Living Lab in Action - Fostering Innovation and Regional

Development Professor Satu Miettinen, University of Lapland

Teacher and Project Manager Seija Jäminki, Kemi-Tornio University of Applied Sciences Project Researcher Essi Kuure, University of Lapland

BACKGROUND AND CATAPULT FOR LIVING LABS

General Societal Context • Societal challenges in the society require new innovations• Need for service design in business, tourism and public

services is urgent• Policy makers and stake holders need new and prompt

research-based information about the changes required in the region• Living Labs provide answers by including the residents

and end-users in the process.

CHALLENCING LAPPISH CONTEXT

• Lapland is a sparsely populated area, so it’s difficult for local residents to take part in long-lasting development.

• Living Labs offer easier forms of participation, for example short-term workshops and online communities like Facebook, blogs and websites.

• Collaboration with higher education, enterprises and service sector offer tools for innovations in the region.

Challenge How do policy-makers and entrepreneurs find

right and reliable information so that

development is on right track and time

or efforts are not wasted.

ELÄVÄ LAPPI PROJECT

Project Partners• Kemi-Tornio University of Applied Sciences

Living Lab pilot “Rajalla”

• Rovaniemi University of Applied SciencesLiving Lab pilot “Ounasvaara”

• Lapland UniversityAnalyse and research Living Lab pilots

Aim• To utilize user-driven methods and tools for improving the real-world

development of shopping-, exercise and nature tourism products and services in the area of Kemi, Tornio and Rovaniemi.

• To do research and development in real-life surroundings.Pilot Living Labs run by Universities of Applied Sciences in:

1. Rajalla – På Gränsen shopping mall in Tornio2. Ounasvaara sports resort in Rovaniemi

R&D&I in ELÄVÄ LAPPI LIVING LABS

Service innovation and design are globally at the forefront of research and practice priorities.

In the Elävä Lappi project design research focuses on the complex and challenging relationship between all the actors of the living labs.

ROLE OF SERVICE DESIGN IN LIVING LABS

• The term service in living lab context is understood as holistic solutions which are both meant for and co-created together with the users, customers and residents in the region.

It’s a ecosystem

which forms from the

networks of different

stakeholders.

Living Lab is to research,

develop and test products

and services in cooperation with normal users in real

life surroundings.

 ACTION: DOING RESEARCH

• Planning qualitative, mainly ethnographic research phases

• Gathering information in the form of observations, modeling, interviews, drawings, comments, Facebook likes…

• Planning and organising several events and co-creation workshops in locations where people go every day

ACTION: MODERATING

• Creating and analysing Elävä Lappi communication system and the website• Communication and co-operation: Blog, Slideshare, Youtube• Social Media: Facebook (Closed group and open group)• Information sharing between project team members: Moodle, iLinc

• Developing and innovating social media use • Taking part in co-creation of knowledge• Innovating integration of social media

ACTION: DESIGNING

• Using the gathered data and producing new visions for developing: • The Tornio City• Shopping Centre Rajalla På Gränsen• Ounasvaara sports resort

• Visualising data and visions• Learning Service Design methods and using them for co-creation

EXPERIENCES AND OUTCOMES

• Collaborating in living lab actions was rewarding for all the parties. • It helped in targeting the measures in right places.• The entrepreneurs and service providers gained tailor-made

information on what the residents and users really wanted.• For the students working in the Living Lab, using modern methods

where contacts were made with people was rewarding but also challenging.

• For researchers the main learning experience was that we have to integrate even better the research area into appropriate study units with a teacher tutor supporting students in their work.

 EXPERIENCES AND OUTCOMES

• There is a need of involvement and drastic actions from University staff when establishing a Living Lab.

• In our case University staff’s and researchers’ work functioned as a catapult for development, but the ideas came from all the parties involved.

• Implementations need to be tailored to the local conditions.

• Even though this kind of open innovation is a fairly unknown and unused method, people are ready and willing to take part in the development actions.

At its best living lab can be a real life environment

for different stakeholders

where value can be co-created.

 ROLES OF LIVING LAB ACTIONS

• Enablers• Create common infrastructure and systems• Public sector, other public organizations, etc.

• Utilizers• Wants to develop own products and services by use-driven

methods• Businesses, companies, public organization, etc.

• Developers• Gives for the implementation methods, tools and resources• Collects feedback, raw data and improvement suggestions

from the users• Project worksers, studenst, teachers, etc.

• Users• Real-life users, which are using tested products and

services in their everyday situations in everyday life• Are open to give honest feedback