Innovation Associate for Urban Innovation Lab project

Project Information

Urban Innovation Lab

Grant agreement ID: 739636

DOI

10.3030/739636

Project closed

EC signature date 27 February 2017

Start date 1 September 2017

End date 31 August 2018

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 121 437,50

EU contribution

€ 121 437,50

Coordinated by

LIMITLESS SARL
Luxembourg

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Urban Innovation Lab (Innovation Associate for Urban Innovation Lab project)

Reporting period: 2017-09-01 to 2018-08-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

1. What is the problem/issue being addressed?
In order to support cities to become more attractive places to live, work and visit, more innovative and more responsive of the needs of their inhabitants, workers and visitors, Limitless has realised that clients need to be empowered to:
• engage a variety of stakeholders including companies, innovation intermediaries such as innovation hubs, labs and coworking spaces, citizens, NGOs, innovation foundations and stakeholders relevant for specific projects in a truly participatory and collaborative process of ideation, co-design, prototyping, testing and development of innovative solutions;
• better assess the social impact of their activities;
• apply a more appropriate approach to boost urban innovation through appropriate bootcamps, tools and trainings.


2. Why is it important for society?
European and global cities are facing a growing number of challenges including integration of new migrants, growing social discrepancies, housing deficits, traffic, pollution, unemployment, and a decline of the community relationships.
To be able to tackle these challenges, cities of the future including urban innovation intermediaries and other urban stakeholders (businesses, authorities, NGOs) must become more innovative and more responsive to the needs of their users.


3. What are the overall objectives?
The key objectives of the project were:
• Carry out state-of-the-art research in social innovation, design thinking, smart cities, innovation process management and social impact assessment to support our project
• Further develop & package Limitless’ service methodology incl. an urban innovation lab toolbox
• Develop a methodology for impact assessment incl. impact assessment capability theoretical framework and instruments for measuring impact assessment readiness
• Regularly publish our thought leadership pieces in professional media outlets and at professional conferences, as well as get more active in European and global networks of experts in urban innovation labs and their use for smart cities

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

In the past 12-months, Limitless has:
- carried out research in urban innovation (case studies, stakeholders);
- developed an innovation toolbox appropriate for the urban innovation process. These tools are a mix of techniques that can be applied in small but also larger group settings in order to facilitate thinking, inspirational and co-creation activities. Some of the tools furthermore can enable actors from various sectors to brainstorm and effectively work together on ideas, products and services in the urban innovation context;
- published six articles:
Social innovation: how to measure success? Published at Limitless Blog
Impact Assessment: The Innovation Paradigm Shift that is Coming, published at InnovationManagement.se
A Spectrum of Urban Innovation Intermediaries: from Co-working to Collaboration, presented at the ISPIM Innovation Conference in Stockholm 17-20 June 2018
Using the city as an innovation playground: getting corporations into the game of urban innovation, presented at the Annual RSA Conference in Lugano 3-6 June 2018.
Urban innovation labs, hubs, coworking spaces… Which one to choose to boost your innovation?, published at InnovationManagement.se
Taking a Step Back from Social Impact Assessment: The Capability Approach, submitted to Stanford Social Innovation Review (under peer review);

- launched a 2-days innovation bootcamp called Limitless Innovation Factory that guides participants step by step with techniques, tools and best practices during the main stages of the innovation process from idea generation to idea implementation;
- developed a methodology and a self-diagnostic tool that helps organisations to assess their capability readiness level to deliver social impact.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Increasing the innovation activities and processes between actors of urban innovation ecosystems including companies, innovation intermediaries such as innovation hubs, labs and coworking spaces, citizens, NGOs, public authorities and innovation foundations.

Urban Innovation Lab City Lights