Finland’ s user-driven innovation policy

The 2010 Finnish National Innovation Strategy contains an important section on demand and user-driven innovation. In addition to considering scientific and technological development as an important source of innovation, the strategy also takes into account the growing role of other knowledge-based innovations and the related demand and user-orientation in the broadening innovation activity in the society.

The “user-driven innovation” is being described as:

User-driven innovation makes use of information on customers, user communities and customer companies. It engages users as active participants in innovation activity. The key aspect of user-driven innovation is information on user needs, whether these needs are already identified, still hidden or potentially emerging. Information and communication technology in particular, offers various new opportunities and means of acquiring information on users and engaging them in innovation. The aim of user-driven innovation policy is to raise market actors’ awareness of new innovation tools. It also seeks to create a social infrastructure supporting user-driven innovation while removing obstacles to and boosting incentives for innovation activity.

Read more

• Demand and user-driven innovation
• User-driven innovation policy
• Framework and Action Plan (pdf) (4.1  MB)
• Action programme presentation (pdf) (2.1  MB)
  
• New Nature of Innovation (pdf) (4.4  MB)

Via: Putting people first – Finland’ s user-driven innovation policy