Real-world innovation in rural South Africa

Abstract

A Living Lab is a new way to deal with community-driven innovation. Living Labs represent, mostly regional – innovation environments focusing on user communities embedded within real-life. In Europe the Living Labs concept seems to be largely accepted as a way to deal with innovation and to get insight into what triggers innovation. Several Living Labs are currently gathered in a European Network of Living Labs aiming to share best practices and lessons learned. However, is this emerging model for innovation also applicable to South African context? The current article explores how best practices and lessons learned can speed up innovation in South African’s rural communities