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The lockdowns of covid-19 contributed to accelerating the developments within distance work and collaboration. This development is impressive in terms of organizations’ and employees’ rapid adoption of digital tools, as well as to the extensive shift of attitude towards working from home. In this paper, we ask how we might exploit covid-findings on digitalisation to prepare innovation management for the impeding developments within AI-based technologies to facilitate their exploration and the exploitation of its potential productivity contribution.

The starting point of this study is a broader review of literature related to innovation partnerships. Based on that review, the concept of Living Labs was identified as a proper enabler of regional collaborative innovation between a variety of stakeholders. Then, the aim was to identify the practices for successful collaboration of Living labs through comparative case study in five European countries, i.e. Austria, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands and Sweden. As a result, we clustered the success factors to four categories: 1) shared vision, 2) funding and operational model 3) collaboration (including orchestration) and complementary partners and 4) value co-creation and impacts of the collaboration. As a practice-oriented comparative case study, there was only limited theoretical contributions; the linkages between different concepts was demonstrated both at literature and at practice.

Multi-actor collaboration is necessary for sustainability-oriented innovations. Thus, despite the common focus on sustainability, differences between the interests of industry (or a firm) and society hinder knowledge sharing, integration, and the protection required for the transformation. Through a case study of bio-based plastics ecosystems, this paper evaluates e role of knowledge sharing and protection methods in boosting collaborative sustainability-oriented innovation. The results indicate that fostering systemic collaborations for sustainable innovations requires finding a proper balance between protecting and sharing Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). This balance depends on the objectives of the ecosystem-level collaboration and the actors involved. Accordingly, this supports minimising the risk that protection may hamper collaboration, adoption, and diffusion of sustainable innovations and practices.

The European Union is introducing the concept of the Digital Product Passport (DPP) to the manufacturing industry. The first domain areas are batteries and textiles, but regulation will soon reach all manufacturing domains. In this paper, we briefly discuss the requirements of the DPP and its contributions to the circular economy and sustainable decision making through the product lifecycle and manufacturing value chain. Some preliminary architectural viewpoints are explained, aligned with the intention to exploit the International Data Spaces (IDS) reference architecture for secure data sharing among actors. A practical way to manage the complex innovation process of how to co-create and implement the DPP via several iterative minimum viable DPP deployments is also outlined. It contains the proof-of-concept process with the build-measure-learn circles and the sprint model.

Innovation project portfolios as organizations’ strategic investments face uncertainties both within the organization and in the business context. Management of such uncertainties is distributed in the organizations and requires cooperation, but it may be challenging to coordinate in and across the complex portfolios. This study increases knowledge of the social aspects of innovation project portfolio uncertainty management, when its responsibilities are divided across managerial levels and steering committees. Experiences in two highly innovative case firms reveals firm-specific emphases in the attention to uncertainties, potentially stemming from industry dynamics. Complex mechanisms are used for filtering uncertainty information from individual actors’ sensing and seizing activities to steering committees’ decision-making processes, across the levels of projects, programs, portfolios, and strategic management. publishedVersion

This paper addresses the hackathon design in radical and virtual collocation. Specifically, it focuses on the differences the radical and virtual collocations poses for hackathon design in a municipal innovation management context. Although used in a variety of contexts for idea management, hackathons particularly examined in the municipal context, and as a comparative study regarding their different collocations has not yet been the focus of hackathon research. Therefore, this paper presents a case study research in a Swedish municipality with future demands due to growth, carrying out intra-organizational hackathons both in radical and virtual collocations. As a result, the paper reveals the differences in terms of the design choices. The paper contributes to the literature on hackathon as an innovation contest in a municipal organization context and presents practical implications. publishedVersion

