A Finnish Perspective to Living Labs

Aki Enkenberg
Confederation of Finnish Industries EK
COFISA Closing Conference / 17 February 2010
Inside vs. outside the firm

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Company innovations with user involvement in
Finland (out of all innovations)

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Source: Hyvönen J., Saarinen J. 2009

Hyvönen J Saarinen J 2009

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5.3.2009
New forms of innovation

• Openness and user-involvement characterise most “new or

emerging” forms of innovation
• Changes driven mostly by innovative companies and user
communities
• This has also been recognised within the scope of innovation policy
in many countries
• Finland’s national innovation strategy in 2008 adopted promotion of
demand- and user-driven innovation as one key area
• Ministry of the Employment and the Economy: policy framework and
action plan for demand- and user-driven innovation (also Living
Labs) in 2009-2010

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Typology of user- or customer-centric innovation
projects in Finland
Project type
User-centric information service or user
needs analysis
User-centric workshops, innovation forums
or similar
Open source software development,
implementation or service business
Open innovation environment or innovation
community
Living Labs supporting user-driven
innovation
Testbeds, technology platforms
Other user- or customer-centric projects
Source: Lehenkari, Kautonen, Lemola,& Viljamaa 2009
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User input and involvement
Users as source of information
Users take part in planning and
conceptualisation
(Global) user community involved in all phases
of product development and decision-making
Users are members of a network openly
disseminating information
Users involved in testing, piloting in real-life
circumstances
Users invoved in testing, piloting within a
specified environment / infrastructure
User roles can vary or not pre-defined
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(Source: EU Commission 2009)‫‏‬
7
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Current situation in Finland

• Approximately 30 Living Labs in Finland, ranging from feasibility

studies to mature operations, rural to urban
• The approach is utilised mostly for:
– Conceptualising new products or services with users
– For fine-tuning products or services before market launch
– Modifying and developing existing products or services in novel
ways: user input and participation in development
• At the activity level, Living Labs carry out and offer:
– Project management and case / pilot execution, funding
application services, innovation tools, service or product
development support, scenario work, usability studies and user
needs analysis, research services, high speed networks, …

Source: Orava 2009

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Status of Finnish Living Labs

• 75% operational, but processes still in development

• 13% beginning operations in 2009/2010
• 8% in planning phase
• 4% in operation for several years

• Maturity still low

Source: Orava 2009

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Managing organisations of Finnish Living Labs

• 27% regional development companies

• 23% polytechnics
• 23% other
• 15% universities
• 12% other public organisations

• Initiatives typically public or PPP’s

Source: Orava 2009

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Sectors of activities in Living Labs

• 29% health / wellbeing

• 21% construction, living, regional or city development
• 19% ICT, media
• 12% tourism, experience industries
• 12% other: energy, agriculture
• 7% public services

• Typically more than one per LL

Source: Orava 2009

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Some things to consider

• Many Living Labs in Europe seem to be linked to publicly-funded

applied research projects or government-led regional development
projects - “business models” are still emerging
• Living Labs seem to include open and closed innovation activities,
“technology push” has not disappeared
• The “no-right definition, no copyright” model has produced a range
of different approaches and examples of what a Living Lab could be
• Co-creation with users is already happening outside of Living Labs –
needs better articulation of the added value provided
• Need for redefined expertise, methods, tools and service processes
to manage interacting actors, product elements, technologies,
services or systems is evident – but practical approaches are
needed

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European Network of Living Labs

• The European Network of Living Labs – ENoLL – is a community of

Living Labs in Europe – launched in November 2006
• ENoLL aims to support co-creative, human-centric and user-driven
research, development and innovation
• The network has grown in three “waves” up to 129 member Living
Labs – fourth wave closed in Jan 2010
• The network applies and shares new methodologies for co-creative
research, development and innovation, including new means of
open source, open architecture developments, IPR, management of
research and innovation as well as new forms of direct user
involvement in the innovation process
• Interest towards “living labbing” is still increasing and the number of
projects and initiatives is growing

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