Supporting Living Labs in South Africa

Next networking opportunity 2008-06-11 Living Lab development workshop Supporting the Living Labs in South 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

Specialists in this group have a joint vision of South Africa as a “competitive and progressive 21st century nation". Through user-driven, open innovation initiatives; bring forth a new mindset of the South African society as equal custodians of the building blocks to all-forms-of- access-&-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

• Sekhukhune Living Lab
  • Rural Enterprise creation
  • Limpopo Living Lab
• Dwesa Living Lab
  • Partnership in the Eastern Cape between Universities of Rhodes & Fort Hare, Nokia Siemens Networks, Meraka Institute and COFISA
  • Rural connectivity and ICT applications
  • Feasibility study-phase in June 2008
• Ndlovu 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
  • SAP Research and Wits University
  • Patient Health System for chronically ill patients in rural areas

International Linkages

ENOLL

• Network of Living Labs

COFISA

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

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

Publications

(Section Under construction)

Living Labs discussion forum

A Google discussion group called Supporting Living Labs in South Africa 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)

Contact Details

Contact Person:	Shela Boshomane
Tel:	+27(0)12 841 4432
Fax:	+27(0)12 841 4720
Email:	sboshomane[at]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

Collaborations