Public sector is under pressure to produce public services efficiently. Open innovation (OI) is seen one problem-oriented solution which in e-governance context has emerged as open government data (OGD) sharing. Though the potential of the OGD is recognized, the link between data and innovation seems self-evident but ambiguous. Therefore, the question of What is the role of private sector in creating economic value from OGD is to build the more comprehensive picture of the possibility of private sector companies to utilize OGD resources to promote their own innovations to obtain business value. The literature review revealed that public sector defines the value of OGD and prefers to govern innovations. It raises the question whether the public sector is willing to divide the control of the data to enable data further use for the commercial value. The identified barriers in OGD and OI need functional systems for creating successful OGD initiatives. acceptedVersion

The purpose of this paper is to study what kind of aspects a sales function needs to consider when selling new data-based innovations in business-to-business markets. The paper combines literature on the B2B sales process, innovation and data utilisation. The study includes altogether 29 qualitative interviews from 8 different companies, representing seller companies at different stages in the big data utilisation. In addition, the study includes customer perspective: six interviews from four customer companies. As a result, selling new data-based innovation is studied from several perspectives. First, the impacts of the new data-based service to the company and the ecosystem is evaluated. Secondly, a three-dimensional framework (the strategic level of the service, digitality and remote presence) that promotes the understanding of single data-based innovation is developed. Thirdly, from the customer’s side, the roles of digitalist and old-school buyers and their effect on the sales process is explored. Our research findings highlight the importance of forming a data business strategy as well as understanding the commercialisation perspectives early in the innovation process.

In order to transform towards a sustainable economy, there is a need to change radically how business is done. This includes rethinking the business models including the value proposed. In this study we create a sustainable value proposition framework including value for consumers and environment, social value and value for key stakeholders. We use this framework to analyse value propositions of three value logistics companies. We also explore the potential conflicts between these value propositions. Our results indicate that although the approach was new to these companies, they already have considered their value propositions for these stakeholder groups. The study identified a conflict between the environmental and customer value, yet the companies already had considered actions to change this a positive opportunity.

The entire mobile connectivity in global level is changing a lot, when 5G will be deployed. 5G operates in higher frequencies than existing mobile standards, and that will have a huge effect on the connectivity business. This study indicate the importance of innovation studies related deployment of new 5G technologies in Smart city context. Study combine topics of Smart Cities and 5G, with the business model innovations. Within the study, the deployment of the 5G hardware to Smart City environment will be done with smart light poles, where 5G technologies will be implemented in light pole structure creating the connectivity and data platforms. Future services in top of the 5G connectivity and data platforms requires entire new business relationships, new combinations of data and finally business model innovations. Paper present ideas how to accelerate 5G based businesses in the future.

In Smart City development connectivity for data transfer is a big challenge. New services like autonomous driving, augmented reality, media streaming and IoT devices require capacity, reliability and low latency. One option is a 5G mmW network, but it requires dense base station network due to small cell deployment need. In the LuxTurrim5G platform project a Smart 5G Light Pole platform is being developed as one deployment option. The platform requires also support services that boost business and keep the system running over its lifecycle. In this paper the research and innovation process to identify these support services is presented and the services identified. A short analysis and conclusions are presented.

The sharing economy has potential to be the solution to the urgentneed to use materials and resources more efficiently. In the consumer business sector, several successful business models on sharing exist, while industry is lagging behind in development. In order to innovate novel business models for sharing in the B2B context, we need to develop a methodology for testing the ideas flexibly and cost-efficiently. In addition to companies, testing ideas can offer great value for research organizations exploring this phenomenon. In this paper, we present a business model experimentation method focusing on the research organization’s perspective on how to design and implement a business model experimentation. In addition, we provide valuable insights for companies aiming to test their sharing economy business model. Our study is a case study on sharing a 3D printer.

