Genderlab

Purpose and goal

The main purpose of the project was to contribute to greater gender equality, by developing and making available methods where the gender perspective is the starting point for innovation. The project included 1) to develop one or more methods for increased innovation capability regarding norm critical gender issues, 2) to test the method by letting a number of organizations apply it, and 3) to develop one or more digital tools for the dissemination of the method. The first two objectives are well met. Vinnova chose to delay Objective 3 for later projects.

Results and expected effects

The project resulted in a developed and tested design based method for norm critical innovation and several cases, showing what this might involve in a variety of industries and contexts, each with the potential to contribute to greater gender equality. The project shows that the focus of the design process on users and a deepened investigation of needs are necessary to achieve concrete result, but also that such a process cannot replace gender and design competent intermediaries. The project also shows that the process is applicable to different forms of norm-driven innovation needs.

Approach and implementation

Overall the project has followed the planned approach for the development of the process and related methods, and for the application of the process by the 10 participating organizations, with support by the research team. However, the conditions regarding the aim of developing one or more digital tools for the dissemination of the method changed. Vinnova chose to postpone this aim to a later project . The researchers then instead focused on gathering information, material and experiences that can be used in a future publication on some format.