Apollon

In Living Labs, users actively participate in the development and testing of products and services. The APOLLON project investigates whether thematic Living Lab networks work more effectively than general Living Labs. The main issues addressed by APOLLON are the present lack of Living Lab harmonization and collaboration, and the difficulties companies are encountering when developing their innovations in Living Labs. 

In the APOLLON project, advanced pilots are set up in four thematically focused Living Labs in different European countries. These thematic networks are eHealth (independent living and home care), energy efficiency, eManufacturing and eParticipation.

The APOLLON project aims at the sharing and harmonization of Living Lab approaches, which is achieved by developing mutual tools and methodologies. The project also searches for best practices to be used in user-driven development. This way, companies can more easily move from one Living Lab to another while developing their innovations.

APOLLON is implemented by setting up pilot projects. Forum Virium Helsinki is responsible for the Finnish pilot in the e-Health sector.  This pilot investigates the use of ICT applications in the care and support of people in their home environment.

A wide network of partners

The EU-funded APOLLON project started in November 2009, and will last for two and a half years. The project is part of the European Union’s Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP). The name APOLLON is an acronym for Advanced Pilots of Living Labs Operating in Networks.  

Several partners from Finland and other European countries are participating in the project. The Finnish partners are Forum Virium Helsinki, Nokia, Process Vision, and the Center for Knowledge and Innovation Research at Helsinki School of Economics. The other European partners come from 11 countries: Sweden, the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Hungary and Slovenia. The total number of foreign cooperation partners is 24 and in addition there are several supporting partners involved.

www.openlivinglabs.eu

Further information
Programme Director Marianne Dannbom,
marianne.dannbom(at)forumvirium.fi,
Tel. +358 40 5026158