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Last Week on October 29 Team of Riga Technical University as part of the Osiris Project organized workshop “The method of design thinking to expand the usage of “Stop Covid” app among the senior population.” The app itself was a non-commercial initiative, that was made possible by the involvement of state agencies, universities, private tech companies and many other actors, driven by the sole goal limiting the spread of COVID-19 by enabling smartphone-based contact tracing in Latvia. As the user base is key to the success of such platforms, it is essential to expand the user base of the app in the most vulnerable groups. The workshop took place via Zoom and involved representatives of Riga Technical University, Latvian Mobile Telephone, media agency Deep White and the developer MakIT. After presentations regarding the functionality, communication activities and design thinking, structured interviews were held with selected seniors to identify to challenges of effective communication and increasing the awareness of the app, while overcoming mistrust and disinformation, that is actively spreading following the second wave of COVID-19 in Europe. Both the workshop and the “Stop COVID” initiative is are good examples of the advantages of quadruple helix approach to problem-solving on a bigger scale.
The event took place on 10.09.2020 and lasted fairly around two hours. 11 participants - 3 virtually/online and 8 on a place at Tallinn University of Technology Innovation and business centre Mektory. We had two very interesting guests who introduced their business story- CareMate OÜ and Enlife OÜ. They talked about their experience and how they find funding and financing for their company. Purpose of the workshop was to find and validate a framework for smart silver financing mechanisms in Estonia. Through this workshop and 6 interviews that have been conducted with different Quadruple Helix Actors, we are positive that we will find new ways to funding and financing for our Digital Silver Hub which is the main outcome from this work package.
Moving forward with Interreg BSR 2014-2020 project “OSIRIS” activities aiming to realize open innovation toolkit 1st Innovation Camp, hosted by Klaipeda State University of Applied Sciences was held in Klaipėda, Lithuania, on 16-17 September 2020. Caused by 2020 pandemic situation it was organized in unlike regular format and was innovative with an entirely virtual participation process. Nevertheless, participants, representing triple helix actors (from government, research and scientific institutions, companies, were interactively engaged in the 2 days camp session. Existing in practice innovation tools were presented by Lithuanian innovation centre (Dr. Ingrida Tinfavičienė) and Baltic Maritime Digital Innovation Hub (Innovation director Ignas Aničas). During the panel discussions, participants shared knowledge, critical observations and insights about presented existing open innovation tools and methodologies. 2 more Innovation Camps are going to be conducted in order to select final open innovation tools, establish testing scenarios and concluding with validation of selected final open innovation toolkit. #OSIRISInterregBSR #Silvereconomy #InterregBSR #Smartspecialization #Innovationcamp #KVK
Taltech (PP8) organized the Second workshop on Knowledge Management model making in Tallinn, Estonia on 17.02.2020 and it lasted fairly around 3 hours with one coffee/lunch break in between. Aim of this workshop was to start analyzing problems found from the first regional workshop to understand how Knowledge is collected (detected), how knowledge is organized and assessed, how it is created and transformed. We mainly focused on 4 different problems relevant to Estonian RIS3 priorities. In this workshop, we had 18 participants and we were working in one group where two moderators were organizing the workshop. They were collecting expert ideas and added information to the big whiteboard made of big papers. Having different academics, experts who are working with local municipalities and also for government and representatives from the senior population (member from Estonian Pensioners’ association) gave us very wide results and discussion on the problems. The workshop focused mainly on the problems facing how knowledge is captured, organised, created and transformed in Estonia. Also which quardo-helix actor(s) is (are) responsible for each question what raised up through workshop. The workshop was smooth and had a very active discussion session.
On June 19th 2020 team of experts from Klaipėda State College completed and validated the Knowledge Management Model in the Health Technology and Biotechnology Open Innovation Ecosystem in the 4th co-creational workshop with the participation of government, science, business and society representatives. Since November 2019, by taking part in a total of 4 co-creational workshops, participants helped experts to develop a universal tool to manage the innovation cycle in the open innovation ecosystem. The purpose of the knowledge management model is to manage the whole cycle of the innovation process at national level, involving all regions, central and local authorities, business and science organizations (state-organization-individual), open to all, transforming knowledge into products with high growth potential in the market. The model responds to the smart specialization of health technologies and biotechnologies, but can be applied more universally and more widely. The event was broadcast on the Facebook account of Klaipeda State College. The knowledge management model is an intermediate stage and result of the implementation of the project “Supporting Smart Specialization Approach in Silver Economy for Increasing Regional Innovation Capacity and Sustainable Growth (OSIRIS)” (OSIRIS, No. # R080) funded by the Interreg Baltic Sea Program 2014-2020, in which Klaipėda State the college participates as a partner. More about the project - on the project website.
