Open Innovation and Living Lab

Purpose and goal

In this project, the purpose was to perform research on the Living Lab phenomena and its approach with the endevour to stimulate user driven service innovation, both in Sweden and in Europe. This resarch lead to an associate professor position at the LTU which was the main objective. The research that has been conducted within the project has contributed to strengthen the position of Living Labs as an approach and milieu for innovation both nationally and internationally. Through the results from this project, innovation processes can be stimulated on a diversity of markets.

Results and expected effects

Based on the results from this project and connected Living Lab project, methods and approaches that support user centred service innovation has been developed and published in 6 journal articles, 2 book chapters and 17 conference papers. The result from this research has been presented and discussed in 14 workshops and seminars arranged to spread Living Lab research. This has resulted in many requests to participate in research projects, support innovation milieus and to inform about the approach. Thus, the effects for the project will have impact both within academy and society.

Approach and implementation

This project was carried out in several visits at HLL from the beginning of the project and then decrease the visits at the end of the project. This approach was a fruitful way to build good relations early on. Employees from HLL has also visited Luleå several times. We have arranged joint conference tracks, visit conference together and arranged workshops. While visiting HLL meetings with PhD students, researchers and teachers have been taking place to stimulate knowledge transfer between the different milieus. Collaborative research activities has also been carried out regularly.