Innovative Ageing: The value of Living Labs
GCMA’s Living Lab, or LifeLab®, is a research and innovation platform that supports the development of products, services, and technologies by involving older users in the co-creation process. But what are Living Labs, and how does best practice support innovation, minimise market risk and support the wellbeing of older Australians?
Many products and services designed for older people fail to gain market traction or achieve long-term end user adoption. This is often a result of stakeholders failing to consult, or even consider, older consumers in the innovation value chain, which not only wastes valuable resources but leaves older consumers with limited choice.
Factor in Australia’s ageing population, the preference of older Australians to age at home and the potential of the longevity economy, and it’s becoming more important to find ways to develop products and services with and for older people.
In today’s climate, Living Labs with an ageing focus are increasingly viewed as an integral part of the product and service innovation process for older demographics, as they can help to spur innovation in the longevity economy.
Already worth US$8 trillion in the United States, the longevity economy refers to the economy actively generated by the growing number of older adults in the population. By developing products and services that meet the needs of older consumers, stakeholders can tap into this growing market and drive economic growth.
What is a Living Lab?
A Living Lab is a user-centred, open-innovation ecosystem that brings together stakeholders from academia, industry, government, and the public to co-create and/or test new products, services, and technologies in real-world or simulated environments. The goal of a Living Lab is to gather user feedback and data, which can be used to improve the design and functionality of new products and services, making them more successful in the market.
This approach is particularly useful when creating and testing products and services for specific demographics, such as older adults, as it allows stakeholders to see first-hand how the product will be used, and what challenges users may face.
How does Living Labs best practice support innovation and minimise market risk?
The GCMA is an Adherent Member of the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL), the global benchmark for best practice. GCMA’s LifeLab® and other ENoLL Adherent Member Living Labs with an ageing focus:
Involve older people as active participants in the co-creation process.
Create an inclusive and accessible environment that meets the needs of older adults.
Provide adequate support and training for older participants to ensure they can fully participate in the co-creation process.
Address the diversity of older people by involving a range of older adults.
Ensure that the results of the co-creation process are used to develop solutions that meet the needs of older people and have a positive impact on their lives.
Continuously evaluate and improve the Living Lab process to ensure that it is meeting its goals and making a positive impact.
This supports innovation for product and service development for older adults in several ways, as it creates an open innovation ecosystem that enables:
User-centred design, an approach that involves end-users throughout the innovation process.
Co-creation, whereby older end-users are not just subjects of research but are actively involved in the design and or testing of new products and services.
Testing and evaluation of products and services in real-life or simulated environments. This allows for the identification of any issues or challenges that need to be addressed before the products and services are launched to the market.
Networking and collaboration to maximise the sharing of knowledge and expertise, and the development of innovative solutions.
This open innovation process offers myriad benefits, as it reduces risks associated with innovation, and increases end-user adoption by supporting active end-user involvement, bringing their unique experiences and perspectives into the innovation process. It cannot be overstated how important this process is to the ultimate success of the solution being developed for older people.
Key Takeaways
Living Labs with an ageing focus provide a unique and valuable opportunity for stakeholders to create, test and refine ideas and solutions for older consumers. They offer access to real-world and simulated environments, as well as diverse groups of older participants.
This allows for a greater chance of success in the market by simulating the complexities and nuances of the older users’ real-world experiences. The innovation ecosystem within Living Labs supports this by providing resources, and networking opportunities to help bring ideas to fruition.
Furthermore, with an ageing population, the longevity economy in Australia is also set to grow. By utilising the Living Labs platform, stakeholders can tap into this potential market and create products and services that address the unmet needs of older people.
This not only increases the chance of product and or service success, but also contributes to the wellbeing of older Australians.
