Japanese Network of Living Labs

What Japanese Network of Living Labs does

Japanese Network of Living Labs (JNoLL, 一般社団法人日本リビングラボネットワーク) is a Tokyo-based General Incorporated Association founded in 2018 that operates as Japan's central practitioner and researcher community for the living lab methodology. Its core function is to convene and equip practitioners, researchers, local governments, universities, and civic organizations who apply living lab approaches — open-innovation frameworks in which citizens, businesses, government, and academia co-create solutions to social challenges through real-life experimentation and multi-stakeholder collaboration — to address Japan's structural social problems such as population decline, aging, depopulation, and digital transformation.

JNoLL does not sell software or a transactional product. Its primary deliverables are methodological tools and educational/community programs. Proprietary outputs include the Social System Design Methodology (developed from the Omuta Living Lab practice and focused on structural rather than symptomatic problem solving), the Living Lab Mandala (a 10-dimension assessment instrument built from 236 practical knowledge items), and the Living Lab Guidebook, a 30-tip implementation guide co-developed with NTT Research Institute and the Technical University of Denmark and grounded in over 500 case studies. The organization also published Japan's first dedicated living lab book, 『はじめてのリビングラボ──「共創」を生みだす場のつくりかた』 (First Steps in Living Labs), in April 2025 through NTT Publishing, authored by Representative Director Kimura Atsunobu and Partner Yasuoka Mika.

The revenue model is a hybrid of small unit-priced fees and member/community support. Monetizable streams include the ¥5,000 Living Lab Basic Seminar, ¥3,500 overnight Living Lab Talk programs, ¥1,000/¥500 local Living Lab Talk events, and implicit recurring support from member organizations as a 一般社団法人 (General Incorporated Association). Distribution is event-led and domestic: JNoLL runs an annual 2–3 day National Living Lab Network Conference (7 editions since 2018), regional Living Lab Talk events, basic and practice seminars, and a multi-channel content ecosystem (website, Note, YouTube, Slack community, monthly mailing list). Customer segments are local government officials (primary), education/research institutions, and civic/non-profit organizations, served through direct engagement, online platforms, and a regional partner network across Japan.

Name

Japanese Network of Living Labs

Legal name

一般人募法人日本リビングラボネットワーク

Website

https://jnoll.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Japanese Network of Living Labs (JNoLL) is a Japan-based non-profit General Incorporated Association that convenes practitioners, researchers, local governments, and universities to apply living lab co-creation methodologies to social issues such as aging, depopulation, and regional revitalization.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Seminar and Training Fees: Revenue generated from Living Lab Basic Seminars (¥5,000 per session) and other educational programs offered to practitioners and organizations
2. Event Participation Fees: Fees collected for various events, dialogue sessions, and networking activities organized by JNoLL across different regions
3. Membership and Community Services: Operating as a general incorporated association (、一般社団법인), JNoLL likely receives support from member organizations and partners for community activities

