Co-creation Innovation Research Articles

Harnessing technology for co-creation: maximizing the collaborative potential

Abstract Quentin will introduce the role of enabling technologies in maximizing hybrid intelligence for effective co-creation. This presentation sheds light on how technological advancements, particularly artificial intelligence, shape the co-creation landscape, emphasizing their pivotal contribution to enhancing collaboration. Through Quentin’s insights, delegates will understand how technology can optimize the co-creation process, facilitating communication, data integration, and collective problem-solving. Explore the transformative power of technology in driving innovative co-creation initiatives and unlocking new possibilities for collaboration in addressing complex challenges.

Co-creation of social innovations for healthy ageing in rural Europe – a process evaluation of a volunteer-led guided conversation toolkit using Normalisation Process Theory (NPT)

ABSTRACT We critically explored the use of Normalisation Process Theory (NPT) in the evaluation of a co-designed intervention toolkit for Healthy Ageing through Innovation in Rural Europe (HAIRE). The toolkit was co-designed and implemented in rural communities in Belgium, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. NPT was applied as a novel analytical framework to shed light on key practices and processes that supported implementation. Further, the paper discusses how social innovation research helps frame co-designing such interventions with local communities. During the study, 25 semi-structured interviews were conducted with project partners and volunteers who were involved in toolkit co-design and implementation. A need for co-designing toolkits that explore ageing holistically was identified. Holistic understandings of ageing can be developed by paying attention to person-centred and place-based (context-specific) aspects of ageing. Finally, we illustrate how NPT can guide future evaluation frameworks as it offers the flexibility required to understand context-specific implementation.

Beating around the bush over knowledge sabotage: the fatal flaw in increasing digital innovation ecosystem performance through innovation capability under technological turbulence

PurposeThe objective of this article is to analyze the mediating role of innovation capability—both radical and incremental—between technological turbulence and digital innovation ecosystem performance, considering the impact of cross-organizational knowledge sabotage. Despite the enthusiasm surrounding digitization, the high failure rate (80%) of digital transformation projects has received limited attention. This alarming statistic indicates a potential rise in opportunistic behaviors within organizations. We hypothesize that employees seeking to reduce the risk of being displaced by digital technologies, may not only hide knowledge, as previously observed, but also engage in knowledge sabotage by disseminating inaccurate information during the co-creation of digital innovations within the digital innovation ecosystem.Design/methodology/approachThe study employed structural equation modeling to examine moderated mediation using survey data collected from 148 firms, mainly from sectors of high to medium levels of digital intensity.FindingsThe most significant finding indicates that cross-organizational knowledge sabotage considerably reduces the only mediating effect, namely that of incremental innovation capability.Originality/valueOur study presents a novel perspective by investigating the phenomenon of cross-organizational knowledge sabotage. Unlike prior research, which primarily identified the existence of knowledge hiding, our findings suggest that employees are not only willing to withhold information but also to disseminate inaccurate information to external partners. Consequently, our research extends the boundaries of the existing knowledge field by demonstrating that cross-organizational knowledge sabotage has repercussions that extend beyond intra-organizational impacts, as previously recognized. It also adversely affects the outcomes of collaborative work within the digital innovation ecosystem.

Innovation through co-creation: a case study on the creation of new sustainable healthcare PPE clothing designs, integrating 3D digital technologies

Purpose The purpose of this study was to address a gap in the current literature by examining the integration of 3D digital prototyping technology in the co-creation process of new sustainable and multi-functional healthcare PPE clothing design in collaboration with real users. Design/methodology/approach Within the user-centered design framework, 35 participants from major hospitals, along with fashion college students in New York City, actively engaged in the co-creation innovation process for this research. Data collection and analysis were conducted through interview-based qualitative analysis, using the content analysis method. Findings The results highlight the effectiveness of integrating 3D digital prototyping technologies in the co-creation innovation process in achieving all research objectives, including fulfilling users’ health care PPE clothing needs. Originality/value This case study presents an example of co-creation innovation in collaboration with actual industry users, exploring the effectiveness of 3D digital prototyping for the co-creation process. The findings of this study can be used to formulate future research studies.

