scholarly journals Facing Societal Challenges in Living Labs: Towards a Conceptual Framework to Facilitate Transdisciplinary Collaborations

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 614
Author(s):  
Indre Kalinauskaite ◽  
Rens Brankaert ◽  
Yuan Lu ◽  
Tilde Bekker ◽  
Aarnout Brombacher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Collaborative Research ◽  
Feedback Loop ◽  
Dynamic Nature ◽  
Societal Challenges ◽  
Living Lab ◽  
Living Labs ◽  
Stakeholder Alignment ◽  
Collaboration Process ◽  
Exploratory Case Studies

Living labs are an extremely attractive open innovation landscape for collaborative research and development activities targeting the complexity of today’s societal challenges. However, although there is plenty of support for collaboration, we still lack clear guidelines to direct transdisciplinary stakeholder networks of academics and practitioners through collaboration processes in the living lab ecosystem. In other words, we lack answers to the question of “how to collaborate?” In the present paper we propose a conceptual framework defining relevant stages to initiate and facilitate transdisciplinary collaboration processes. We base our framework on collaboration challenges described in the literature, specifically the need for stakeholder alignment, as well as challenges experienced in practice, which we report through exploratory case studies. In the proposed conceptual framework, we advocate the application of co-creation methods, both at the level of the living lab (macro) and in projects (meso) within the living lab, in order to define, with all involved parties and stakeholders, the scope and strategy of the living lab and to facilitate stakeholder alignment. Additionally, we integrate an iterative approach and a feedback loop in order to account for the dynamic nature of the collaboration process and to enable reflection and evaluation.

scholarly journals Social Innovation Living Labs as Platforms to Co-design Social Innovations

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-57
Author(s):  
Grzegorz Baran
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Economic Life ◽  
Living Lab ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Innovations ◽  
Unique Nature ◽  
New Ideas ◽  
Living Labs

AbstractObjective: The aim of the research is to develop a new original concept of social innovation lab based on the concept of living labs seen from the perspective of design-led approach to management and innovation.Methodology: The research was carried out with use of non-empirical (theoretical) framework. The existing knowledge was the source of reasoning leading to solve the scientific problem. It was rather implicit two-stage process of reasoning. The first stage was to reframe the conceptual framework, which was based on the analysis of the living lab concept seen from the perspective of the unique nature of social innovation and its limits. In the second stage, prototyping of a new concept of social innovation living lab was built on the conceptual framework developed at the first stage.Findings: The original theoretical model of social innovation living lab and its operationalization have been developed. It is based on the concept of living labs regarded as long term environments for open innovation that are being developed with real users in real contexts, and framed from the perspective of design-led approach to management and innovation.Value Added: The literature review has revealed the significant lack of research studies on the processes of generating social innovation. The proposed original model of social innovation living lab helps fill this gap. Social innovations as successful exploitation of new ideas to meet social problems and needs are essential in social and economic life. However, the conventional approaches to innovation are not sufficient to develop social innovation due to its nature. The proposed approach describes the operation of the social innovation living lab as an effective way to develop such innovations and at the same time the methodology useful in the further research.Recommendations: The proposed original approach to the processes of designing and accomplishing social innovation can help to develop such innovations in a more intentional and goal-oriented way, which is difficult using traditional laboratories due to the nature of such innovations.

INNOVATING WITH SERVICE ROBOTS IN HEALTH AND WELFARE LIVING LABS

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (08) ◽  
pp. 1740013 ◽  
Author(s):  
SEPPO LEMINEN ◽  
MIKA WESTERLUND ◽  
MERVI RAJAHONKA
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Open Innovation ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Service Robots ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Scholarly Research ◽  
Living Lab ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Living Labs

This paper examines diverse service innovations created with service robots in living labs that are an under researched and growing area of scholarly research. In particular, there is a need for research that connects robotics with welfare and health care living labs. This study focusses on the nexus between the different types of robots and services in living labs. It contributes to the literatures of open innovation and living labs by developing a conceptual framework for analysing service innovations enabled by robotics in eight living lab cases. The framework distinguishes four archetypes of service innovations in health and welfare living labs: (i) socialising, (ii) aiding, (iii) entertaining, and (iv) personal assisting. The paper concludes with implications to theory and practice, and suggests directions for future research.

