Supporting Living Labs in South Africa

Next networking opportunity Supporting the Living Labs in Southern Africa 2008-2010 Strategy workshop

Overview

The lack of a proper understanding what triggers innovations and which innovations prove to be successful in different environmental, social and cultural contexts poses a big threat to the design of real-world innovation. This is in particular true for South Africa. Being a ‘society in transition’ facing the challenge of social change and social innovation South Africa needs to understand how to do advanced African innovation research. Designing real-world innovation in an African way might therefore differ from the indigenous tradition and might not be similar to the western world as well; however, what’s similar is that its start is community-driven.

The goal of this website is to support the growth of a community of Living Lab researchers in Southern Africa and ultimately, in Africa. Meraka, as a member of this network, supports this initiative as part of its mandate and vision.

The Focus

A joint vision of South Africa as a “competitive and progressive 21st century nation". Through user-driven, open innovation initiatives the development of a new mindset of the South African society as equal custodians of the building blocks to all forms of access and inclusion.

We are participating in the global economy and want to be recognized internationally for the contribution we will make as co-creators of the Global Knowledge Society.

Living Lab Initiatives in South Africa

• Limpopo Living Lab
  • Planned by the Limpopo Provincial Government
  • The Sekhukhune and Ndlovu LLs are located in Limpopo
• Sekhukhune Living Lab
  • Rural Enterprise creation

• Siyakhula Living Lab
  • Partnership in the Eastern Cape between Universities of Rhodes & Fort Hare, established March 2006.
  • Lead rests with Computer Science Departments, but involves Education, Linguistics, Information Systems, Anthropology, etc. Depts.
  • Based on relationship with community established by Anthropology Dept. in 2001-2003
  • Rural ICTs focusing on software applications, e-Services, Web 2.0, empowerment and community engagement.
  • Feasibility study-phase in June 2008 for Village Connection experiment with Nokia Siemens Networks, Meraka Institute and COFISA
  • Member of the European Network of Living Labs(ENoLL)

• Moutse Living Lab
  • Partnership between the Ndlovu Medical Centre, Elandsdoorn Development Trust, INTEL and Meraka
  • Telemedicine and rural connectivity
• Soshanguve Living Lab
  • Planned by Tshwane University of Technology (ICT Faculty)‏
  • Education, Research, Community Development, Job Creation
• Bushbuck Ridge Living Lab
  • SAP Research and Wits University
  • Patient Health System for chronically ill patients in rural areas

International Linkages

ENOLL

• European Network of Living Labs

COFISA

• Cooperation Framework on Innovation Systems between Finland and South (COFISA)

SAFIPA

• South Africa - Finland knowledge partnership on ICT (SAFIPA)

Methods and Tools

The Harmonization Cube

A foldable paper harmonization cube

The Harmonization Cube

The six sides of the cube correspond with the following topics:

• User Involvement (Orange)
• Service Creation (Green)
• Infrastructure (Blue)
• Governance (Red)
• Innovation Outcomes (Yellow)
• Methods & Tools (White)

A do-it-yourself foldable paper version of the Harmonization Cube is available

Publications

(Section Under construction)

Living Labs discussion forum

A Google discussion group called Supporting Living Labs in South Africa (Supporting LLiSA) has been created as a discussion and interaction platform. Any Living Lab practitioner is welcome to join.

Name for the Initiative

The current name is a working title. We are looking for a name for the initiative. Suggestions are listed below. Please provide contributions.

• Supporting Living Labs in Southern Africa (SLLiSA)
• Living Labs of Southern Africa (LLOSA or LLoSA)
• Living Labs in Southern Africa (LLISA or LLiSA)
• Rainbow (Network of) Living Labs (RoLL or RNoLL or RainbowLL)

Contact Details

Contact Person:	Mmamakanye Pitse Boshomane
Tel:	+27(0)12 841 4432
Fax:	+27(0)12 841 4720
Email:	MPitseBoshomane[@]csir.co.za

Contact Person:	Mario Marais
Tel:	+27(0)12 841 3771
Fax:	+27(0)12 841 4720
Email:	mmarais[at]csir.co.za

Contact Person:	Prof Marlien Herselman
Tel:	+27(0)12 841 ----
Fax:	+27(0)12 841 4720
Email:	-- [at]csir.co.za

Collaborations

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