Live Lab for System of Systems Education: Designing for the Ideal, Colliding with the Real

The growing complexity of technical products and their multi-generational development requires new approaches in engineering education. In particular, the integration of individual systems into System of Systems (SoS) presents significant challenges for future systems engineers. Beyond traditional skills, they must master competencies in managing networked, dynamic, and interdisciplinary systems. This paper explores how such competencies can be systematically taught through Live Labs-practice-oriented research and learning environments. Building on existing educational models, a SoSspecific Live Lab is conceptualized. Its product profile and key requirements are validated and serve as the basis for initial implementation, which highlights challenges specific to SoS complexity.