GreenEsteem Living Lab in Konin, Poland: A City in Transition

About Konin: 

Konin, a post-industrial city in central Poland, is the third largest city in the Greater Poland Voivodeship, home to around 66,000 residents. Since 2020, the city has been undergoing a remarkable transformation in terms of energy, the economy, and its social landscape. Together with its residents, Konin has developed an ambitious City Development Strategy that sets it firmly on a “New Development Path.” At its core is a bold vision: Green Energy City.

With its natural resources and a growing portfolio of initiatives and projects, Konin is the potential to become a thriving renewable energy center and a good place for its residents to live and thrive. In line with the vision set forth in the Development Strategy, the city is transforming into a climate-neutral, environmentally friendly, and attractive place for residents.

With its natural resources and a growing portfolio of initiatives and projects, Konin is well-positioned to evolve into a thriving renewable energy hub and a great place to live. The city is steadily transforming into a climate-neutral, environmentally friendly, and attractive urban environment.

Improving residents’ quality of life is central to this vision. This includes revitalising urban spaces, especially post-industrial areas and large modernist housing estates. A key role in this process is played by nature-based solutions (NBS), developed in close collaboration with community partners.

Konin places strong emphasis on long-term cooperation with non-governmental organisations, ensuring that local needs are met and that development remains inclusive. The city is committed to creating a healthy, green environment and is taking concrete steps toward a more sustainable future.

Co-creating Change with Residents

A defining feature of Konin’s approach is its strong culture of civic engagement. Residents have already played an active role in shaping and implementing NBS projects, for example through participatory budgeting. This engaged and diverse community, spanning many professions and backgrounds, brings valuable experience to the table.

Building on this foundation, the GreenEsteem Living Lab will work hand in hand with residents to co-create new nature-based solutions. Together, participants will identify the areas that need intervention most and design solutions that deliver tangible improvements to urban spaces.

Beyond immediate benefits, the initiative also aims to develop practical procedures that will make it easier to implement similar solutions in the future.

A City Powered by People and Nature

Konin today is a city energised by both innovation and community spirit. It combines modern, environmentally friendly technologies with creativity, entrepreneurship, and strong interpersonal connections.

With its green spaces, recreational areas, and ecological initiatives, Konin is becoming a healthier and more vibrant place to live, where the energy of people meets the energy of nature. These qualities make it an ideal setting for the GreenEsteem project, which focuses on the co-evaluation, co-creation, and co-design of urban spaces in harmony with the environment.

Living Lab Activities: What to expect!

The GreenEsteem Living Lab will bring together residents, civil society, entrepreneurs, and NGOs to explore how nature-based solutions can be better designed and implemented. A series of interactive workshops and activities will guide this collaborative journey.

April 2026
The process begins with a co-evaluation workshop, where residents and experts will assess how NBS projects are currently planned and implemented in Konin. Existing examples from the city will serve as a starting point for discussion.

May – June 2026
A multidisciplinary group of experts will be assembled to support participants throughout the design and implementation phases.

June 2026
Two hands-on workshops will take place:

• In the first session, residents will identify priority locations for nature-based interventions, supported by expert insights and data.
• In the second session, participants will use VR technology to collaboratively design NBS solutions for the selected area, bringing ideas to life in an immersive way.

September 2026
After the summer break, workshops will resume with a focus on planning implementation. Using a backcasting approach, participants will map out the steps needed to turn their ideas into reality.

It promises to be an inspiring and collaborative journey!

Interested in participating?

Follow the social media channels of the City of Konin and AMU for latest updates and opportunities.