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Abstract: The starting point of this study is a broader review of literature related to innovation partnerships. Based on that review, the concept of Living Labs was identified as a proper enabler of regional collaborative innovation between a variety of stakeholders. Then, the aim was to identify the practices for successful collaboration of Living labs through comparative case study in five European countries, i.e. Austria, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands and Sweden. As a result, we clustered the success factors to four categories: 1) shared vision, 2) funding and operational model 3) collaboration (including orchestration) and complementary partners and 4) value co-creation and impacts of the collaboration. As a practice-oriented comparative case study, there was only limited theoretical contributions; the linkages between different concepts was demonstrated both at literature and at practice.
Keywords: Living Lab; Collaborative Innovation; Success factors; Benchmarking; Shared vision; Funding; Ochestration; Value co-creation
1Introduction
Living Labs and other forms of collaborative innovation have been documented to develop innovations and integrate innovativeness and resources for benefits of diverse stakeholder in cities (Leminen & Westerlund, 2019; Leminen et al. 2015; Haug & Mergel, 2021) and to provide environmental and social improvements (Hossain et al., 2019; Nevens et al., 2013). Thus, the discussion academic as well as practical is strongly linked to several other concepts related to networked innovation activities, for instance collaborative innovation, co-innovation, and open innovation. In addition, the public-private innovation partnerships are consider within the literature of triple- and quadruple helix as well as industry-academy collaboration.
The literature on Living Labs has a strong connection to the city agenda and Living Labs are discussed as open platforms for innovation and citizen engagement (Leminen et al., 2020). In addition, the recent discussion around innovation ecosystems also emphasizes the role of public actors (especially cities) as enablers of the systemic innovation change and innovation (Shove & Walker, 2010) and broader societal and environmental improvements (impacts) (e.g. Djellal & Gallouj, 2013; Gallouj et al., 2013).
Accordingly, the purpose of this paper is to explore the success factors of Living Labs as a mean in coordinating the collaborative innovation between different participants. This was done by benchmarking international cases Austria, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden.
2Background
Different collaboration forms
The starting point of the study was...