An education and test labaratory for innovation driven by the employees in the elderly care in the Municipality of Höör

Purpose and goal

The purpose has been to create the best possible prior conditions for innovation in the elderly care. The target has been to create a strategy based on experience from other organisations as well as the internal conditions. The result is a viable and firmly established plan for a continuous innovation work. Cooperation with strategically important players, local industry and universities has been established. We have also increased our knowledge of the innovation process and its fully potential. Instead of fear for an upcoming crises we now have new tools with great opportunities.

Results and expected effects

Results: the project team has been educated in the technique of innovation, 30 employees have been participating in focus groups, cooparation with strategically important organisations and players has been established. An innovation strategy including a budget has been developed and a new application to Vinnova has been produced. The impact is a thoroughly worked out project plan that is firmly established in the elderly care as well in the civil society and in the whole municipality of Höör.

Approach and implementation

During the project we have arranged focus groups with employees in the elderly care and study visits to the municipality of Katrineholm, ´Innovationsfabriken i Småland´in Gislaved and to the institution of design sciences, LTH, at Lund University. We have also established cooperation with the academic think tank Leading Health Care and Innovation Plant. During the planning project we involved support by a consultant to secure pace. Our exploratory working method has made us develop a strategy that is both innovative and well established.