Service Innovation Labs –a tool for STP’s and AOI to help build sustainable cities and reach SDG’s

The service economy has grown tremendously over the latest decades in the industrialised economies. Services account for about 75 % of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in developed countries and some 50 % in developing countries. However, innovation in services is lagging behind, leaving many service companies struggling with poor profitability and slow or inhibited growth. Innovation research, methodology and tools have mostly been developed with the traditional manufactured product in mind. This is also reflected in the organisational structure of service companies, who often lack formal processes for innovation. A recent Swedish study concluded that 70 % of service companies find it difficult to run innovation processes in their businesses.

This paper describes how a Service Innovation Lab will be developed by collaborating Science Parks to strengthen innovation capabilities in small and medium sized enterprises (SME) that offer knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS).