| Summary: | The complex challenges of today - ranging from social divisions to global warming - are difficult to handle by existing organisations, formed from a logic more suited for tasks and problems that can be clearly defined and divided. In recent years, innovation has often been emphasised as the key to managing complex societal challenges. Various forms of innovation efforts have become increasingly common. For example, investments in development and testing of new technical solutions in areas such as ICT, mobility and sustainable construction, but also solutions with social focus developed for and by the user such as more equal public space and services for sustainable lifestyles. It has become more common to work with concepts such as test beds and ‘living labs’, using design thinking and an experimental methodology in order to develop new solutions and innovation. The aim of this brochure is to offer an introduction to the concept of Innovation Platforms. What is an Innovation Platform, how it can be set up and function, and what a city or municipality might gain from working this way? This brochure is based on experiences from several national projects, such as the Swedish six year-long project Innovation Platforms for Sustainable, Attractive Cities (VINNOVA, 2013- 2019), with research overview from the RUGGEDISED-project and giving examples from both The Hague and Rotterdam in the Netherlands and Borås, Kiruna and Lund in Sweden. About the project: RUGGEDISED is a smart city project funded under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. It brings together three lighthouse cities: Rotterdam, Glasgow and Umeå and three fellow cities: Brno, Gdansk and Parma to test, implement and accelerate the smart city model across Europe. Working in partnership with businesses and research centres these six cities will demonstrate how to combine ICT, e-mobility and energy solutions to design smart, resilient cities for all. “This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no 731198. The sole responsibility for the content of this publication lies with the authors. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein”
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