Periodic Reporting for period 1 - INTEGER (INTERCONNECTING 4 HELIX INNOVATION ECOSYSTEMS IN EUROPEAN REGIONS)
Reporting period: 2023-02-01 to 2024-01-31
The INTEGER 4H Interconnecting 4 Helix Innovation Ecosystems in European Regions project is focused on the challenge-driven promotion of healthy living and wellbeing, is looking to forward three important innovations for the development of new and more robust, sustainable, inclusive and integrative EU innovation ecosystems through:
A. The INTEGER 4 Helix Collaboratory methodology MODEL to implement the next generation of living labs through the ‘Collaboratories’, "a labs sum".
B. An EU Healthy Living Collaboratory, a true network of networks’ community with capacity to work on real social, tech and business-driven projects, and
C. A new professional profile, the ‘collaber’ or ‘collaboratory manager’ as a multiplying agent of change of these integrated innovation ecosystems.
The 3 INTEGER reinforcing innovations will push fivefold breakthrough capacities for the integration and impact of social innovation in EU innovation ecosystems:
1) Boost win-win games between business and social oriented innovations addressing common challenges.
2) Transform co-creation dynamics into disruptive and tangible new products, services or competencies.
3) Co-design jointly public innovation policies.
4) Develop capacity building training programs for the new generation of socio-digital entrepreneurs and ecosystems’ enablers, the collabers, and
5) Devise funding and investment mechanisms for social innovation start-ups and SMEs to develop and scale up game changing innovations.
Based on a peer-to-peer approach between business-driven and social-driven innovations, INTEGER is currently seeking to accelerate transformative integration outcomes by creating new win-win games, local mission-driven synergies, groundbreaking coordination of actions, governance, implementation, uptaking and exploitation dynamics.
A. The INTEGER 4 Helix Collaboratory methodology MODEL to implement the next generation of living labs through the ‘Collaboratories’, "a labs sum".
B. An EU Healthy Living Collaboratory, a true network of networks’ community with capacity to work on real social, tech and business-driven projects, and
C. A new professional profile, the ‘collaber’ or ‘collaboratory manager’ as a multiplying agent of change of these integrated innovation ecosystems.
The 3 INTEGER reinforcing innovations will push fivefold breakthrough capacities for the integration and impact of social innovation in EU innovation ecosystems:
1) Boost win-win games between business and social oriented innovations addressing common challenges.
2) Transform co-creation dynamics into disruptive and tangible new products, services or competencies.
3) Co-design jointly public innovation policies.
4) Develop capacity building training programs for the new generation of socio-digital entrepreneurs and ecosystems’ enablers, the collabers, and
5) Devise funding and investment mechanisms for social innovation start-ups and SMEs to develop and scale up game changing innovations.
Based on a peer-to-peer approach between business-driven and social-driven innovations, INTEGER is currently seeking to accelerate transformative integration outcomes by creating new win-win games, local mission-driven synergies, groundbreaking coordination of actions, governance, implementation, uptaking and exploitation dynamics.
First, and as one of the main engagement points is that we already build a first draft of the methodological MODEL that has been made in a co-created way both between the partners of the INTEGER project and key actors of the quadruple helix from the different regions and have been incorporated into the project and its activities.
Among all the activities that have been carried out, two are particularly noteworthy. On the one hand, the three regional collaborations as well as the grand finale have helped us spread the word about the project's activities and involve new agents from all areas. On the other hand we have created the INTEGER 4H EU Col·laboratory with a protocolary signature of different actors and key entities in the social field of health & well-being and participative innovation from the three participating regions but also from other European regions among them. Just to mention a couple; ENoLL (European Network of Living Labs) or ESSI (European School of Social Innovation).
We have also activated the key actors of the three participating regions and energized their own ones but at the same time we have put them in contact with the other European regions through different types of participatory activities both at local and interregional level. We are also in contact with other European projects in the same line of innovation and social impact offering them our community and at the same time taking care of their knowledges and needs to see what we can offer and include into the INTEGER community to be more attractive for them and other actors of social innovation.
