Living Labs as intermediary in open innovation: On the role of entrepreneurial support

The following paper addresses the intermediary role of Living Labs in open innovation processes. This paper adds to the ongoing discussion on developing a generally accepted methodology for Living Lab implementation. It is argued that not only lead users and technology providers but also entrepreneurs play a vital role in the process of Living Lab implementation. We further compare the attributes of Living Labs to other intermediary institutions. Based on these results, we argue that Living Labs can be subdivided into Microlevel and Macrolevel Living Labs, each providing distinct approaches to fostering the commercialization process. We further argue that Macrolevel Living Labs should be concerned with establishing clustering effects on a large scale utilizing virtualization competences. Microlevel Living Labs in contrast should focus on entrepreneurial support in individual cases. An in depth case study from the health care industry illustrates this Microlevel Living Lab approach.