TY - JOUR T1 - Living Labs for Cross-Border Systemic Innovation JF - Technology Innovation Management Review Y1 - 2012 A1 - Hans Schaffers A1 - Petra Turkama KW - collaboration KW - innovation KW - living labs KW - networks KW - systemic AB - Innovation is increasingly taking place in cross-border collaborative networks, which are shaped by the characteristics of systemic innovation, the strategies and objectives of main actors, and the dynamics of the innovation process. Participation in such networks is of high importance for small firms, but requires long-term investments and a diverse range of collaboration and innovation capabilities. This article explores how living labs, understood as innovation projects based on open and user-centric innovation methodologies, can form collaboration networks to support small firms and other actors to engage in cross-border collaboration and to accelerate the development and acceptance of innovations. Based on the lessons learned from a major living lab project, APOLLON, we conclude that adopting the living labs networking approach requires thorough understanding of each party’s objectives and drivers, the alignment of operational processes, establishment of open and collaborative culture, as well as competences, methods, and tools for supporting cooperation and community building. PB - Talent First Network CY - Ottawa VL - 2 UR - http://timreview.ca/article/605 IS - 9 U1 - Aalto University School of Business Hans Schaffers, PhD, is Visiting Professor at the Centre for Knowledge and Innovation Research at Aalto University School of Business in Helsinki, Finland. He is also an innovation consultant in the Netherlands. His main research interests include open innovation, collaborative networks, living labs, and urban development. He has initiated and led various projects in the area of living labs innovation, collaborative working, and smart cities. He has been the living labs coordinator of the Collaboration@Rural integrated project and methodology leader of the APOLLON project discussed in this paper. U2 - Aalto University School of Business Petra Turkama, PhD, is Director of the Centre for Knowledge and Innovation Research at Aalto University School of Business in Helsinki, Finland. Her main research interests are collaborative innovation networks and innovation systems. She has worked on several living labs projects in the past, including APOLLON, and currently contributes to related EU projects such as SILVER on pre-commercial procurement, and CONCORD, a project coordinating the Future Internet PPP programme. ER -