giovanni Allegretti (Center for Social Studies, University of Coimbra, Portugal)
Sanna Lehtinen (Transdisciplinary Art Studies, Aalto University, Finland)
Anna de Liddo (Knowledge Media Institute, Open University, United-Kingdom)
María Máñez Costa (Department of Transfer and Capacity Building, Climate Service Center, Germany)
Nicola Morelli (Service Design Lab, Aalborg University, Denmark)
Pau Rausell Köster (Department of Applied Economics, University of Valencia, Spain)
Pierluigi Sacco (Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Studies, BACH Center, Università G. DʼAnnunzio Chieti-Pescara, Italy)
Oren Yiftachel (Urban studies and political geography, Ben-Gurion University, Israel)

Collaborators

Lily de Villeneuve

Photo credits: Progetto grafico UAU Studio: https://www.uaustudio.com/

(Last updated: September 17, 2026)