The sustainable development of products is of great interest to both industry and consumers due to various factors, such as anthropogenic climate change and the scarcity of resources and materials. In response to this, the simul⁺ Living Lab Sustainable Additive Manufacturing in Saxony (SAMSax) has been established as a physical experimental space aimed at improving the sustainability of products. This includes selecting resource-efficient manufacturing processes, using renewable materials, reducing energy consumption during use, and designing for recyclability. The innovative approach of the lab also integrates an open innovation process, involving present and potential stakeholders. Collaborating closely with stakeholders from industry, academia, and government fosters idea generation, provides solution approaches, and enhances acceptance and practical implementation. Methodologically, SAMSax focuses on upcycling organic and inorganic residues as well as by-products from industry and agriculture, reintegrating them as innovative components in industrial production using additive manufacturing (“3D printing”). The Living Lab provides a space for networking and active knowledge transfer through digital technologies, analyses, and collaborative developments, enabling the testing and evaluation of innovations in a real-world environment. Several potential waste materials suitable for additive manufacturing and new products have already been identified. In addition to industrial residues, materials, such as paper and wood dust; industrial by-products, such as sand; and agricultural residues, like harvest residues, are being analyzed, processed, and tested using additive manufacturing in the laboratory. In this way, SAMSax can contribute to an integrated and consistent circular economy. The research aims to demonstrate that the SAMSax Living Lab is a crucial driver of innovation in the field of additive manufacturing. Furthermore, this study contributes by presenting the Living Lab as an application-oriented research environment, focusing on innovative implementation in small- and medium-sized enterprises.

Citizen participation is increasingly supported by digital tools, yet many existing participation formats prioritise static visualisation and offer limited insight into how pedestrians perceive and evaluate dynamic traffic situations. This is particularly relevant for vehicle speed perception, which shapes perceived safety and crossing decisions. Additionally, a “participation paradox” occurs when citizens engage only after preliminary planning has been conducted, and is hence approachable for the public, but costly to change. To understand how digital participation tools might better account for such experiential components, this study presents a scoping review conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta‐Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA‐ScR; 𝑁 = 52), mapping evidence across the thematic categories of technology, urban context, and sustainability. The review identifies a methodological gap between behavioural perception research and current participatory practices. By outlining design considerations, e.g., multisensory integration and technical offsets, the scoping review provides a state of the art for perception‐oriented participation, a foundation for valid and inclusive urban design decisions. Findings indicate that while immersive technologies, such as virtual reality (VR) or 360° videos in head‐mounted displays (HMDs), offer distinct advantages for methodological safety, preventive testing, and expanded reach, they remain limited to experimental pilot stages with marginal integration into formal planning procedures. These results highlight the potential of immersive tools that bridge the gap between technical planning and human perception. However, a critical discrepancy for the use of immersive technologies is revealed: Vehicle speed is systematically underestimated in virtual environments, fostering riskier crossing decisions compared to reality.