Artificial intelligence (AI) technology innovations are predicted to drive the greatest evolutionary progress in human history, accelerating the emergence of new technology innovations and affecting the way we humans live and act. In this situation, it is important to address how we can use these technologies and service innovations enabling the beneficial impacts, possibly by exceeding the human performance levels. Despite of the importance of the AI innovations and their impact in healthcare, there is still only little advance research about long-term effects on healthcare practitioners. This paper provides a literature review looking at the AI impacts to the healthcare experts. In the paper it is shown, that the field is lacking empirical evidence, but there is an indication of positive impact through communication enhancement between physician and patient, but also possibilities for clinical and cognitive skills deterioration.

This study explores how heterogeneous types of data, e.g., personal data, big data, public data, statistical data, third sector data as well as social media, jointly referred to as 'rich data', are currently being utilised in healthcare policy making, and what kind of implications data has on future decision-making. Conducted as a qualitative case study with municipal decision-makers in Finland, this study examines the use of data in the context of preventive mental healthcare services, and highlights mental issues as a complex, systemic kind with far reaching long term impact, where the needs ands requirements for right kinds of data extend beyond healthcare domain. Making rich data available for policy decisions is only one preliminary step in the road to data-driven policy decisions. Data analysis and visualisation are essential elements in making data usable for decision-makers in order to improve the health and wellbeing of the society.

The concept of business model innovation has gained growing interest in the past years to cope with the demanding challenges of increasingly dynamic market environments and the advent of the network economy. While most research in the field has previously focused on analysis and design of business models, as well as taxonomies, there has been paucity in how to pursue this demanding endeavor systematically and on a continuous basis in a corporate environment. This paper focuses on the exploration of process antecedents. We use data from three firms from different industries to explore this question and identify five antecedents:(1) Sense of need of continuous business model innovation, (2) adoption of a common firm-wide 'language' to develop new business models, (3) process variation based on organizational characteristics and degree of business model innovation, (4) cross-firm facilitation of process and collaboration, and (5) culture of constructive dialogs across functions and business areas.

Offshore wind energy is considered an effective and reliable source of power with tremendous potential for Germanys' future electricity supply. Due to the technology's downsides, like capital intensity and high economic risk, offshore wind energy is mainly considered the domain of large and financially strong electric utilities. Small and medium sized municipal utilities on the contrary are traditionally characterized by strong ties to their community and low risk business models at the regional and local level. In reality however, German municipal utilities are currently advancing to forerunners in offshore wind energy based on innovative business models. The present study identifies two generic business models and reveals that in this endeavor municipal utilities are rather driven by strategic considerations than pure return expectations. It is shown how business model innovation can help to enter new markets and thus help to face the challenges of the energy transition.

This article investigates the modelling and simulation that supports the implementation of Industry 4.0 through two industrial SME case studies. Our findings suggest that the importance of modelling and simulation is increasing significantly also in the SME context as the use of smart manufacturing technologies proliferate in every industry. Rather than applying all-embracing modelling and simulation tools, SMEs need lighter task-focused tools, which they can nimbly utilize and avoid big investments in modelling tools as well as competence development. Larger companies are leading the Industry 4.0 development, but to take full advantage of the benefits it promises, they need to engage their supply chains that often include SMEs. Further research on the changes Industry 4.0 brings about is needed to support the different stakeholders in the value chains better. Research is also needed in order to take advantage of the opportunities, and to respond to the challenges of this transformation.

A joint value proposition has been claimed to be a fundamental part of ecosystems' success. The propositions have been either end-customer or ecosystem leader-centric and focusing on functional and financial value. However, according to social exchange theory, the ecosystem actors are likely to expect to be equally rewarded from their value creation efforts and thus the value propositions should be evaluated on ecosystem-level. Secondly, the value denotes much more than just functional and financial value. This study proposes that also emotional, and social value propositions should be included when designing an ecosystem. The study was conducted in two phases. First, the ecosystem value proposition literature was reviewed to define the required value dimensions. After that, the dimensions were applied in a multiple case study. The results show that emotional, epistemic, and social dimensions, as well as ecosystem-level value propositions, require more scholarly attention. acceptedVersion

