City lab as a way to implement social innovation in urban areas

This article attempts to combine two issues: present for some time in the scientific discussion concept of social innovation with a topic that appeared relatively recently – city lab. The aim of the considerations is to show the essence of city lab in the context of implementing social innovations. For its implementation, the author made an analysis of the relevant literature on the subject. The article starts with a review of understanding of social innovations. Next, the essence of city lab is described, indicating the actors and their functions. Finally, the author points out the relationship between the title concepts. In the presented approach, the city lab is a platform for implementing social innovations. The latter relate to longterm urban development planning, implemented with the participation of various stakeholders, with the dominating role of the city users (residents) as the main innovators and local authorities, watching the reality and legality of the proposed solutions. The presented approach seems to be worth promoting both by representatives of science and public decision-makers.