Finally, we have launched and implemented the platform TheGlocalNetwork which is a participatory digital space of open innovation through communication, co-creation, contacts, knowledge, ... The continuous development and deployment of this platform is a key factor to secure the sustainability and maximising potential of the project beyond its execution.
Among all the activities that have been carried out, two are particularly noteworthy. On the one hand, the three regional collaborations as well as the grand finale have helped us spread the word about the project's activities and involve new agents from all areas. On the other hand we have created the INTEGER 4H EU Col·laboratory with a protocolary signature of different actors and key entities in the social field of health & well-being and participative innovation from the three participating regions but also from other European regions among them. Just to mention a couple; ENoLL (European Network of Living Labs) or ESSI (European School of Social Innovation).
We have also activated the key actors of the three participating regions and energized their own ones but at the same time we have put them in contact with the other European regions through different types of participatory activities both at local and interregional level. We are also in contact with other European projects in the same line of innovation and social impact offering them our community and at the same time taking care of their knowledges and needs to see what we can offer and include into the INTEGER community to be more attractive for them and other actors of social innovation.
Finally, we have launched and implemented the platform TheGlocalNetwork which is a participatory digital space of open innovation through communication, co-creation, contacts, knowledge, ... The continuous development and deployment of this platform is a key factor to secure the sustainability and maximising potential of the project beyond its execution.
The methodological social innovation MODEL is one of the most important elements of the INTEGER4H project and with the most potential impact.
Today there are many organizations implementing innovation that do not have a clear methodology, but while this is not a bad thing, they are building it on the fly and their own experience, , and not being fully accompanied by other relevant and experienced actors or building a strong (and sector-focused) community around them.
This Model is a key element that will allow multiple objectives, even beyond those initially envisioned. It will at the same time:
- Attract them to participate in the project,
- Help them integrate into it and have a methodology to apply to their organizations and members to be aligned with other local or interregional agents for a better understanding.
Within the next months, we will hold new participatory sessions to refine and define the collaborative INTEGER4H final Model. We would like to present the final MODEL within the OLLD (Open Living Lab Days) the annual ENoLL congres.
The platform itself and its community members build the participatory and innovative space where projects, knowledge, methods, proposals can be shared and where participants can see that they are part of an innovative community in social impact projects but at the same time economically sustainable from a business point of view, ... Within the next months we should be focus on the platform consolidation and to reach the 300 members that we indicated as a KPI at the end of the second year.
The challenges for the second year will be:
1. To enhance this 4H lively and active community
2. Linking social innovations with funding mechanisms
3. The final version of the INTEGER 4H Model
Today there are many organizations implementing innovation that do not have a clear methodology, but while this is not a bad thing, they are building it on the fly and their own experience, , and not being fully accompanied by other relevant and experienced actors or building a strong (and sector-focused) community around them.
This Model is a key element that will allow multiple objectives, even beyond those initially envisioned. It will at the same time:
- Attract them to participate in the project,
- Help them integrate into it and have a methodology to apply to their organizations and members to be aligned with other local or interregional agents for a better understanding.
Within the next months, we will hold new participatory sessions to refine and define the collaborative INTEGER4H final Model. We would like to present the final MODEL within the OLLD (Open Living Lab Days) the annual ENoLL congres.
The platform itself and its community members build the participatory and innovative space where projects, knowledge, methods, proposals can be shared and where participants can see that they are part of an innovative community in social impact projects but at the same time economically sustainable from a business point of view, ... Within the next months we should be focus on the platform consolidation and to reach the 300 members that we indicated as a KPI at the end of the second year.
The challenges for the second year will be:
1. To enhance this 4H lively and active community
2. Linking social innovations with funding mechanisms
3. The final version of the INTEGER 4H Model