Supporting Living Labs in South Africa

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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

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

Events

2008-06-00 Supporting the Living Labs in South Africa 2008-2010 Strategy Workshop

2008-06-11 COFISA Workshop - Living Lab development

2008-05-17 to 24 COFISA-Finland Living Labs Collaboration Visit

2008-05-12 to 16 Collaboration @ Rural 4th Plenary meeting

2008-05-07 to 09 IST Africa, Windhoek, Namibia

2008-04-24 Workshop at Meraka Institute

Publications

(Section Under construction)

Living Labs discussion forum

Google_Groups_Logo.jpg


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

Meraka Institute COFISA Telematica Institute Rhodes University Intel