Towards Living Lab Value Proposition: Living lab Experts’ Perceptions of Living Lab Value

Prior studies have argued that the value that living labs are providing is blurry. Grounded on the living lab experts’ opinions, the study defines the key value proposition elements for living Labs. An online workshop was arranged in which 22 experts provided a total of 208 value proposition suggestions for the researcher, policy maker and public authority, and SME/company customer segments and for the different Technology Readiness Level (TRL) phases. As a result, the following seven main value categories including a total of 31 different value items were identified: 1) Enhanced collaboration and networking possibilities, 2) Validity and reliability, 3) Improved innovation, 4) Financial and process benefits, 5) Benefits for the users and society, 6) Safe environment for RDI and 7) Increased skills and capabilities. The results also suggest that living lab value argumentation is partially context-dependent. Value proposition suggestions are proposed for companies, researchers, policymakers, and public authorities.