Although hackathons have become a popular phenomenon beyond the IT industry, the current use of the concept is ambiguous. However, concept definitions are essential building blocks of theory. Therefore, this paper addresses the hackathon as a concept. Following the conceptualization model of Podsakoff et al. (2016), this paper studies the attributes of the hackathon concept. Specifically, it focuses on the necessary and sufficient concept structure of the hackathon as a phenomenon and presents the eight necessary and sufficient attributes of the hackathon. Moreover, it proposes three main categories for the eight attributes, i.e. the concepts of 1) short time-bounded event, 2) coopetition, and 3) radical collocation. Furthermore, this exploratory paper defines the hackathon as an innovation contest. The results will benefit both academics studying hackathons and companies who aim to enhance their innovation management, especially in the fuzzy front end of innovation. publishedVersion

The meaning of sustainability is increasing among manufacturing companies, as pressure is coming from both within and outside of the company. Data and sustainability are strongly linked as data, e.g., enables highlighting sustainability actions and measuring implications. This paper studies, how manufacturing companies are seeing the role of sustainability data when innovating their practical actions. We explore the theme by presenting findings from 12 recent interviews with manufacturing companies. The results are demonstrated in a framework for describing companies’ data utilisation and sustainability-related actions, divided into four different types: 1) Beginners in data utilisation having no sustainability focus, 2) Beginners in data utilisation with sustainability focus, 3) Advanced data utilisers with rising sustainability focus and 4) Advanced data utilisers with sustainability focus. In addition, the paper presents practical viewpoints of sustainability data in manufacturing companies. Managerial and theoretical implications consist of clarifying scattered viewpoints for the role of sustainability data in manufacturing companies.

This paper addresses the typology of the hackathon concept. Specifically, it focuses on describing the four archetypes of hackathon use: 'designing', 'crowdsourcing', 'learning' and 'community building' discovered from the literature. The typology is a continuation of the conceptualization of hackathon, which aims to clarify the concept of hackathons and their use in various contexts. As a result, the paper describes the characteristics that typify the hackathon, 'body of participants', 'focal interest', 'setting' and 'creation method'. The two main themes that arose from the studied literature, 'body of participants' and 'focal interest', are used as the axis to compose a 2x2 matrix of the archetypes. Therefore, this paper contributes to the conceptual clarity of the hackathon phenomenon. As the main result, this proposed paper fills a prominent research gap in hackathon literature: the typology of the hackathon-use. Thus, this paper reports the typology by differentiating known archetypes of the hackathon. publishedVersion

This paper addresses the hackathon as an innovation contest method in the IT industry, beyond the coding context. Specifically, it focuses on hackathon task-setting strategies, i.e. drawing boundaries to specify the problem to be solved. Although task setting plays an integral part in hackathon goal achievement, i.e. whether the hackathon is perceived as successful or not, task setting has not yet been the focus of hackathon research. Therefore, this paper presents a case study of an IT company with four subsidiaries operating in four countries in the Baltic region, carrying out 17 intra- or intra-inter-organizational hackathons in six iterations. As a result, the paper reveals hackathon task-setting strategies in terms of the employee maturity level regarding the corporate context of the subsidiaries. Presenting conclusions for both academics and industry, the paper contributes to the literature on hackathon task-setting strategies particularly in organizations in the IT sector, with varying maturity levels. publishedVersion

Sustainable business innovations aim to tackle global challenges including environmental and social issues. Establishing business ecosystem based on sustainability-oriented innovations include dealing with a system level change and impacts. In this article we present a single case of an ecosystem looking to solve a global challenge of plastic debris. The ecosystem is looking into establish operations in target markets with a two-phase entry model, both representing a different ecosystem phase. Potential market areas represent areas with no current waste management infrastructure established. We use causal-loop diagrams to visualise the concepts of these ecosystem phases and aim to identify major characteristics affecting the expansion of these ecosystems. The sustainability-oriented innovation may attract funding opportunities to support initial ecosystem phase and help to gather resources for expansion.