iCare4 Fyrbodal - Idea gateway for cooperative innovation management in municipal social services

Important results from the project

The purpose of this feasibility study iCare4 Fyrbodal was to develop an idea gateway model for social services in some pilot municipalities in Fyrbodal; Bengtsfors, Trollhättan and Uddevalla. The feasibility study shows how to create an effective gateway integrated with the quality management system in each municipality. The gateway should be common to a number of municipalities and can be used independently of size of the municipalities and their different level of expertise regarding innovation management. An IT platform allows this process to be a natural tool in operations.

Expected long term effects

We now have an idea gateway model with a holistic approach to innovation management connected via interfaces between municipalities-gateway-incubation processes. Since the gateway is integrated with a local quality management system that all municipalities must have (SOSFS 2011: 9), the model should be very attractive to those of Fyrbodals´ municipalities that have not yet implemented such a system. This pilot study has created interest in more municipalities than the pilots, to proceed in an enlarged constellation, bound for the Vinnova call for the development of idea gateways.

Approach and implementation

The action plan that was initially created for this feasibility study has been followed. In the first working meetings, we made an analysis of the existing idea gateway in Uddevalla called iMedTech. For the present situation analysis, we developed a questionnaire and interviewed a cross section of staff of social services in the respective pilot municipalities. Further analysis, study visits and workshops with employees followed. After extensive work and a creative process in the ambitious project group, we have reported the results of the feasibility study; called iCare 4 Fyrbodal.