Co-creating innovations with users: A systematic literature review and future research agenda for project management

This study aimed to systematically review the extensive literature on user innovation co-creation and connect the findings to the project management domain. It focused specifically on new product development, offering a domain-based systematic review of methods, tools, and user types involved in the co-creation process. Analyzing a total of 266 articles, the authors synthesize the types of users and methods discussed in the domain of user innovation, aligning them across the new product development cycle and specific phases of co-innovation. Additionally, the authors formulate research questions and propositions that may inspire the project management domain. This study provides insights into innovation-oriented, exploratory project management and enhances the configuration approach to project management. From a practical perspective, it provides a comprehensive overview of methods that can enrich a managerial toolkit for leading innovative projects.

Agricultural Innovation and Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa in Nigeria

Purpose: The aim of the study was to analyze the agricultural innovation and food security in Sub-Saharan Africa in Nigeria. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: In Nigeria, agricultural innovation is vital for improving food security. Research suggests that adopting innovative farming methods and technologies can boost productivity, resilience to climate change, and livelihoods for smallholder farmers. Overcoming challenges like limited access to finance and inadequate infrastructure is essential to fully harnessing the benefits of agricultural innovation for food security in Nigeria. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Diffusion of innovations theory, social capital theory & political economy theory may be used to anchor future studies on agricultural innovation and food security in Sub-Saharan Africa in Nigeria. Promote farmer-centered innovation platforms - establishing can facilitate knowledge sharing, collaboration, and co-creation of agricultural innovations. Adequate funding for research institutions, agricultural universities, and extension agencies is essential to conduct applied research, develop appropriate technologies, and provide technical assistance to farmers.

A view through the looking glass: co-creation and innovation for student voice and wellbeing in distance education

This paper showcases innovative co-creation practice undertaken by a Student Voice and Wellbeing Group (SVWG) created in the School of Education, Childhood, Youth and Sport, Open University (OU). Ways of doing, seeing, being and believing student voice are discussed alongside the inception of the SVWG, sharing the whys and how's of its strategic approach and the depth and breadth of its student members′ participation. Underpinning this work is the concept that student voice and wellbeing are inextricably connected and are everyone's responsibility (Mander, 2021). The impactful student-staff partnership established through this model illustrates an authentic and dialogic practice that centres students as the drivers, rather than the passengers, for enacting change. As an artefact of innovative practice, the authors showcase a newly published bilingual digital student wellbeing handbook. This example is of interest to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) seeking innovative models for promoting marginalised voices through co-production. The authors′ reflections and recommendations invite policymakers to re-evaluate existing student voice and wellbeing strategies and practices.

Recruitment, Retention, and Training of Citizen Scientists in Translational Medicine Research: A Citizen Science Initiative on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Citizen science is a participatory science approach in which members of the public (citizens) collaborate with scientists and professional researchers and become involved in research and innovation activities, resulting in the co-creation of scientific knowledge and innovation. Citizen science has been widely applied in research, particularly in the social sciences, environmental sciences, information and communication technologies, and public health. However, the application of this approach inclinical sciences, particularly in translational medicine research, is still nascent. This exploratory study involved members of the public (citizen scientists) in a translational medicineexperiment on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease that incorporated a lifestyle and weight-loss intervention. The aim of this paper is to report successful methods and approaches for the recruitment, retention, and training of citizen scientists. For the citizen scientists' recruitment, online calls placed on the websites of our research project and biomedical research centerand targeted emails were the most helpful. Of the 14 members of the public who expressed interest in our study, six were recruited as citizen scientists. Citizen scientists were mostly female (n = 5, 83%), white (n = 3, 50%), over 50 years of age (n = 4, 67%), educated to postgraduate level (n = 5, 83%), and either retired or not in employment (n = 5, 83%). The retention rate was 83% (n = 5), and the dropout rate was 17% (n = 1). We arranged instructor-led interactive online training sessions (an hour-long one-on-one session and two-hour group sessions). Research skills training covered ethics in research and qualitative and quantitative data analysis. Citizen scientists were given several incentives, such as reimbursement of travel and care costs, selection as citizen scientists of the month, publications of their blogs and perspective articles, and co-authorship and acknowledgement in papers and project deliverables. To conclude, members of the public (particularly middle-aged white women with postgraduate education) are interested in becoming citizen scientists in translational medicine research. Their retention rate is higher, and they can contribute to different research activities. However, they need training to develop their research skills and expertise. The training should be simple, comprehensive, and flexible to accommodate the schedules of individual citizen scientists. They deserve incentives as they work on a voluntary basis.

