Table 2 Common pitfalls of transurban learning in city networks and how these are addressed by design elements and implementation conditions of the meta-lab approach

Focus on successes, while failures and problems are ignored

Experiments are followed from beginning till end, including failures as well as successes

Continuity in participation of local representatives to facilitate the follow-up of local experiments through time

Lack of attention for the specific local context of ‘best practices’, including enabling factors

Ample attention for local conditions and context factors

Expert facilitation of de- and re-contextualisation of lessons

Learning in one-way direction (‘leaders’ do not learn from ‘followers’)

Horizontal network structure, with similar roles and contributions expected from all partners

Capacities of partners are brought to an equal level by offering advice and support tools

The partnership is too diverse, so that the lessons learned by one partner are not relevant for other partners

Membership is restricted to cities with comparable conditions

Lack of capacity to translate and reframe lessons learned by one partner for other partners

De- and re-contextualisation of lessons by joint reflection of scientific experts and local practitioners on completed and planned experiments

Expert facilitation of de- and re-contextualisation

The importance of personal and informal exchange of knowledge is not acknowledged

Regular face-to-face meetings that include socializing and site visits to local experiments

Continuity in participation of local representatives

Dominant focus on a limited set of business-as-usual solutions

Transformative goals are included in the central learning agenda

More advanced cities focus on each other (‘pioneers-for-pioneers’)

Horizontal structure of the learning network; local capacities are brought to an equal level by offering advice and support tools

Fees are not too high to prevent an elite-network of wealthier cities

Partners are inactive and participate for other purposes than learning

Other interests aside from learning are respected, without becoming dominant

Appointment of dedicated ‘meta-lab officials’ to safeguard the primary focus on transurban learning

Fees are not too low to keep out partners without genuine interest in learning