In June OSIRIS team from ITMO University finalized and validated the Knowledge Management Model in the ICT and Well-being Open Innovation Ecosystem in St. Petersburg on the 3rd of July . Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the events took place virtually via Zoom and Google Docs platforms. The aim of this series of the workshops was to jointly design an effective tool to manage knowledge flows and main actors of the innovation ecosystem. As a future practical outcome, we aim to succeed in creating products and services for the older generation. The agenda of the workshops was built taking into account both the practical value of the Knowledge Management Model in creating the products and services for the silver aged generation and critically reflection of the previously developed Knowledge Map. As in previous events, the round table was held in the format of a brainstorm with the participation researches and sociologists, experts of innovative infrastructure and business, whose expertise was relevant for the project and helped to gain knowledge about older consumer`s needs and capacities to meet them limited by the priorities mentioned in the regional strategic documents: ICT and wellbeing. The Knowledge Management Model is an intermediate stage and one of the outcomes of the implementation of the project “Supporting Smart Specialization Approach in Silver Economy for Increasing Regional Innovation Capacity and Sustainable Growth (OSIRIS)” (OSIRIS, No. # R080) funded by the Interreg Baltic Sea Program 2014-2020, in which ITMO University participates as a partner. More about the project - on the project website.
On January 24, 2020, the second seminar on supporting the smart specialization approach in the silver economy to increase regional innovation capacity and sustainable growth took place at Riga Technical University, Riga, Latvia. The goal of this project phase was to develop the mapping of Silver Knowledge Management Process on a national scale. Continuing the first session, a detailed and structured cognitive map was created, the map includes all factors, responsible bodies, decision-makers, organizations and processes that affect the development of the silver economy in Latvia.
On February 25, 2020, 14 experts from all over Latvia gathered in the co-creation session of experts in Kuldiga, Latvia. The importance of the project in both - the national and European contexts was emphasised in the session. During the session, the experts were introduced to the successful example of "Kuldiga Senior School", whose operation serves as one of the leads in the development of the "Smart Silver Lab" concept.
On December 10, 2019, in Latvia at Riga Technical University, starting the work on the project "OSIRIS", an expert panel session "Knowledge Mapping" took place. In the introductory session, meeting with 16 experts and project coordinators, the aim was to identify and deepen the set of activities needed to promote the development of the silver economy in Latvia. The participants discussed the method of developing and analyzing strategic opportunities in the context of the SODA OSIRIS BSR project, developed a detailed and in-depth mapping of ideas, as well as the strategy "Smart Silver Laboratory", which discusses the implementation of the silver economy in an intergenerational context.
On 13 September 2019 and 15 September 2019 expert focus groups meetings were held in Latvia in Daugavpils and Riga, respectively, to focus on the importance of silver economies for the future of global economic development. During these meetings, both local and global issues were outlined. For example, during the session at Daugavpils, special attention was drawn to the Latgale region and its particular challenges at hand. During the second seminar, specialists looked at support for the development of the silver economy at Riga. The most important overarching question: does the implementation of Latvia's National Development Priorities take into account the growing importance of the silver economy? A particular focus was placed on the fields of biomedicine, medical and technologies as well as information technologies. Osiris project aims to answer these questions and will focus on development on the silver economy as a common value in the 21st century!
Klaipėda State University of Applied sciences organised 3rd Knowledge Management c0-creation workshop in Klaipėda, Lithuania on 26 May 2020. The aim of the 3rd co-creational workshop was to verify Knowledge Management, the draft Model. The visual representation and short description of the draft of KMM were presented during the event. The aim of the 3rd co-creational workshop was to verify Knowledge Management, the draft Model. The visual representation and short description of the draft of KMM were presented during the event. The event where Klaipeda State University of Applied Sciences, together with other representatives of government, science and business, continued to develop the knowledge management model for the Lithuanian health community and its adaptation to the open innovation ecosystem, took place under unusual conditions when the world and Lithuania were experiencing a pandemic crisis under the measures of social distancing. Nine workshop members from local authorities, seniors’ organizations and business participated by using ZOOM platform in this event. Working under challenging circumstances of social distance, however, was productive and concentrated allowing verifying draft model and gathering the necessary information and knowledge for further development of the model.