The Blue-Green Urban Living Labs of Kuala Lumpur

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (13) ◽  
pp. 359-367
Author(s):  
Jamalunlaili Abdullah ◽  
Raziah Ahmad ◽  
Muhammad Hafiz Zainal
Keyword(s):  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Publishing House ◽  
Kuala Lumpur ◽  
Urban Living ◽  
The Public ◽  
Societal Challenges ◽  
Private Citizen ◽  
Living Labs ◽  
International Publishing ◽  
Open Access Article

The extraordinary societal challenges demand cities to be innovative and adaptable to the needs of urban citizens. In the Malaysian context, the Blue-Green Infrastructure (BGI) has not been well incorporated into the ULLs. This paper seeks to address this gap by exploring the potential of the Blue-Green Urban Living Labs (BGULLs) at the Sungai Bunus catchment area. Using Google Form, survey questionnaire is conducted among professionals and the public. Findings of this unprecedented study suggest the BGULLs offer beyond beautification works, and it is voicing the virtual idea of the BGULLs into a real setting that reflects the public-private-citizen partnerships.Keywords: Urban living labs; Blue-Green Infrastructure; Innovation; societal challengeseISSN: 2398-4287 © 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/e-bpj.v5i13.2072

scholarly journals Living lab on sharing and circular economy: The case of Turin

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 146045822098727
Author(s):  
Federico Cuomo ◽  
Nadia Lambiase ◽  
Antonio Castagna
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Common Ground ◽  
Swot Analysis ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Production Cycle ◽  
Living Lab ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Living Labs ◽  
Past Experiences

Cities with their innovative capacity are key places to address critical climate, environmental and health challenges. Urban experimentations, such as Living Labs, can represent a starting point to reintroduce resources into the production cycle and reduce environmental impacts, embracing the paradigm of the circular economy (CE). According to recent studies, Living Labs at a city scale could generate significant environmental benefits, improvements in quality of life and positive impacts on citizens’ health.1 This paper aims at presenting the case of the Torino Living Lab on Sharing and Circular Economy (LLSC) to point out possible future scenarios of urban sustainable policies. The case study is analysed in five sections: (1) the description of the new permanent laboratory proposed by the City of Turin; (2) the past experiences of Living Labs in Turin; (3) the birth of LLSC and the involvement strategy; (4) the introduction of the eight admitted experimentations. In the light of the results collected, the last paragraph (5) came up with the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Treaths (SWOT) analysis in the LLSC. Eventually, it deals with the research question by offering a common ground for global and local policies focused on sustainability and CE.

scholarly journals Mapping Digital Religion: Exploring the Need for New Typologies

Religions ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 373
Author(s):  
Piotr Siuda
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Religious Movements ◽  
New Religious Movements ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Traditional Religion ◽  
Dynamic Nature ◽  
Visual Frame

Today, it is challenging to separate online and offline spaces and activities, and this is also true of digital religion as online and offline religious spaces become blended or blurred. With this background, the article explores the need for new typologies of what is religious on the Internet and proposes a conceptual framework for mapping digital religion. Four types of that which is religious on the Internet are presented based on influential classification by Helland. He introduced (1) religion online (sites that provide information without interactivity) and (2) online religion (interactivity and participation). Helland’s concept is developed by, among others, adding two types: (3) innovative religion (new religious movements, cults, etc.) and (4) traditional religion (e.g., Christianity or Islam). Each type is illustrated by selected examples and these are a result of a larger project. The examples are grouped into three areas: (1) religious influencers, (2) online rituals and (3) cyber-religions (parody religions). Additionally, the visual frame for mapping digital religion is presented including the examples mentioned. The presented framework attempts to improve Helland’s classification by considering a more dynamic nature of digital religion. The model is just one possible way for mapping digital religion and thus should be developed further. These and other future research threads are characterized.