Scanning resources to build an international nursing knowledge network

This paper reports the gathered information from an international environmental scan of university-baseline information for the creation of a Nursing Knowledge Network. An online environment scan of organizational context (February to October 2021) explored the identification of research areas, existing resources, expected benefits, innovations in teaching research, barriers to knowledge dissemination, and prospective contributions of the Network. Target informants were 200 nursing faculty affiliated with 63 universities located in 13 countries, as well as nursing networks in the Ibero-American context. One informant per university was asked to respond to the questionnaire. The participation rate was nearly 70% (42/63). The informants’ universities per country included Brazil (n = 21), Canada (n = 4), Portugal and Spain (n = 3 each), Colombia, Mexico, Peru and USA (n = 2 each), Chile, Italy and Paraguay (n = 1 each). Nursing faculty provided rich information and shared knowledge confirming a strong commitment to global co-creation of innovations and research partnership capacities through collaboration, cooperation, and knowledge exchange among nursing higher education institutions. Seldom researched areas are a potential focus for the Network to generate appropriate evidence to inform local scientific practices. The gathered information will inform further review of nursing and governmental policies and programs related to the application and dissemination of nursing evidence across local, regional, and global levels.

Intersectional Design for an Accessible and Empowering World: Views from the 8th Forum of Design as a Process

Intersectionality is increasingly suggested as an innovative framework with the potential to advance the understanding and the action towards contrasting inequalities, by highlighting processes of stigmatisation and by encouraging a critical reflection to move beyond singular categories. The contribution explore the relation between the intersectional approach and design cultures and practices by presenting the main outcomes of Track 2 “Intersectional Design for an Accessible and Empowering World” in the frame of the 8th International Forum of Design as a Process. The contributions collected in this frame represent a wealth of practices, methods and applications that show how the theoretical contribution linked to the topic of intersectionality can be applied to the co-creation of innovation in design-driven practices in diversified geographies.

Augmented reality-assisted cloud additive manufacturing with digital twin technology for multi-stakeholder value Co-creation in product innovation

Industry 4.0, boosting the integration of sophisticated computational and manufacturing technologies, has profoundly reshaped the way to deal with market dynamics. It increases the capabilities of multi-stakeholders to engage in value co-creation for product innovation. Nonetheless, it also poses challenges to operation efficiency, i.e., surged requirements meeting expedited delivery times, in account of stakeholders’ diverse backgrounds and goals. To respond, by applying the technology of Digital Twin (DT), this study proposes an Augmented Reality-assisted Cloud Additive Manufacturing (AR-CAM) framework, establishing a sophisticated cyber-physical interface to cater to various coordinating interactions. By this means, it attempts to give a consistent understanding to multi-background stakeholders. A case study involving the fabrication of a speed rear derailleur is applied, thereby underscoring the validity of the AR-CAM framework.

