Abstract

IntroductionCity planners, universities, and technology companies are increasingly viewing urban areas as natural places to develop living labs. Urban areas, particularly that are newly built, offer opportunities to implement novel infrastructure, conduct longitudinal research studies, and co-create innovation with an engaged and readily identifiable set of users. In addition,

Highlights

  • City planners, universities, and technology companies are increasingly viewing urban areas as natural places to develop living labs

  • Urban living lab activity is characterized by a practice-based innovation process with diffuse and heterogeneous knowledge production that aims to address urban problems of varying complexity

  • The boundaries between different living labs may become blurred because the many diverse actors may be simultaneously collaborating in multiple labs (Wallin, S., forthcoming: "APRILab: Guidelines to Define and Establish an Urban Living Lab", Urban Europe Joint Programming Initiative; jpi-urbaneurope.eu)

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Summary

Technology Innovation Management Review

Soile Juujärvi and Kaija Pesso “ ” It is essential to find the right people: those who are enthusiastic about the project. There is a growing trend to involve citizens in city development to make urban areas more suitable to their needs and prevent social problems. City centres and neighbourhoods have increasingly been serving as regional living labs, which are ideal platforms to explore the needs of users as residents and citizens. This article examines the characteristics and success factors of urban living labs based on a case study of Suurpelto, Finland. User involvement is critical for co-creating value, but important is collaboration between other living lab actors: enablers, providers, and utilizers. Enabler-driven labs can be successful in creating common goals but they need providers, such as development organizations, to boost development. Experimentation as a bottom-up process, using student innovators as resources, as well as commitment and longevity in development work are success factors for urban living labs

Introduction
Urban Living Labs as Regional Innovation Networks
Conclusion

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