scholarly journals The Defining Characteristics of Agroecosystem Living Labs

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1718
Author(s):  
Chris McPhee ◽  
Margaret Bancerz ◽  
Muriel Mambrini-Doudet ◽  
François Chrétien ◽  
Christian Huyghe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Systems ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
External Factors ◽  
Social Challenges ◽  
Rural Living ◽  
Living Lab ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Unique Nature ◽  
Living Labs ◽  
High Uncertainty

In response to environmental, economic, and social challenges, the living labs approach to innovation is receiving increasing attention within the agricultural sector. In this paper, we propose a set of defining characteristics for an emerging type of living lab intended to increase the sustainability and resilience of agriculture and agri-food systems: the “agroecosystem living lab”. Drawing on first-hand knowledge of case studies of large initiatives from Canada and France and supported by eight other cases from the literature, we highlight the unique nature of agroecosystem living labs and their distinct challenges with respect to their aims, activities, participants, and context. In particular, these living labs are characterized by exceptionally high levels of scientific research; long innovation cycles with high uncertainty due to external factors; and the high number and diversity of stakeholders involved. Both procedurally and conceptually, we link to earlier efforts undertaken by researchers seeking to identify urban living labs and rural living labs as distinct, new types of living labs. By highlighting what makes agroecosystem living labs unique and their commonalities with other types of living labs, we hope to encourage their further study and help practitioners better understand their implementation and operational challenges and opportunities.

Puzzling and powering in the city: two case studies on collaborative research

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Duiveman
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Collaborative Research ◽  
Knowledge Development ◽  
Power Dynamics ◽  
Research Practices ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Living Labs ◽  
Urban Issues ◽  
Policy Problems ◽  
Collaborative Knowledge

Abstract Cities are turning to urban living labs and research consortia to co-create knowledge that can better enable them to address pervasive policy problems. Collaborations within such practices help researchers, officials and local stakeholders find new ways of dealing with urban issues and developing new relations with one another. Interestingly, success in the latter is often closely related to accomplishing the former. Besides of analysing this phenomenon in terms of learning—as is common—this paper also delves into the power dynamics involved in collaborative knowledge development. This perspective contributes to a better understanding of how puzzling and powering are simultaneously involved in making research relevant to policy-making. By presenting two collaborative research consortia in the Netherlands, we demonstrate how developing knowledge involves both re-structuring problems and the urban practices involved in governing such problems. Collaborative research practices are predominantly concerned with learning as long as restructuring the problem leads to research findings that are meaningful to all actors. Power becomes manifest when one actor insists on restructuring (often reproducing) problems in a manner judged unacceptable by others. Analysis of two case studies will show how the familiar three faces of power express themselves in collaborative knowledge development. It is recommended that these new practices also require methods for better orchestrating power besides a methodology for successful structuring learning through collaborative research practices.

scholarly journals The role of relational governance in innovation platform growth: the context of living labs

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiara Luisa Cantù ◽  
Daniel Schepis ◽  
Roberto Minunno ◽  
Greg Morrison
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Sustainable Construction ◽  
Relational Governance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Living Lab ◽  
Living Labs ◽  
Platform Development ◽  
Innovation Platform ◽  
Collective Goals

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the role of relational governance in innovation platform development, specifically investigating the context of living labs. Design/methodology/approach Two longitudinal case studies are presented, derived from auto-ethnographic narratives, qualitative interviews and secondary documents, which cover the critical stages in the development of each living lab. Findings Empirical insights demonstrate the relevance of coordination activities based on joint planning and activities to support innovation platform development across different stages. The governance role of research actors as platform activators is also identified. Practical implications The paper offers a useful perspective for identifying collective goals between living lab actors and aligning joint activities across different stages of living lab development. Social implications The case provides insights into the challenges and opportunities for collaboration between academia, industry and users to support sustainable construction innovation. Originality/value A relational governance mode is identified, going beyond top down or bottom up approaches, which contributes a new understanding of how collective goals align within a relational space.

