Living Labs (as Intermediary Organizations) and the Phenomena of Inclusion: Not an Easy Journey
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Abstract
The emergence of Living Labs (LL), now present on several continents, has given rise to a large body of academic and practionnal works over the past decade. Leminen and Westerlund (2019) have been able to trace this movement since its emergence in the early 2000s. The phenomenon of inclusion is cited in many papers as the crux of a Living Lab, which allows this organization to generate a 'relevant' common good. However, very little research has explored this phenomenon. This qualitative study aims to define inclusion in LL and its contribution, as well as the challenges associated with inclusion in LL. The study attempts to describe these dimensions by first identifying what inclusion means in the context of some urban LLs. The findings show that inclusion in LL is about knowledge, stakeholders and social inclusion. It brings individual and collective benefits, and knowledge sharing and perceptions of inclusion are among the challenges to be overcome. The study is exploratory, based on a broad review of recent cross-literature as well as secondary data and expert feedback. The approach is both theoretical and empirical. Data processing is carried out through cross-checking and grouping.
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