Werkstatt im CityLAB is a hands-on workshop programme hosted within Berlin's CityLAB, an open innovation laboratory dedicated to the future of urban living. Situated at the former Tempelhof Airport, CityLAB serves as a meeting point for city government, civil society, academia, and the technology sector, and the Werkstatt (workshop) format is one of its central instruments for fostering collaborative problem-solving and civic co-creation.
The Werkstatt im CityLAB offers a structured yet flexible environment where participants can explore pressing urban challenges through practical, participatory methods. Workshops cover a wide range of topics, including digitalisation of public services, open data, citizen engagement, sustainable mobility, and neighbourhood development. Each session is designed to bring together diverse perspectives—public administrators, designers, developers, researchers, and residents—to prototype ideas, test digital tools, and develop actionable recommendations.
A key strength of the programme lies in its emphasis on learning by doing. Rather than relying solely on presentations and panel discussions, the Werkstatt format encourages active experimentation, rapid iteration, and peer-to-peer exchange. This approach lowers barriers to participation and ensures that insights gained in the workshops can be translated into tangible outcomes for Berlin's urban development.
The Werkstatt im CityLAB also plays an important role in building institutional capacity within the Berlin city administration by exposing public servants to new methodologies, digital competencies, and design thinking practices. By bridging the gap between innovation labs and everyday governance, the project contributes to a more agile, responsive, and citizen-centred approach to managing one of Europe's most dynamic capital cities.