
Theoretical & methodological challenges papers
Chairs
Dr. Dimitri Schuurman & Prof. Dr. Wendy Van den Broeck
Submissions to this track deal with (innovation) theories and methodologies that can help Living Lab research and practice. This encompasses cases and research on Living Lab theory and practice, as well as looking into established innovation theory and methodology in relation with Living Labs.
Open Innovation Business Models : the example of living labs in France
by Ingrid Fasshauer
Category: Full Research Paper
Keywords:
- Living Lab
- Open Innovation
- Business Model
- Value sharing
Abstract. Livings labs, emerging forms of collaborative innovation including users in their real-life context, are more and more numerous in France. Even if part of them is organized in a network, they are very diverse in terms of portage, legal structure and above all business model. The latter is all the more crucial since Schuurman (2015) notes a mortality rate of 40% on living labs labeled by the largest network of living labs, European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL). A large number of living labs thus have an unwanted temporary nature (Leminen et al., 2012). Based on a questionnaire, it highlights that three forms of value are generated by the living labs studied: knowledge creation, social impact and economic value. Revenues can be exclusively public, exclusively private or mixed. As for the sharing of value, it is a concern for several living labs which respond by ensuring the dissemination of their innovations to a wide audience. Only research-oriented laboratories have intellectual property protection practices. By taking these three dimensions into account, we propose a typology
distinguishing between four categories of living labs.
Ingrid Fasshauer
Associate professor in Gustave Eiffel University and a member of DICEN-IDF research laboratory in Paris

Ingrid Fasshauer
Associate professor in Gustave Eiffel University and a member of DICEN-IDF research laboratory in ParisDr Ingrid Fasshauer holds a PHD in Management Science (Paris Dauphine University, 2012). She is an associate professor in Gustave Eiffel University and a member of DICEN-IDF research laboratory in Paris. Her research interests are on : - the evolution of organizational control in relation to information technology (telework, crowdfunding) - new forms of collaboration that appear in collaborative spaces (coworking spaces and living labs) - management control of nursing homes. She is a member of DICEN-IDF, a French Living Lab dedicated to rural development. She published many scientific papers in French ranked Journals.
Facilitation and facilitator roles in lab-driven innovation process in experience-based tourism
by Yati Yati
Category: Research-in-progress
Keywords:
- experience-based tourism
- lab-driven innovation
- innovation facilitators
- innovation intermediaries
- innovation labs
- living labs
Abstract. This study aims to contribute to the knowledge of lab-driven innovation by exploring the facilitation and facilitator roles of labs in experience-based tourism. The preliminary findings of this qualitative case study show that labs may have the potential to stimulate innovation in experience-based tourism firms. Also, the facilitator roles of the labs in tourism are similar to the roles of innovation intermediaries in other sectors. Moreover, the study tentatively concludes that engagement and active involvement of the participants is important in the facilitation of the labs.
Yati Yati
PhD candidate at Nord University

Yati Yati
PhD candidate at Nord UniversityYati is a PhD candidate at Nord University. Her research interests include labs for innovation, such as living labs and innovation labs, particularly in experience-based tourism. Her PhD project focuses on the innovation processes of labs in tourism. She graduated from UiT the Arctic University of Norway, with a Master of Science degree in Business Creation and Entrepreneurship. She has several years of practical work experience, mainly in sales and marketing, after she graduated from the University of North Sumatra with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management.
Methodology for Establishing a Living Lab from Experiences in Japan
by Keiichi Kitazume, Mari Takaku, Mio Nishiyama
Category: Research-in-progress
Keywords:
- Living Labs in Japan
- customization
- residents’ association
- toolkit
Abstract.The purpose of this study is to clarify which method is suitable for the features of Japan, especially when starting a LL activity with a specific topic in a certain area. The viewpoints are put together, utilization of the residents’ association, engagement between citizens and their local government and creating a place for active discussions. By researching Japanese experiences from these viewpoints, a careful relationship between residents and the operating organization and a management method removing the stereotype about residents are suggested as the key points to success.
Multi-stakeholder innovation ecosystem orchestration
by Tuija Hirvikovski, Kaisla Saastamoinen
Category: Research-in-progress
Keywords:
- multi-stakeholder innovation co-creation
- orchestration
- innovation ecosystems
- living labs
- hindering and facilitating
Abstract. Despite the use of Living Labs continuing to spread further with the increase of global complex challenges, the question of how the multi-stakeholder collaborative innovation has been governed and orchestrated within multifaceted innovation ecosystems has remained unanswered. In this paper, orchestration refers to such purposeful actions as governance, facilitation, mediation, interpretation, or brokering used to enhance multi-stakeholder innovation co-creation, particularly when aiming to solve wicked problems while
guaranteeing the system’s resilience and economic vitality. Orchestration helps innovation ecosystems to
reach their common goals and their members to create and capture value. This paper introduces a method
used to research the role of orchestration in multi-stakeholder innovation. The first findings on what has
facilitated and hindered the fairly large, mature and successful innovation ecosystems with regards to
achieving their goals underline the significance of the informal side of innovation activities as opposed to
formal governance models and actions often highlighted in the literature and policy documents.
Additionally, from the methodological point of view, it was learned that based solely on publicly available
information on the innovation ecosystems, most of the first findings would not have been uncovered.
Instead, thematic interviews where the interviewees could freely reflect on the research questions enabled
these findings to be unearthed. The restricted case findings cannot be generalised, therefore further
research is needed.
Tuija Hirvikoski
Laurea University Director

