The concept behind WinLab is fundamentally simple: companies, non-profit organisations, interest groups and associations submit their ideas for improving the city of Winterthur. A jury then makes recommendations to the city council on which projects should receive financial and professional support. The process and structure behind this idea are professionally managed and based on the latest research. WinLab is involved in various European initiatives and has recently become a member of the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL).
An overwhelming response
More than 20 project ideas were submitted when the very first call for proposals was launched in autumn 2025. “The response far exceeded expectations,” says Marisa Kappeler-Schudel, Head of Smart City and Sustainability at the City of Winterthur’s Office for Urban Development and leader of both the Smart City programme and WinLab. She recalls: “We hadn’t really promoted WinLab at all, yet so many exciting initiatives responded to the call for proposals.” Following an initial screening process, the strongest project teams were invited to pitch their ideas in person. A jury comprising members of the partner organisations then decided which projects should be recommended to the Winterthur City Council for funding.
Three projects were given the go-ahead by the City Council in spring 2026: air-pollution measurement devices installed on trolleybuses, the 3-30-300 greening approach and the GeoGPT project.
Projects to be funded by WinLab for the first time in 2026
Staying close to real needs
WinLab’s purpose is clear: urban challenges should not be solved through isolated discussions between the local authority and businesses. Instead, the city administration, the university, the business community and civil society should sit at the same table together. Marisa Kappeler-Schudel assures us that WinLab has been very well received across the city administration so far and enjoys broad support.
“A liveable city is not created solely by a political body that decides everything on its own,” she emphasises. “It is the local community and local institutions that help shape urban development.” After all, they are at the heart of what is happening in day-to-day life and can see what issues could be tackled and where the city could most effectively improve the quality of life for its residents.
While the WinLab Co-Creation Lab is geared towards institutions, the parallel WinLab Citizen Lab focuses on individual residents. All residents of Winterthur can submit their ideas for their neighbourhoods or the city: fire pits, playground initiatives and water fountains have already been implemented through the WinLab Citizen Lab initiative thanks to the “Your Neighbourhood Project.”
Academic sparring partner
But what exactly is the ZHAW’s role within WinLab? Vicente Carabias-Hütter, a Professor at the ZHAW and WinLab Manager operating at the interface between the city administration and the ZHAW, explains: as early as five years ago, research had shown that so-called living labs, i.e. real-world laboratories in which a city’s residents, business community and universities are involved in urban development, are highly effective and produce more durable and sustainable outcomes. As Winterthur was the first city in Switzerland to adopt a smart city strategy and the ZHAW has a strong presence in Winterthur, among other places, the partnership emerged relatively quickly: The idea of WinLab was born.
Today, around a dozen ZHAW employees contribute to WinLab. “We are responsible for promoting innovation, developing concepts, providing specialist support to project teams with their queries and, of course, involving students wherever possible,” says Carabias-Hütter.
His colleague, Anton Sentic, a lecturer at the ZHAW and Deputy WinLab Manager, goes on to explain: WinLab is part of the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL). Admission as a living lab within this global network requires a rigorous certification process assessed by three independent experts. The ZHAW took on this task and prepared the approximately 80-page documentation required for accreditation. “We are extremely proud that WinLab performed very well in the certification process, even by international standards,” says Anton Sentic. This achievement demonstrates that the organisation meets global standards and is ready for further institutionalisation.
The need for broader funding and stronger business involvement
And yet, challenges remain. The programme managers would like to see broader financial support and are particularly keen for the local business community to become even more closely involved. “The close ties we enjoy with the ZHAW are incredibly valuable,” says Marisa Kappeler-Schudel, adding: “If we could engage local businesses even more closely in future, the potential would be tremendous.” She immediately starts envisaging how companies might present their challenges, how stakeholders at WinLab might submit their ideas in response, and how the problem in question could thus be tackled together. She can also imagine hosting hackathons, where students tackle challenges posed by businesses and sustainable urban development. The long-term aim must be for the City of Winterthur and the ZHAW to remain central hubs and facilitators. As noted from the outset: WinLab is not intended to be a solo endeavour, but rather an act of co-creation for a more liveable city.
