Connecting academia, industry, and society to explore AI-driven sustainable design and innovation

Diana Domenichini, Filippo Chiarello, Vito Giordano, Chiara Lelli, Marco Losanno

The Design Tools of Artificial Intelligence in Sustainability Living Labs (DETAILLs) project, funded by ERASMUS+, aims to enhance higher education in AI-driven sustainable design. DETAILLs fosters collaboration between universities, companies, and local communities, leveraging the Living Labs paradigm to create an ecosystem for co-creation and innovation.

DETAILLs connects students, researchers, and industry professionals to co-develop solutions using Generative AI for sustainability. This initiative strengthens the link between education and industry by transforming sustainability challenges into opportunities for AI-driven innovation. It also promotes engagement between academia and the wider society, fostering discussions through public awareness events on AI’s ethical and societal implications.

Living Labs (LLs) are user-centred innovation ecosystems that integrate real-life research and experimentation. They operate through public-private-people partnerships, encouraging collaboration between stakeholders like entrepreneurs, companies, and universities. LLs are particularly valuable in engineering education, where theoretical concepts are tested in practical settings. These spaces emphasize co-creation, innovation, and interdisciplinary exchange, supporting local innovation communities and product development.

At DETAILLs, we believe that technology should serve both society and the environment. Our core values include sustainability, inclusivity, and responsible AI development. DETAILLs not only provides comprehensive training materials on AI for sustainability but also builds a network of companies exploring AI-driven solutions for global challenges. The Living Lab in Pisa functions as a neutral ground for businesses, academics, and citizens to exchange ideas and collaborate. Our events include: Reading Cycles on AI’s social impact, Doctoral Meetups on AI in academia, Seminars on AI in industry and research. Through these initiatives, DETAILLs empowers future innovators to shape an ethical and sustainable AI landscape.

Pisa DETAILLs Living Lab

The Pisa Living Lab fosters cross-sector collaboration between academia and local businesses. It focuses on the development of open-source Generative AI tools for sustainable product and process design. Our goal is to create an interdisciplinary space that transcends traditional departmental boundaries and bridges academia with industry and society.

By establishing a physical presence in the city, the Living Lab engages not only students and researchers but also local businesses, organizations, and the broader community. It serves as a meeting point where different stakeholders can exchange ideas and build networks, encouraging open discussions on innovative AI methodologies and their real-world applications.

Our public AI awareness events aim to involve citizens in discussions about AI’s impact on society. These events provide a platform to demystify AI, address ethical concerns, and explore how AI can be harnessed for the benefit of all.

For businesses, DETAILLs acts as a knowledge hub and testing ground for AI-driven sustainable design strategies. Companies can engage in pilot projects, and work with students and researchers. The Living Lab thus fosters a culture of continuous learning and adaptation, essential for companies navigating AI-driven transformations. 

The DETAILLs Living Lab in Pisa is a transformative initiative that unites academia, industry, and society to explore the potential of AI for sustainable innovation. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, open dialogue, and practical experimentation, DETAILLs aims to create a future-oriented, inclusive, and responsible AI ecosystem.

The Detaills Living Lab was established by the Business Engineering for Data Science (B4DS) research group from the Department of Energy, Systems, Territory, and Construction Engineering (DESTEC) at the University of Pisa, as part of the Erasmus+ Detaills project for university cooperation.

«Through our activities, we aim to deepen key AI-related topics not only in academic settings but also to have a significant impact on the local community in Pisa», says Vito Giordano, researcher at DESTEC and deputy director of the lab. «Our goal is to make the lab a reference point for anyone interested in exploring the role of technology in society and contributing to the development of responsible innovation».

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