Social innovation in living labs: the micro-level process model of public-private partnerships

Abstract

Social innovation can be studied within living labs, where learning between organisations and users is supported through the use of technology. Living labs are considered innovation intermediaries in enabling the co-creation of solutions to cope with the user's needs. The fields of organisational innovation and user innovation can build an understanding about living labs and the process of introducing social innovation. The empirical field of this research is based on five living labs that are managed by public-private partnerships in the Trentino territory in Italy. This research proposes a micro-level process model for the development of social innovation within living labs. The model suggests that the interaction between organisations and users can be guaranteed through ambidexterity, learning, collaboration and empowerment. This research defines that social innovation in living labs (SILL) is an organisational form which is managed by public-private partnerships in order to conceive solutions that would address specific needs of citizens.