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About us

This toolbox is a result of the project ”Nordic network of User-Driven Innovation and Livinglabbing”. The project was finalized in September 2009.

Project background

When it comes to user involvement, design, and innovation the Nordic countries have a strong cultural heritage with plenty of successful stories to tell. Within the field of information systems development the Scandinavian tradition, with its focus on user involvement, democracy, and improved working conditions, is famous thorough out the world. When it comes to design and innovation the Nordic countries have old successes as well as new ones that speak for them selves. They also span from jewellery and glass, to cloth, furniture and cars. To mention just a few we can name Pilgrim, Orrefors, Ittala, George Jensen, Karl Malmsten, SAAB, Volvo.



Living Labs are open innovation environments in real-life settings, in which user-driven innovation is fully integrated within the co-creation process of new services, products and societal infrastructures. In recent years, Living Labs have become a powerful instrument for effectively involving the user at all stages of the research, development and innovation process, thereby contributing to European competitiveness and growth. The Living Labs movement started as a series of regional bottom-up initiatives throughout Europe. It was initially strong in the northern part of Europe which has strong traditions of usability and participation, innovation friendly environments, advanced IT infrastructure and high accessibility among SMEs and citizens. However, pilots and regional programmes have been set up in technically advanced areas all over Europe to develop and strengthen the ability of industry and organisations to co-operate with users and customers in order to produce competitive ICT-based services and products.

The European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL) was first launched by the Finnish Presidency in 2006 with support from the EU-commision via different projects. Labs. The network had initially 19 members. It was widened by the second wave launch by the Portuguese Presidency in 2007 and expand in a third wave launch by the Slovenian and French Presidencies. http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/livinglabs/docs/brochure_jan09_en.pdf
 

Partners

Denmark
Learning Lab Denmark
Contact person: Jacob Jaskov
E-mail: jacob@jaskov.dk
 

Finland
Helsinki School of Economics
Contact person: Dr. Petra Turkama (Project-coordinator)
E-mail: Petra.Turkama@hse.fi

Norway
The Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Conatct person: Professor John Krogstie
E-mail: john.krogstie@ntnu.no

Sweden

Centre for Distance-spanning Technology at Luleå University of Technology
Contact person: Annika Sällström
E-mail: annika.sallstrom@cdt.ltu.se
 

The main objectives of the project have been:

  • Establishment of a Nordic Network for User-Driven Innovation and Livinglabbing
  • Promoting user-driven innovation and livinglabbing to industries
  • Experience sharing, networking, policy recommendations and dissemination

Summary of the results achieved

  • Networking among Nordic Living Lab actors to raise the awareness about the European Network of Living Labs and its movement. (Remark: 24 members of the ENoLL are from the Nordic countries)
  • The toolbox with different methods for user-driven innovation,including guidance for companies of added value of user-involvement and what to do
  • Awareness created among European actors about the ENoLL Nordic as a cross-boarder example for the European Network of Living Labs
  • Nordic companies and regional and national actors have gained knowledge about Living Lab and user-driven innovation, through more than 40 workshops, conferences, seminars and meetings
  • Mapping national Living Lab activities on a Nordic level to share future need for research, collaboration and policy recommendations.