Living Laboratory Summit
Pioneering Education, Innovation, and Implementation for a Sustainable 21st Century
Co-hosted by Stanford University and the Technical University of Munich (TUM)
October 6–7, 2025 | Stanford University, California
By-Invitation-Only
Summit Summary
This invitation-only event will convene academic leaders, industry innovators, and public sector experts to explore the transformational potential of campuses as living laboratories—test beds for high-impact decarbonization pilots and innovations accelerating the development and scaling of sustainability solutions. By showcasing scalable innovations and providing a venue for cross-institution collaboration, the summit aims to advance campus decarbonization, expand global academic collaboration, and empower student engagement.
Summit Objectives
Advance Campus Decarbonization
Convene thought leaders from academia, industry, and the public sector to accelerate teaching, research, and adoption of sustainability solutions. The summit will highlight campus-based decarbonization pilots that improve climate, environmental, economic, and user experience outcomes—leveraging the concept of the “campus as a living lab.”
Strengthen Stanford–TUM Collaboration
Deepen ties between the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability (SDSS) and TUM by fostering faculty and student collaboration. The summit will serve as a prototype for similar global academic partnerships under the Global Sustainability Challenge framework.
Empower Student Engagement
Provide students with exceptional hands-on, real-world experiences in developing sustainability solutions, guided by mentorship from leading global experts.
Catalyze a Global Movement
Serve as a launchpad for a scalable model involving more than a dozen universities and youth-serving organizations worldwide—collectively reaching over 3 million young people—that are part of the Global Sustainability Challenge.
Showcase Scalable Innovations
Produce video content highlighting breakthrough pilot-scale (or larger) sustainability innovations that can be replicated at other institutions and communities globally.
Expand Global Academic Collaboration
Enhance engagement between Stanford and other higher education institutions worldwide, beginning with TUM and extending to California-based public universities—including campuses in the Cal Poly, CSU, and UC systems, particularly those geographically close to Stanford.