Interactive Mechanisms to Improve Service Innovation Among Sports Clubs: A Consumer Perspective

Value co-creation for service innovation is a rapidly developing concept in the current competitive market. Prior studies emphasize the conceptual aspects of the value co-creation, with limited research focusing on the interactive effects between firms and their customers created in the process of value co-creation. We propose a framework for synthesizing the interactive concepts associated with service innovation based on the service-dominant logic. We recruited participants (N = 448) from 11 sports clubs in Iran. Results indicated that openness and consumer engagement facilitate value co-creation, which in turn leads to perceived service innovation. Furthermore, perceived brand interactivity moderated the mediating role of value co-creation in the relationship between consumer engagement and perceived service innovation. Results from this research suggest openness and consumer engagement are key antecedents of value co-creation and highlight the significance of perceived brand interactivity and value co-creation in promoting service innovation at sports clubs.

Value co-creation and external consultancy knowledge for public innovation in Europe

This paper proposes a framework for explaining the collaboration between co-creation and LAB design methodologies with KIBS (Knowledge Intensive Business Services), which include ICT services, when public services were immerse in an innovative process at government units within six EU-20 countries in the Co-VAL H2020 survey (Spain, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Norway, and the United Kingdom). The proposed channels of interaction of user´s at the centre methodologies and KIBS is based upon the new public government paradigms and the public service dominant logic. The model examines the propositions of these paradigms, as to how co-creation processes are embedded in the interaction of KIBS and final customers, by deriving the channels through which those consultancies contribute to fostering innovation in various government units across the EU-20 (1875 public units of work surveyed), particularly in relation to improving public business-related services. The study first utilizes unilateral equations to estimate the overall effects of all the covariates and, in a second step, utilizes systems of equation models to derivate the interaction of users at the centre methodologies on KIBS and, consequently, the indirect effects that these processes have on the innovation processes of the public units of work that contracted those business services. Results conclude that value co-creation is embedded on KIBS with the decisive influence of inputs provided by final customers of the innovative processes as the public dominant service logic states. The analysis is based on the Co-VAL EU 2020 Survey, testing the causal effects that KIBS consultancies have on public innovation processes, especially those related to business services or business organizations, with a focus on the reinforcement of co-creation, LAB design, and co-production methodologies. To our knowledge this study is the first to estimate those indirect influences of user´s at the centre methodologies on public innovation processes that contract KIBS to generate positive dynamics improvements of public services.

Co-learning in university-community engagement for sustainable local food systems in South Africa

The legacy of racial and spatial segregation in South Africa has left an epistemic chasm between knowledge-producing institutions and members of disadvantaged communities most in need of applying scientific knowledge to address their local societal challenges. The aim of this study is to examine how the co-learning approach can be used to bridge the knowledge asymmetry between university researchers and communities within which their institutions are embedded by building bonds of mutual trust and involving target knowledge users in the design and testing of technological solutions targeted to their needs. Using the outcome mapping (OM) analysis of project documents and key informant interviews of participants in the co-learning project between the University of Johannesburg and Soweto smallholder farmers, this study illustrates the contribution of the co-learning approach to shaping networks of successful innovation co-creation. Our findings indicate that co-learning leads to the optimisation of the capacity building speed when co-learning partners have a shared commitment to the outcomes and application of the co-created knowledge.

Creating the Culture for Sustainable Innovation: A Gamified Approach

This research proposes a gamified approach to creating a culture for sustainable-oriented innovation. Specifically, we use action research to explore the mechanisms through which business decision-makers (such as entrepreneurs, executives and managers) reflect on their practices and obstacles to innovation, and then we use gamification to stimulate the involvement and creativity of managers. The main contribution of this paper is the design of a one-day gamified workshop in which participants collaborate first to identify common values and then to drive the co-creation of sustainable innovations. The workshop has been applied with managers of a real company to evaluate its playability and to validate its effectiveness in creating a culture for sustainable innovation.