Tuija Hirvikoski
Laurea University DirectorDr Tuija Hirvikoski is currently a director at Laurea University of Applied Sciences responsible for the University’s strategic stakeholder management. During her Vice-Presidency, Laurea become Finland’s most successful University of Applied Sciences receiving multiple awards. She has held managerial positions at various Finnish higher education institutions and governmental institutions focusing on sustainable regional and societal development. Hirvikoski’s specific area of expertise is related to multi-stakeholder, user-centred innovation design and ecosystem development (Living Labs). She has received a PhD in Industrial Management (Innovation and Innovation Ecosystems), MSc in Education and MSc in Administration. As a sought-after advisor, she has provided various audiences with inspirational examples and research results concerning the Finnish education and open innovation ecosystems. Hirvikoski was the President of The European Network of Living Labs between 2015-2018 and has served as a council member in various organisations such as the Uusimaa Regional Coordination Committee, Sendai-Finland Wellbeing Centre R&D Unit, Tech villa Ltd (a Finnish technology centre), Helsinki Information Technology Association, the Talent Cultivation Program for Smart Living Industry in Taiwan, and the Centre for Skills and Post-Secondary Education (SPSE) in Canada.
Kaisla Saastamoinen
Project specialist

Kaisla Saastamoinen
Project specialistKaisla Saastamoinen is a project specialist in the Co-creation Orchestration (CCO) project at Laurea University of Applied Sciences. In this position, she researches multi-stakeholder innovation ecosystems and their orchestration. She holds a Master’s degree in Hospitality Management (Customer-centric Service Development).
Observational study on cross-cultural differences in living lab research: protocol & pilot
by N. De Witte, I Adriaensen, L. Broeckx
Category: Research-in-progress
Keywords:
- Cross-border research
- group dynamics
- recruitment
- living labs
- individual differences
Abstract.
When a new service or product is introduced, local context always has to be taken into consideration, as requirements and preferences might vary across regions. Similarly, the concrete set-up of living lab research might vary depending on where and with whom it takes place. Previous research suggests that cultural characteristics and individual differences in behaviour could influence data collection and be confounding variables for study outcomes of international living lab research. However, this research is predominantly based on indirect reports. The current study aims to collect data on actual participation and contribution in international user-centred research and explore its relation to individual characteristics and geographical region. Participating living labs are asked to perform observations of living lab sessions and invite participants to complete an end-user
questionnaire. A Belgian pilot shows that the protocol is feasible and can detect relevant differences in contribution based on age and professional status. Further recruitment has been hampered by the
COVID-19 pandemic but will continue when guidelines permit the organisation of group sessions. The
current study can increase awareness of cross-cultural differences in living lab research. It will allow
participating living labs and the broader living lab community to optimize national and international research protocols so that they uphold good standardisation and reproducibility but also entail sufficient flexibility to account for cross-cultural differences.
Nele De Witte
Senior researcher

Nele De Witte
Senior researcherNele De Witte holds a PhD in Psychology and is a senior researcher at LiCalab, Living and Care Lab, and the Expertise Unit Psychology, Technology & Society of Thomas More University of Applied Sciences. She is interested in the areas of e-mental health (including wearables), user-centered design and attitudes towards technology. At LiCalab, her main focus is on designing human factor studies, optimizing research practices in relation to methodological challenges (such as ethical standards and cross-cultural differences), and scientific valorization.
Analysis of a program solving a local issues in collaboration with technology companies: a case study of the SUNABA as a living lab in Shiojiri
by Masataka Mori, Takashi Yamada
Category: Practitioners Presentation
Keywords:
- Problem solving
- Design research, Traditional industry
- Co-creation
- Prototyping, Japan
Abstract. This paper uses the efforts of the Snubbing Lab in Shiojiri as a case study to examine a program that
collaborated with a technology company to solve local problems. In a closed community, we believe that the Living Lab method provides great value in creating the future by extracting the essential local issues and working with outside companies to solve them in the direction the community is aiming. This time, we analyze the case of
working with Toshiba to solve problems in the wine industry and to promote the appeal of the city. While the
Living Labs efforts are gradually spreading in Japan, this effort is noteworthy in that it reached prototyping. It will
be presented as a concrete prototype of a solution to a local problem using the living lab method in a regional
context different from that of Europe.
Masataka Mori
Research Analyst

Masataka Mori
Research AnalystHe is a research analyst for accumulating information and creation of database to accelerate the social innovation in Japan. Managing a creative platform construction project based on social issues, he has been engaging himself to work on research, analysis and concept design for innovation platform construction using interviews, field work and other ethnographic research methods