TY - JOUR T1 - Actor Roles in an Urban Living Lab: What Can We Learn from Suurpelto, Finland? JF - Technology Innovation Management Review Y1 - 2013 A1 - Soile Juujärvi A1 - Kaija Pesso KW - innovation KW - knowledge production KW - networks KW - regional development KW - urban living labs AB - There is a growing trend to involve citizens in city development to make urban areas more suitable to their needs and prevent social problems. City centres and neighbourhoods have increasingly been serving as regional living labs, which are ideal platforms to explore the needs of users as residents and citizens. This article examines the characteristics and success factors of urban living labs based on a case study of Suurpelto, Finland. Urban living lab activity is characterized by a practice-based innovation process with diffuse and heterogeneous knowledge production that aims to address urban problems of varying complexity. User involvement is critical for co-creating value, but equally important is collaboration between other living lab actors: enablers, providers, and utilizers. Enabler-driven labs can be successful in creating common goals but they need providers, such as development organizations, to boost development. Proactive networking, experimentation as a bottom-up process, using student innovators as resources, as well as commitment and longevity in development work are success factors for urban living labs. PB - Talent First Network CY - Ottawa VL - 3 UR - http://timreview.ca/article/742 IS - 11 U1 - Laurea University of Applied Sciences Soile Juujärvi is a Principal Lecturer at the Laurea University of Applied Sciences and Adjunct Professor at the University of Helsinki in Finland. Her research interests include moral and ethical development and innovation processes, especially networking, in living labs. From 2010 to 2012, she worked as a researcher in the Koulii (Innovation & Integration in Education) project, which was funded by the European Social Fund. She holds a Doctor of Social Science degree from the University of Helsinki. U2 - Laurea University of Applied Sciences Kaija Pesso is a Principal Lecturer at the Laurea University of Applied Sciences in Finland. Her research interests include ethics and health promotion and innovation processes in living labs. From 2010 to 2012, she worked as a researcher in the Koulii (Innovation & Integration in Education) project, which was funded by the European Social Fund. She holds a Doctor of Health Sciences degree from the University of Tampere, Finland. ER -