Many of the projects carried out at the smart living lab involve collaborations with private partners, such as electricity providers, grid operators, lighting system manufacturers, architects, energy and life cycle analysis consultants, start-ups, and entrepreneurs.

Partners may work with the smart living lab in a variety of ways. They may, for instance:

• Contribute to the funding of high-potential research in their sectors of activity through open research programs.
• Develop a strategic partnership like that of the incubator supported by Baloise.
• Seek answers to specific questions by carrying out a research project with one or several of the smart living lab’s research groups.
• Use the smart living lab’s research infrastructure to develop an innovative project.
• Participate in networking and innovation events.

Partnerships are developed using the expertise and tools offered by the technology transfer services of the smart living lab partner institutions: the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), the School of Engineering and Architecture of Fribourg (HEIA-FR), and the University of Fribourg (UNIFR)