@article {957, title = {Enhancing Early Innovation in an Urban Living Lab: Lessons from Espoo, Finland}, journal = {Technology Innovation Management Review}, volume = {6}, year = {2016}, month = {01/2016}, pages = {17-26}, publisher = {Talent First Network}, address = {Ottawa}, abstract = {Urban areas are often characterized by complex problems, such as social and economic deprivation, segregation, or bureaucratic administration. Urban living laboratories provide a promising approach to redefining and tackling such problems in novel ways by enabling bottom-up innovation with various actors. The present study examined an urban living lab initiative in a suburban area of Espoo, Finland, where guided workshops based on the Change Laboratory method were arranged. The findings show that, before development projects are launched, it is important to dedicate sufficient time to the early innovation process, which includes building relationships, sharing knowledge, exploring ignorance, and innovating new concepts. The study emphasizes the importance of distinguishing early innovation processes from later ones, which means separating the "preject" from the "project". We conclude that successful management of an urban living lab combines bottom-up and top-down approaches.}, keywords = {Change Laboratory; innovation management, innovation process; preject; urban living labs}, issn = {1927-0321}, doi = {http://doi.org/10.22215/timreview/957}, url = {http://timreview.ca/article/957}, author = {Soile Juuj{\"a}rvi and Virpi Lund} } @article {742, title = {Actor Roles in an Urban Living Lab: What Can We Learn from Suurpelto, Finland?}, journal = {Technology Innovation Management Review}, volume = {3}, year = {2013}, month = {11/2013}, pages = {22-27}, publisher = {Talent First Network}, address = {Ottawa}, abstract = {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. 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. User involvement is critical for co-creating value, but equally 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. Proactive networking, 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.}, keywords = {innovation, knowledge production, networks, regional development, urban living labs}, issn = {1927-0321}, doi = {http://doi.org/10.22215/timreview/742}, url = {http://timreview.ca/article/742}, author = {Soile Juuj{\"a}rvi and Kaija Pesso} }