Taltech (PP8) organized the meeting in Tallinn, Estonia 29.01.2020 and it lasted around 3 hours with one lunch break in between. Aim of this meeting was to gather information through brainstorm about different problems that Estonia is facing in silver economy eco-system and what could be possible solutions to improve the overall situation. The 12 participants represented different views. We had one member from the ministry of social affairs, one member of Estonian Pensioners’ association, most of them represented academic views but because their field of research is so different it gave us good input. The workshop had good results- we worked in two groups and both of the groups had a very different approach to the questions. We used the post-it method so that through brainstorm we got around 40 different keywords and then representatives from both groups presented what they had discussed. Through that, we found out that there are 10 main questions that we need to look into, choose the most relevant ones and go on with them in the next workshop.
VIA University College organized the meeting in Aarhus, Denmark on 13th of December 2019 .
The purpose of the meeting was to create a model which can be used to bridge the gap between stakeholders and match the existing and new technologies with the needs of the users. The meeting was attended by Seniors, health professionals, SME´s, Municipality and educational institutions. The meeting focused on the needs of the end-users.
(citizens and professionals) and their opportunities for applying knowledge and information. The goal was to investigate experienced challenges within the area of technology and seniors. On the meeting, we discussed what is needed to create optimal conditions for knowledge and flows of knowledge. We reflected on how to help improve conditions for technological development. We furthermore discussed the role of the citizen in these solutions.
The second part of Peer Review seminars will take place in St. Petersburg on the 13th of November. OSIRIS project partners will go thru the Silver Economy situation in Latvia and Russia. The business possibilities, user needs and strategical directions of development.
During the workshop part of the event, project partners will continue handling the three questions as in Vilnius with the the approach of main presenters, Russia and Latvia:
The meeting was arranged by Riihimäki Business Development Co. (RTOY) and Häme University of Applied Sciences (Hamk) in Hämeenlinna on the 27 of November 2019. The focus of the seminar was the implementation of regional research and innovation strategies for smart specialization. In the preliminary speeches, it was mentioned how important it is to avoid project jargon that drives the target groups away. It is also extremely important to point out the credibility of the project and its efficiency for the stakeholders.
The workshop took place on the 4th of June 2019 in Riihimäki Business Development Co, Riihimäki, Finland. There were nearly 30 participants in the event. The objective of the Focus group workshop was the identification of silver economy knowledge-intensive areas for potential growth. The expert speakers represented the silver economy from as many viewpoints as possible. Investigational know-how involving smart technology, care and construction, and which reflected the future, was presented. Principal lecturer Katariina Välikangas of HAMK stated that too many decisions are nowadays made on the basis of care and that more thought should be put on the overall picture and the various needs of seniors. Currently, a wider overview of Finnish housing policy appears to be missing. To Välikangas, one bright spot is the return of the elderly citizen's councils; senior citizens need their own spokespeople to promote their interests! Architect SAFA Anne Ranta-Eskola of Arcare Oy stated that many things have to be considered during the planning phase of construction projects directed at seniors. These are functionality, efficiency, economy, energy efficiency, accessibility, a good life, the needs of the inhabitant and their loved ones, and good-quality working conditions for the staff. According to Regional Development Specialist Minna Takala of the Regional Council of Häme it is essential to combine various sectors, such as creative industries, construction and robotics, instead of only thinking about things in a silo-like fashion. Chairman of the Board Timo Liukko of Small Data Garden (and First Round Oy) stated that there was often a need for various devices and systems that could help with everyday life, but that a readiness to buy such things was another matter entirely. People are inventive, and there are lots of new ideas, but testing and piloting them is more challenging. It is important to discuss how the money is channelled, whether it is a commercial business model or something else. That is also why it is important to measure and calculate the benefits. The preliminary speeches inspired for further debate and the participants innovated a lot of new senior-related business needs. The participants agreed that many seniors have strong prejudices about new technology. Such concerns could be alleviated by e.g. allowing seniors to try out the technology in controlled conditions in health clinics, libraries or other suitable facilities.
OSIRIS project partners held their kick-off meeting on 30 January 2019 in Hämeenlinna, Finland. All 13 partner organizations from the six Baltic region states gathered to meet each other and the representative of the Interreg BSR office, and to agree the common goals of the project. The two-day program included lectures about the Interreg financing mechanism, best practices in reporting and an overview of the project and also included workshops on the first stages.