scholarly journals Incremental and Radical Service Innovation in Living Labs

Economics ◽  
2015 ◽  
pp. 445-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seppo Leminen ◽  
Mika Westerlund
Keyword(s):  
Open Innovation ◽  
Innovation Management ◽  
Service Innovation ◽  
Service Development ◽  
Living Lab ◽  
Living Labs ◽  
Open Service ◽  
Innovation Strategies ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Innovation Novelty

Living labs provide a new, under researched form of open innovation. Although open innovation is increasingly popular in service development, extant literature lacks knowledge of different open service innovation strategies, which companies can employ. This chapter focuses on strategies that firms can take in co-creating service innovations through living labs. The authors found nine open service innovation strategies based on an analysis of 26 living labs in four countries. Understanding of strategies and their links with incremental or radical innovation outcomes aid managers to set up an efficient innovation management. Knowledge of various strategies helps companies to succeed in service development and innovation novelty assessment based on the characteristics of the living lab.

Digital Biomarkers for supporting transitional care decisions: Protocol for a transnational feasibility study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Despoina Petsani ◽  
Sara Ahmed ◽  
Vasileia Petronikolou ◽  
Eva Kehayia ◽  
Mika Alastalo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Transitional Care ◽  
Care Process ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Pilot Phase ◽  
Living Lab ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Living Labs ◽  
Digital Biomarkers

BACKGROUND VITALISE is a H2020 project that aims to harmonize Living Lab procedures and facilitate the access to European Health and Wellbeing research infrastructures. In this context, this study presents a joint research activity (JRA) that will be conducted within VITALISE, in transitional care domain, in order to test and validate the harmonized Living Lab procedures and infrastructures. The collection of data from various sources (ICT, clinical and patient reported outcome measures) demonstrated capacity to assess risk and support decision during care transitions but there is no harmonized way of combining this information. OBJECTIVE This study primarily aims to evaluate the feasibility and benefit of collecting multichannel data across Living Labs on the topic of transitional care and to harmonize the data processes and collection. Secondly, we aim to investigate the collection and use of digital biomarkers and explore initial patterns in the data that demonstrate the potential to predict transition outcomes such as readmissions and adverse events. METHODS The current research protocol presents a multi-center, prospective, observational cohort study that will consist of three phases, running consecutively in multiple sites: a co-creation phase, a testing and simulation phase and a transnational pilot phase. The co-creation phase aims to build a common understanding among different sites, investigate the differences of hospitalization discharge management among countries and the willingness of different stakeholders to use technological solutions in the transitional care process. The testing and simulation phase aims to explore ways of integrating observation of a patient’s clinical condition, patient involvement and discharge education in transitional care. The objective of the simulation phase is to evaluate the feasibility and the barriers that are faced by a healthcare professional in assessing transition readiness. The transnational pilot phase takes input from co-creation and testing and stimulation phase. The aim is to pilot the already designed activities from previous phases and collect data to conduct a first predictive analysis. RESULTS The co-creation phase will be completed by April 2022. The testing and simulation phase will begin in September 2022 and will partially overlap with the deployment of the transnational pilot phase that will start the same month. The data collection of the transnational pilots will be finalized by the end of June 2023. Data processing is expected to be completed by March 2024. The results will consist of guidelines and implementation pathway for large scale study and the analysis for identifying initial patterns in the acquired data. CONCLUSIONS The knowledge acquired though this research will lead to harmonized procedures and data collection for Living Labs that support transitions in care. In addition, this research contributes to the increase in capacity to perform Big Data analytics while accounting for each local context and across Living Labs.

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