Regional innovation systems in tourism: The role of collaboration and competition

The paper explores the concept of Regional Innovation Systems (RIS) in the context of the tourism industry. It emphasizes the importance of collaboration and competition among companies within regional systems to foster innovation. It also discusses the role of social capital, relational assets, and social relationships in driving innovation within RIS. The Campania Region recognizes the importance of tourism for its development and supports the digital transition, modernization of public administration, communication infrastructure, and production system. In this vein, the paper proposes a theoretical framework that combines dynamic capabilities, relational view, and resource-based theory to explain the mechanisms and dynamics of RIS. The co-creation of innovation and strategic plans within a system of regional assets is highlighted as a key aspect of RIS. The paper concludes by emphasizing the need for collaboration, innovation, and the integration of various stakeholders' interests in the development of sustainable and innovative regional systems.

Advancing Sustainable-Smart Innovations Through a Transdisciplinary Learning Intervention: Insights From The Quintuple Helix Model

The urgent need to shape the future of societies necessitates complex collaborative partnerships that co-create sustainable solutions. This whilst maintaining a balance between ecological, economic, and sociocultural concerns. The aforementioned creates complexity, calling for a transdisciplinary focus to circumvent the narrow lenses of disciplinary boundaries to develop new systems for educating young professionals. Within this context, we explore how a transdisciplinary learning intervention can result in sustainable-smart innovations that address real-world community challenges. To engage this question, we draw on findings from a longitudinal Design-Based Research (DBR) study that commenced in February 2020. Two iterations of this study have been completed and the third iteration commenced in 2023. Data is drawn from student project artefacts and reflections. This study utilises the potential of transdisciplinary student projects, between urban planning and information system students, and other stakeholders, to develop sustainable-smart innovations. It focuses on community challenges related to SDG 11 as experienced by marginalised township communities in Cape Town, South Africa. The study is founded on key concepts: Education for Sustainable Development, Transdisciplinary, Digital Social Innovations, Society 5.0, and Inclusive collaborative partnerships. These concepts allow the interrogation of the complexities that reside in wicked problems related to the localisation of SDGs. The introduction of the quintuple helix model during the project's third iteration to analyse the wider contribution from different stakeholders and the shift to Mode 3 knowledge application in innovation is of special value. This model lends itself to transdisciplinary methodologies specifically to merge many voices toward sustainable-smart innovations. The co-creation of sustainable-smart innovations involves unifying various stakeholders from academia, industry, government and the community, to jointly develop and implement sustainable and technology-enabled solutions. The contribution of this paper lies in the expansion of discourse on innovations for sustainability through our engagement with the quintuple helix model in a transdisciplinary learning intervention.

Co-creation Methodology to Promote 21st Century Skills in the Classroom Context

Research studies on learning processes provide strong empirical evidence that active-learning methodologies promote students' engagement which has a positive impact on students' learning outcomes, skills, and performance. Against this background, active teaching-learning environments have seen increasing popularity over the past few decades. Several studies suggest that the implementation of new methodologies based on “ask more, instead of telling” approaches lead to an increase of students' performance. The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of an active learning unit based on innovation co-creation methodologies on students' perceptions of their learning outcomes and on the so-called 21st century skills, such as critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication, in the context of a Portuguese higher education institution - the Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra (IPC). Founded in 1979, the IPC is a public higher education institution, oriented towards the pursuit of the objectives of polytechnic education, with an intrinsic vocation for applied research and the transfer of knowledge to the society. The empirical study is carried out based on data derived from a questionnaire survey applied to a class of students. Preliminary results reveal that the implementation of innovation co-creation methodologies in the classroom context is perceived by students as having a positive effect not only on the development of soft skills but also on their learning outcomes. Additionally, results give evidence that students improve their performance and therefore their final grade is higher. Results also reveal that students would like to see this active-learning methodology applied to other courses.

Innovation through the Quintuple Helix in living labs: lessons learned for a transformation from lab to ecosystem.