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Japanese Network of Living Labs (JNoLL) is a Japanese non-profit general incorporated association that operates educational programs, workshops, conferences, and community resources for living lab practitioners across Japan. Its core offerings include structured programs (Starter Program, Practice Guide Program, Living Lab Talks, National Conferences), proprietary frameworks (Living Lab Mandala, Living Lab Guidebook, pattern language), and a community of practitioners, researchers, and partner organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Starter Program Foundational educational program for new living lab practitioners in Japan, providing introductory training in living lab methodology. Targeted at individuals and organizations beginning to adopt the living lab approach.
• Practice Guide Program Advanced practitioner training program for living lab practitioners seeking deeper methodology expertise. Targeted at practitioners and organizations running or scaling living lab projects.
• Living Lab Talks Regular talk-format event series providing presentations and discussions on living lab topics by practitioners and researchers. Targeted at the broader living lab community in Japan.
• National Conference Large-scale annual national conference bringing together the Japanese living lab community for presentations, workshops, and networking. Targeted at practitioners, researchers, partner organizations, and supporters across Japan.
• Living Lab Mandala Proprietary framework shaped as a mandala/visual model that systematizes the components and relationships of living lab practice. Targeted at living lab practitioners and organizations.
• Living Lab Guidebook Comprehensive guidebook resource for living lab practitioners providing structured methodology guidance. Targeted at living lab practitioners and adopting organizations.
• Pattern Language Pattern language system that articulates reusable patterns for living lab practice. Targeted at living lab practitioners designing and running living lab projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• Established 100+ living labs across Japan
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Nishiaguraura Village Maru-Maru Research InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 July 2025Co-hosts Living Lab Talk events in rural innovation hub, exploring relationship population and community-based co-creation in mountain village context.
• Public Intelligence JapancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2025Danish innovation consultancy specializing in living lab methodologies. CEO Peter Julius serves as JNoLL advisor, providing expertise on Scandinavian living lab approaches and international best practices.
• Kanmin Co-Creation HUB (官民共創HUB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2025Partnership with public-private co-creation hub in Kasumigaseki (government district), hosting Living Lab Talk events for policy makers and government officials.
• Kwansei Gakuin University Innovation Research SocietyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2025Co-hosts Living Lab Talk events at Kwansei Gakuin University Osaka Umeda Campus, bringing together innovation researchers and living lab practitioners.
• NTT Publishing (NTT出版)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 April 2025Publisher of 'Introduction to Living Labs' (Japanese first living lab book), bringing academic and practical knowledge to broad audience of practitioners.
• European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025International partnership connecting Japanese living lab practitioners with European counterparts. JNoLL collaborates on knowledge sharing, participates in Open Living Lab Days international conferences, and translates ENoLL materials for Japanese audiences. This partnership enables cross-border learning between Scandinavian and Japanese living lab methodologies.
• Living Lab Laboratory (LLL) JapancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Virtual research institute focused on developing living lab methodologies adapted to Japanese socio-cultural context. LLL conducts research activities and collaborates with JNoLL on advancing living lab practices in Japan.
• Tokyo University of Science (東京理科大学)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Academic partnership where JNoLL representative Kimura serves as visiting associate professor, contributing to education and research on living lab methodologies and social design.
• QUINTBRIDGE (クイントブリッジ)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 November 2024Co-host of the 6th National Living Lab Network Conference in Osaka. QUINTBRIDGE is an open innovation facility operated by NTT West that generates 400+ co-creation activities annually, winner of 2024 Good Design Award.
• Osaka Prefecture (大阪府)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 November 2024Government supporter of National Living Lab Network Conference, advancing living lab approaches for regional revitalization aligned with Expo 2025 Osaka.
• Chitose Press (ちとせプレス)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 November 2024Publisher partner for living lab book promotion and author dialogue events, including Living Lab Talk with MinLab series.
• Korean Living Lab Network (KNoLL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership with Korean living lab network for Asian regional collaboration and knowledge exchange in living lab methodologies and practices.
• Roskilde University (ロスキレ大学)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Academic partnership with Danish university where JNoLL co-author Yasuoka serves as associate professor, enabling international research collaboration on living lab methodologies.
• Chiba Institute of Technology (千葉工業大学)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Co-hosts Living Lab Talk in Chiba events focusing on technology and mechanism social implementation design.
• NTT Group / Regional Co-Creation Design Institute (地域創生Coデザイン研究所)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Corporate partner providing research support and practical expertise. JNoLL representative Kimura serves as polyphonic partner, contributing to social system design research and living lab implementations across Japan.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• IDEO: Global design and innovation consultancy with deep history in human-centered design and co-creation practice. Functions as a reference point for the broader design and co-creation services market in which JNoLL operates, though at a much larger commercial scale.
• Stanford Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (d.school): Global leader in design thinking and human-centered design methodology education. While not a living lab network per se, it shares methodological DNA with JNoLL (co-creation, design thinking, multi-stakeholder workshops) and represents the methodology benchmark JNoLL positions against.
• QUINTBRIDGE: NTT West's open innovation facility generating 400+ co-creation activities annually and 2024 Good Design Award winner. Co-hosts JNoLL's national conference and runs a broader innovation program that intersects with JNoLL's practitioner community.
• Osaka University Co-Creation Lab: University-based open innovation platform with three active sites in Ibaraki City. Comparable to JNoLL in mission (industry-government-academia-civilian collaboration) but embedded in a much larger institutional infrastructure.

Regional players

• Omuta Future Co-Creation Center (大牟田未来共創センター): Regional co-creation hub in Omuta City that partners with JNoLL on local government living lab projects. Operates as a regional peer implementing living lab methodology at the municipal level.

Direct peers

• European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL): The original global living lab network, with 150+ member labs across Europe and beyond. ENoLL is JNoLL's most direct international counterpart, sharing the same mission of multi-stakeholder co-creation methodology and serving as JNoLL's primary European partner.
• Korean Living Lab Network (KNoLL): Korea's equivalent national living lab network and a formal JNoLL partner since 2024. Operates in the same Asian regional context with comparable academic and government backing, and serves as a peer for cross-country knowledge exchange.
• Living Lab Laboratory (LLL) Japan: Virtual research institute focused on developing living lab methodologies adapted to Japanese socio-cultural context. LLL is a direct partner of JNoLL and shares research activities, functioning as a sibling/peer organization within the national living lab ecosystem.
• Public Intelligence: Danish innovation consultancy specializing in living lab methodology. Its CEO Peter Julius serves as a JNoLL advisor and partner, and the firm co-designs the Holscoele living lab course with JNoLL — a direct methodology peer operating in the Scandinavian origin market.

Emerging players

• Smart City Institute Japan (SCI-Japan): Japanese smart city knowledge platform that co-hosted a 2026 webinar with JNoLL. Operates in an adjacent space (city-level innovation) and represents both a peer and a partner for community engagement on urban living lab topics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/JNOLL2023
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCbA-_Vrt1cgTEAy0-z9_glg
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• Instagraminstagram.com/jnoll2023

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Japanese Network of Living Labs