R&D Services
R&D services refer to a group of common R&D services, which a Living Lab can offer to its customers during the different Living Lab R&D process phases. Each service combines one or more data collection approaches or other activities. R&D Services are parts of the Living Lab standard needed to accomplish a Living Lab R&D project as a whole or part of it. Each service description defines the type of service and additional details related to service delivery such as technical and functional quality. Living lab R&D services are classified into the following categories:
- Testing and validation
- Community and network building
- Project planning and management
- Co-creation
- Capacity building
- Advisory services
- Market and sales support
- Infrastructure and data management
It is noted that some of the services can be included in multiple categories
Services categorization, inputs and outputs:
| Input | PoV | Service | Output | Category |
| Application | client | Temporary research funding | funding decision | supporting |
| Course enrolment | client | Capacity building | skills and capabilities increased/ knowledge about LLS | supporting |
| Request/application | client | Equipment and facility rental | tender and usage of equipment | R&D |
| Research idea/ contact from the network | client | Grant writing | grant application | supporting |
| Call search | LL | Call identification | targeted calls | back office |
| Request/application | client | Public procurement applicant support | help meet the tendering criteria/process | supporting |
| Request/application | client | Public authority procurement support | defining market dialogue/innovative procurement | supporting |
| Application with information about goal/data | client | Access to data | data | R&D |
| Idea/offer request with info about topic | client | Intake and matching | understanding client's request/requirement | supporting |
| New and existing contacts | LL | Innovation network orchestration | partner and collaboration network | back office |
| Network and contacts | LL | Panel management | repository of stakeholders | back office |
| Project plan/research protocol | LL/client | Participant recruitment | study participants | supporting/R&D |
| Project plan/research protocol | client | Stakeholders and partner analysis and mapping | identification of relevant stakeholders and/or study participants | supporting/R&D |
| Project plan/research protocol | client | Expert opinions and advisory services | expert opinion | supporting/R&D |
| Research plan/ input from previous R&D activities | client | Co-creation session | outcomes/report of the session/data | R&D |
| Research plan/ input from previous R&D activities | client | Usability testing | outcomes/report of the session/data | R&D |
| Research plan/ input from previous R&D activities | client | Concept and proof-of-concept | outcomes/report of the session/data | R&D |
| Research plan/ input from previous R&D activities | client | Clinical trials | outcomes/report of the session/data | R&D |
| Research plan/ input from previous R&D activities | client | Idea selection and testing | outcomes/report of the session/data | R&D |
| Research plan/ input from previous R&D activities | client | Large-scale real-life testing and piloting | outcomes/report of the session/data | R&D |
| Research plan/ input from previous R&D activities | client | Prototyping test | outcomes/report of the session/data | R&D |
| Research plan/ input from previous R&D activities | client | Simulation test | outcomes/report of the session/data | R&D |
| Research plan/ input from previous R&D activities | client | Small-scale real-life testing and piloting | outcomes/report of the session/data | R&D |
| Research plan/ input from previous R&D activities | client | Foresighting (trends, weak signals and wild cards) | outcomes/report of the session/data | R&D |
| Research plan/ input from previous R&D activities | client | Competitor and market analysis benchmarking | outcomes/report of the session/data | R&D |
| Research plan/ input from previous R&D activities | client | Impact assessment and validation test | outcomes/report of the session/data | R&D |
| Idea/offer request with info about topic | client | Marketing and sales support | sales lead | supporting |
| Research plan/ input from previous R&D activities | client | Post-market surveillance and market acceptance testing | outcomes/report of the session/data | R&D |
| Research plan/ input from previous R&D activities | client | Legal, regulation and safety standard support | outcomes/report of the session/data | supporting/R&D |
Depending on the nature and the scope of each service, the structure and the elements of the descriptive information vary. Bellow, follows a brief explanation of the R&D services structure:
Section | Description |
|---|---|
Description | In the description field it is given a general overview of the service (e.g., definition, scope, followed processes etc.) |
R&D service categories | Here it is indicated the category (or categories) to which belongs the service |
Key characteristics in living lab context | In this field are highlighted the most important points/aspects of the service in a Living Lab framework |
Pre-tasks | By pre-tasks we mean the several steps that are considered important to be completed before the delivery of the service |
Participants’ role | Participants’ role refers to the particular actions/activities that are expected to be achieved by the stakeholders during the service delivery |
Objectives | In this part are identified the various goals that are envisaged to be accomplished during the delivery of the service |
Methods | This field refers to the methodology that stakeholders could follow for the service implementation (e.g., focus groups, training sessions, workshops, seminars, presentations, interviews etc.) |
Tools | By tools we mean the specific instruments which could be possibly exploited during the service (e.g., questionnaires, sensors, Teams meeting, Zoom, whiteboards etc.) |
Process phase | Here it is indicated the phase or stage during which the service is usually delivered |