IST-Africa Living Lab Workshops

Supported by the European Commission (EC) and African Union Commission (AUC), IST-Africa has taken a leadership position in promoting the adoption of Collaborative Open Innovation and Living Labs Methodologies to support socio-economic development in Africa.

IST-Africa organises an Annual Living Labs Working Group meeting as a pre-conference event to the IST-Africa conference

Upcoming IST-Africa Living Lab Workshops

IST-Africa Living Lab Thematic Working Group Meeting, Lilongwe, Malawi, 05 May 2015

This 5th Annual Working Group Meeting which will take place on Tuesday 05 May as a pre-conference event provides an opportunity for all key Innovation Stakeholders to (a) learn more about the potential of leveraging Living Labs methodologies for socio-economic development and (b) contribute to the establishment of a network of experts and key stakeholders committed to supporting national and cross-border Collaborative Open Innovation in Africa.

This participatory Working Group Meeting builds on progress achieved at previous IST-Africa Living Labs Working Group Meetings (IST-Africa 2011 - establishment of EU - AUC Living Labs Taskforce for Africa, IST-Africa 2012 - establishment of new Living Labs in Tanzania, IST-Africa 2013 - introduction of Living Lab concepts in Kenya) and IST-Africa 2014, Mauritius.

Past IST-Africa Living Lab Events

IST-Africa organised a number of participatory Living Lab Workshops during November and December 2013:

- 12 November, University of Lesotho, Maseru, Lesotho (organised by Ministry of Communications, Science and Technology, Lesotho)

- 15 November, Nampower Convention Centre, Windhoek, Namibia (organised by National Commission on Research, Science and Technology, Namibia). Download Agenda and Living Lab Workshop Report

- 22 November, Mokolodi Nature Reserve, Gaborone, Botswana (organised by Ministry of Transport and Communications, Botswana). Download Agenda and Living Lab Workshop Report

- 03 December, Maputo, Mozambique (organised by Instituto Nacional de Tecnologias de Informacao e Comunicacao, Mozambique)

- 06 December, Ghion Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (organised by Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Ethiopia). Download Agenda and Living Lab Workshop Report

- 17 December, Tunis, Tunisia (organised by Ministere de l'Enseignement Superieur et de la Recherche Scientifique). Download Agenda and Living Lab Workshop Report

These workshops focused on providing an introduction to the Living Labs concept, examples of operational and emerging Living Labs and how these have evolved in other African States as well as in Europe. They were interactive in style requiring a high level of participant engagement. All participants discussed the potential roles of stakeholders in Living Labs in the national context in terms of motivations, contributions and expectations. Different perspectives and emerging issues were also identified.

IST-Africa Living Lab Thematic Working Group Meeting, Mauritius, 06 May 2014

The 4th Annual Working Group Meeting built on progress to date sharing knowledge and experiences between existing and emerging Living Labs across Africa. It provided an opportunity for a important opportunity for key Innovation Stakeholders to (a) learn more about the potential of leveraging Collaborative Innovation and Living Labs methodologies for socio-economic development and (b) contribute to establishing a network of experts and key stakeholders committed to supporting national and cross-border Collaborative Open Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Africa. This participatory meeting was well attended with knowledge sharing from Living Labs in a number of African States, stimulating dialogue and ideas emerging for future Living Labs.

IST-Africa Living Lab Thematic Working Group Meeting, Nairobi, 28 May 2013

The 3rd Annual IST-Africa Living Labs Thematic Working Group built on progress to date, consolidating a network of experts and key stakeholders to support existing and emerging Living Labs across Africa through networking and sharing knowledge, experiences and expertise. It provided an opportunity for all key stakeholders interested in learning more about the potential of Living Labs for socio-economic development to work together to co-create a framework for future emerging Living Labs and Networks in a developing country context. It was well attended with a good mix of participants from Europe and Africa. As well as interactive group work, a number of short presentations were made by Dr Eric Mwangi, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Kenya; Mr Moctar Yedaly, Head of Information Society Division in the African Union Commission; Sibhkele Gumbo, University of Fort Hare (Siyakhula Living Lab, Eastern Cape, South Africa); Prof. Darelle van Greunen, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU-Emmanuel Haven Living Lab, Motherwell, Port Elisabeth, South Africa); Catherinerose Barretto, KINU, Tanzania; Prof. Marlien Hersleman, Meraka Institute, South Africa (Living Labs in Southern African Network) and Dr Katherine Getao, ICT Secretary, eGovernment Directorate, Kenya.

Download IST-Africa 2013 Living Labs Thematic Working Group Meeting Report

IST-Africa Living Lab Thematic Working Group Meeting, Tanzania, 08 May 2012

IST-Africa organised an IST-Africa Living Lab Thematic Working Group Meeting in cooperation with TANZICT as a pre-conference event in Dar es Salaam on 08 May 2012, thus directly supporting one of the main focuses of the Second Action Plan. IST-Africa invited key stakeholders including European Commission (EC) and African Union Commission (AUC), Co-chairs of the 8th Africa - EU Strategic Partnership (Portugal and Tunisia), IST-Africa National Partners, World Bank, LLiSA Network (Living Labs in Southern Africa), ENoLL (European Network of Living Labs), as well as other thematic experts from government, research and private sector to contribute to this Workshop. There were almost 90 participants in this interactive participatory meeting.

Download IST-Africa 2012 Living Labs Thematic Working Group Meeting Report

While there is no charge for participation at the IST-Africa Workshops, pre-registration is required. Please contact secretariat@IST-Africa.org for more information. All participants are responsible for any travel costs incurred.