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LiCalab - Living and Care Lab
Published on 06 July 2018
Belgium
Prov. Antwerpen
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
The population is rapidly ageing and innovations must respond to changing needs in health and care. Technological developments have a big impact on patient experience, medical processes and the practices of healthcare professionals. For businesses however, it is not always easy to understand the needs in the sector of health and care. Between 2013 and 2016 the Flemish Government supported LiCalab (Living and Care Lab) and 5 other Flemish living labs to run concrete projects in order to close this gap and to foster scouting, creation and uptake of innovation.
LiCalab supports businesses and organisations by testing and validating innovations with end users in their own working and living environment. Main focus are technological innovations, revalidation tools, mental health and nutrition. End users are involved in all phases of the development process through co-creation and real life testing. Questions to be solved: How does an innovation fit into daily life? How can a development be improved? Who pays? What is the willingness to pay? Users with real needs generate ideas and shape them more concretely.
LiCalab has a large, diverse panel (+1500 members: patients, care professionals, seniors) that help to give insight in what goes well or not, and especially why. Based on these experiences, developers can improve their concept/product.
LiCalab also supports in defining new collaboration models within care or between care and businesses.
LiCalab supports businesses and organisations by testing and validating innovations with end users in their own working and living environment. Main focus are technological innovations, revalidation tools, mental health and nutrition. End users are involved in all phases of the development process through co-creation and real life testing. Questions to be solved: How does an innovation fit into daily life? How can a development be improved? Who pays? What is the willingness to pay? Users with real needs generate ideas and shape them more concretely.
LiCalab has a large, diverse panel (+1500 members: patients, care professionals, seniors) that help to give insight in what goes well or not, and especially why. Based on these experiences, developers can improve their concept/product.
LiCalab also supports in defining new collaboration models within care or between care and businesses.
Resources needed
LiCalab (and 5 other living labs) was funded by the Flemish Government between 2013-2016 to run concrete projects (10 MIO euro). Since 2016, LiCalab delivers services to private companies/organisations and works in European and regional projects mainly projects supporting SME's.
Evidence of success
Living lab methodology leads to better development for health and care focusing on the end user. Over the last five years, LiCalab worked in about 60 cases, both locally and internationally. Supported companies testify that they could adapt their product to real needs. One spin-off company was founded after developing their product with living lab support. LiCalab also created major opportunities to bring companies, care organisations, local governments, research and education together.
Potential for learning or transfer
The living lab methodology can easily be transferred to other regions. Also upscaling is possible when working crossborder. Companies can test their innovation in more than one country to explore the user and market conditions abroad.
It is important that a living lab defines specific expert roles within the team (coordination, panel management, project management, business consultancy, scientific research...).
Based on the experiences of LiCalab, Hungary and Portugal have integrated the development of a living lab within their regional action plans to strengthen the collaboration within the quadruple helix and to improve the care system and competitiveness of the health industry. They have learnt from LiCalab’s good practices and methodology.
It is important that a living lab defines specific expert roles within the team (coordination, panel management, project management, business consultancy, scientific research...).
Based on the experiences of LiCalab, Hungary and Portugal have integrated the development of a living lab within their regional action plans to strengthen the collaboration within the quadruple helix and to improve the care system and competitiveness of the health industry. They have learnt from LiCalab’s good practices and methodology.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Thomas More University College
Belgium
Prov. Antwerpen