• November 2010

Living Lab network in Southern Africa (LLiSA)

What is a LL (recap)?

• Can be a methodology, an approach or an environment

• One thing that is common:• The user’s involvement

• Its potential for development of new ICT-based services and products – Innovating!

• All is done by bringing different stakeholders together to work in a co-creative way

• All focussing on a specific theme/domain

• Multidisciplinary

Key elements of a LL

• User driven• In real-life context• Multidisciplinary• Cover different domains/themes• Impact on community to improve• Involves different stakeholders• Is supported by a specific funder/stakeholder Helsinki LL• Unique set of values with different approaches

Process of becoming a LL

low highMATURITY

designtesting

FO

CU

S

Prototyping Societal pilots

Market

pilots

Testbeds

Living LabsField trials

In-house R&D Open Innovation Platforms Pilots

Philips Homelab

GigaPort

Arabianranta

BotniaNet

Digitaal Trapveld

Kenniswijk

Kennisnet

Source: Ballon, Pierson et al (2006)

DST Mandate

MERAKA hosting LLiSA

Establish LL as centres of gravity enabling community-academia-industry interaction with a national agenda and fast results

Build critical mass consisting of infrastructure, R&D, students and leadership

Establish local and international networks and co-operation of SA researchers

Increase number of quality of scientific publications in the field of ICT4D

DST, COFISA, SAFIPA, ENOLL, Industry partners, HEIs, regional & local governments, SMEs, students,

Communities, NGOs

Collaborative partners

Purpose of LLiSA network

• Create capacity for understanding, establishing and developing LL activities in Southern Africa

• Support pilot projects in Southern Africa

• Facilitate local and international collaboration and linkages

• Links developers, research organizations, industry and government together for advancing regional LL activities

Living Lab Core Values

• Quick exposure to diversity, complexity of real world

• Multidisciplinary (infrastructure, actors, users)

• User driven Approach (design for/by/with users)

• Scaling opportunity (multi-stage)

• Supporting Research instruments (multi-method)

• Involves different relationships, partnerships, collaborations in specific contexts

• Do not have to learn through train and error, rather through best practices and previously researched models, theories and best practices

Example of specific methodology

Existing LL on wikiReconstructed Living Lab(peri-urban)

Collaboration between CPUT, Community Organisation Impact Direct Ministries (IDM), Bridgetown Civic Organisation, local schools. "The creation, dissemination and application of knowledge for the empowerment, upliftment and development of people and communities, including living societies and organizations, in or headed for tension through the use of innovative ICT solutions." Feasibility study-phase: March to June 2009 (with COFISA support).

Limpopo Living Lab (rural)

Planned by the Limpopo Provincial Government. The LLL adopts the BUG-C collaboration model in developing technology and innovation solutions. Feasibility study completed in 2007. Feasibility report proposed four focus areas for LLL namely, community projects(in technology and innovation), innovation solutions, business development and incubation of technology and innovation enterprises as well as training and development which are also part of the Limpopo ICT Institute.

Siyakhula Living Lab (rural)

Partnership in the Eastern Cape between Universities of Rhodes and 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 (rural)

Partnership between the Ndlovu Medical Centre, Elandsdoorn Development Trust, INTEL and Meraka. Education, telemedicine and rural connectivity.

Sekhukhune Living Lab (rural)

Partnership between the the Meraka Institute and SAP Reseach.Rural Micro-Service Enterprise creation and the development of ICT-enabled collaborative work environments (e.g. collaborative procurement and logistics, collaborative stock management).

Soshanguve Living Lab (rural)

Planned by Tshwane University of Technology (ICT Faculty); Education, Research, Community Development, Job Creation.

Bushbuckridge Living Lab (rural)

Partnership between SAP Research and Wits University. Electronic Patient Health System for chronically ill patients in rural areas.

iCyber Leadership Lab (urban)

In Pretoria CBD. Explores the use of different computing platforms to improve leadership capabilities and effectiveness. Study leadership innovations in cyber space. Equip established and potential leaders. Promote the innovative use of computing platforms, techniques and practices

Data of LL in LLiSA

Living Labs main drivers

3

1

5

3Industry

Government (provincial)

Academic

NGO

Main area of focus

9

1

2

Rural

Peri urban

Urban

Key themes

• Access for communities and their specific needs• Availability of free tools• Personal security and safety• Creation of jobs• Tourism• E-commerce• E-government• Health• Indigenous knowledge

Challenges of LLiSA

• How to increase skills base• Manage user expectations • Balance/manage partner roles /stakeholder

interventions• Role out innovation products within communities which

will increase economic development of communities• Reward system for communities where LL are

researching• IPR within LL (ownership)• What is Innovation• Governance of LL• Difference between project and LL

Value proposition of LLiSA

• Focus on community driven innovative initiatives and ownership of technology

• Network with NGOs, local municipalities, government, HEI, industries, SMMEs, community representatives

• Allow communities access to new innovation creation (co-creation) as they are drivers pro process

• Trust relationships, diversity of network, community owned• Quality feedback on community engagement with new ideas,

inventions and innovations• Access to depth of network and wide range of customer base• Support to SMMEs on valuable lessons learnt and best practices• Can provide links between different projects within LL• Credible network with lot of members and access to communities to

test products and do research collaboratively

Sustainability and business model• LLiSA will provide advise and support to new LL

and existing ones on possible future products;• Incubation of LL can provide better innovation

deliverable• In kind contributions by industry partners• LLiSA board to develop sustainability plan,

business plan, communication strategy and marketing

• Leverage other science councils and research partners as well as industry

Recent developments in LLiSA network

• LLiSA launch on 24 February 2009

• 1st Annual LLiSA conference on 23,24 November 2009 at Convention centre at CSIR, Pretoria Conference presentations/articles on LL

• ENoLL collaboration (visit from expert in February 2011)

• Four new additions to LL network

• Upgrading of wikipedia to include social networking updates

• Two workshops before June 2011 to assist established and new LL with support, development and processes

• Market the network to broader audience

• Site visits to all LL

Thank YouContact Details (LLiSA board)(Meraka host the network)

• Chair: Prof Marlien Herselman (mherselman@csir.co.za)• Members:

• Meraka: Mario Marais (mmarais@csir.co.za)• Meraka: Mmamakanye Pitse-Boshomane

(mpitseboshomane@csir.co.za)• SAP Research: Dr Danie Smit (danie.smit@sap.com)• NGO: Deon Manuel (deon.manuel@affrivate.com)• Reconstructed LL: Rene Parker (rene@rlabs.org)• Siyakhula LL: Sibukele Gumbo (sgumbo@ufh.ac.za)• SAFIPA: Thiru Swettenham (tswettenham@csir.co.za)

URLs:www.meraka.org.za

http://llisa.meraka.org.za