Specific innovation needs to achieve disruptive public services

INNOCAP progresses on its exchange of experience to provide enhanced quality and sustainable public services through disruptive technologies. To achieve this goal, the partnership has now completed a needs assessment, a systematic process for determining and addressing gaps related to the project objective.

​​The INNOCAP needs analysis explores the four pilots that the consortium has pre-identified to be considered for implementation: Digital coaches for innovative public services (Västernorrland, Sweden), Waste data hub (Iceland), Social innovation led service for decision-making on digital and green transition (Mikkeli, Finland) and, Climate change action monitoring (Donegal, Ireland). "We have gathered the input collected from INNOCAP partners on their specific innovation needs and this work will facilitate creating our disruptive innovation map for next-gen sustainable public services through relevant cutting-edge technologies", explains, Lukasz Porwol, INNOCAP partner from University of Galway - INSIGHT Centre in Ireland. 

The method that the INNOCAP consortium will follow is the Capacity Building Program for Innovative Digital Public Services along four major dimensions: Digital Solutions Available, Skills, Delivery models and, Procurement of innovative solutions. In that way, partners have commenced collecting data through pilot descriptions, initial questionnaires, a local workshop hosted in Letterkenny (Ireland) alongside the project kick-off meeting, SWOT analysis, introductory online workshops and the follow-up surveys. "We initially looked for categories or areas emerging with regard to the available capacity and the highlighted needs from the pilots description and the first survey questionnaires. The areas that emerged from this analysis phase guided our discussion with the pilot organizations at the workshop in Letterkenny", continues Lukasz. This session further revealed new technological needs and available technical infrastructure to the organizations. "The next analytical phase included qualitative analysis of the Letterkenny workshop to guide the design of our next data collection technique, in this case, SWOT analysis for each technology considered by the organizations. We performed the SWOT analysis to give us better information about whether or not and on what basis the technologies suit the organizations and how the capacity building sessions could be planned and organized for maximum benefit", he adds. These findings will also guide designing and developing the introductory workshops and final survey for the partner organizations.

"We expect that INNOCAP partners' needs will evolve as we expose them to disruptive technologies in a loop of interactions, workshops and presentations", concludes Fatemeh Ahmadi Zeleti, INNOCAP partner from University of Galway - INSIGHT Centre. 

Stay tuned for more results from the analysis of the data, service needs identification, pilot descriptions and conclusions.