In the process of growing societies, and especially in the digital era we live in, there is a need for a strong push for innovation that puts citizens at the center of the process from the beginning to build more resilient, cooperative and flexible communities. Different collaborative design approaches have emerged in recent decades, one of the most interesting being Living Labs, which involves user-centered design and co-creative innovation that bring together different actors and roles. However, although these new methodologies are harnessing creativity, some aspects of this new, more ecosystemic and complex vision are not clearly understood: possible barriers, how to facilitate local and operational solutions, overcoming institutional blockage, integrating new roles, etc. The incorporation of the Quintuple Helix as a driver to ensure greater coordinated participation of local actors has proven its usefulness and impact during the re-adaptation of LifeSpace (previously named Smart House Living Lab), managed by the Polytechnic University of Madrid (Spain), a transformation based on the experiences and lessons learned during the large-scale ACTIVAGE pilot funded by the European Commission, more specifically at the Madrid Deployment Site. It involved more than 350 older adult people and other stakeholders from different areas, including family members, formal and informal caregivers, hospital service managers, third-age associations, and public service providers, forming a sense of community, which was called MAHA. The living lab infrastructure evolved from a single multi-purpose environment to incorporate three harmoniously competing environments: (1) THE LAB: Headquarters for planning, demonstration, initial design phases and entry point for newcomers to the process, (2) THE CLUB: Controlled interaction environment where returning users validate solutions, focusing mainly on AHA services (MAHA CLUB), such as exergames, social interaction applications, brain training activities, etc. (3) THE NEIGHBOURHOOD: Real-life environments for free and open interaction between actors and implementation of previously validated and tested solutions. The Quintuple Helix model applied in LifeSpace's new vision allows a coordinated involvement of a more diverse set of actors, beyond the end-users and especially those who are not traditionally part of research and innovation processes.

THE ROLE OF BUSINESS HUB IN THE ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENT OF TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY STUDENTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS ECONOMICS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF DUBROVNIK

Entrepreneurship HUB is a physical space that combines all the activities necessary for the development of entrepreneurship and encourages entrepreneurs to develop their own ideas and create innovations. Collaboration, networking, co-creation of knowledge and innovation are important elements of an entrepreneurial HUB. They are just the right tool to develop ideas for budding entrepreneurs. Through entrepreneurial HUBs, students are empowered for the process of entrepreneurship. This paper analyses the entrepreneurial intentions of tourism and hotel management students at the Department of Economics and Business Economics, University of Dubrovnik. The purpose of this research for the purposes of the paper is to find out how interested the students are in entering the entrepreneurial world and what role entrepreneurial HUBs play in generating their ideas, which are primarily due to a lack of finances and ultimately general knowledge about how to start an entrepreneurial business. Entrepreneurial HUBs play an important role, especially for aspiring entrepreneurs, as they provide various types of mentoring in the form of workshops, seminars, coworking spaces, etc. The research was conducted on a sample of 51 students of Tourism and Hospitality Management in November 2022 before the lectures, so the response rate was 100%. For the research, the survey method was used by means of a questionnaire and secondary source analysis, while descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. The aim of this paper is to investigate the role of entrepreneurial HUB in students' intentions to start an entrepreneurial business. The results show that there are some changes in risk taking among females, as 77% of them between the ages of 21 and 23 are thinking about starting their own business. Of the 38 students who were thinking about starting their own business, 32 stated that they would use the services of entrepreneur HUB. The majority of female students stated that they would use the services of entrepreneurship HUB, 65.62%. For both genders, risk is still the biggest obstacle in starting a business, as uncertainty of income and loss of invested capital are the most frequently mentioned obstacles. The services offered by HUB are very important, especially for young entrepreneurs, because according to the results for both genders, all the services listed are considered necessary or extremely necessary. The analysis of the data obtained in the research of students of tourism and hotel management shows the importance of setting up an entrepreneurial HUB, as it would help their ideas to find their way to the final consumer. It is also helpful for them given the lack of financial and technological resources to facilitate the entrepreneurial process. The results obtained show the importance and role of entrepreneurial HUB in the development of future employees and as a tool for the development of entrepreneurship in the local community.