Finding solutions to problems that never existed: a case study of co-creation in the municipality of the future

Over the past decade, co-creation, i.e. practices bringing together diverse actors to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes, has emerged as a broadly desired approach to innovation governance. Co-creation takes many shapes and its promises range from more successful innovations to more inclusive and...

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Main Authors: Anja K. Ruess, Ruth Müller
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Journal of Responsible Innovation
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23299460.2024.2391574
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author Anja K. Ruess
Ruth Müller
author_facet Anja K. Ruess
Ruth Müller
author_sort Anja K. Ruess
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description Over the past decade, co-creation, i.e. practices bringing together diverse actors to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes, has emerged as a broadly desired approach to innovation governance. Co-creation takes many shapes and its promises range from more successful innovations to more inclusive and responsible forms of innovating. In this paper, we interrogate co-creation practices by tracing how they shape techno-society relations through the inclusion of publics in smart city contexts. Our analysis focuses on an initiative that aimed to include citizens into the development of smart city technologies. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork and qualitative interviews, we discuss the social dynamics of doing co-creation as establishing a distinct technology versus orienting innovation towards citizens’ needs, and show how pre-made commitments to particular technologies and stakeholders shape citizens’ agency. Understanding these dynamics will contribute to the growing debate about co-creation by providing a nuanced outlook on co-creative innovation practices, their potentials, and challenges.
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spelling doaj-art-740ec028d0ba419985690e3246106a832025-01-07T13:48:20ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of Responsible Innovation2329-94602329-90372024-12-0111110.1080/23299460.2024.2391574Finding solutions to problems that never existed: a case study of co-creation in the municipality of the futureAnja K. Ruess0Ruth Müller1Department of Science, Technology and Society (STS), School of Social Sciences and Technology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, GermanyDepartment of Science, Technology and Society (STS), School of Social Sciences and Technology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, GermanyOver the past decade, co-creation, i.e. practices bringing together diverse actors to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes, has emerged as a broadly desired approach to innovation governance. Co-creation takes many shapes and its promises range from more successful innovations to more inclusive and responsible forms of innovating. In this paper, we interrogate co-creation practices by tracing how they shape techno-society relations through the inclusion of publics in smart city contexts. Our analysis focuses on an initiative that aimed to include citizens into the development of smart city technologies. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork and qualitative interviews, we discuss the social dynamics of doing co-creation as establishing a distinct technology versus orienting innovation towards citizens’ needs, and show how pre-made commitments to particular technologies and stakeholders shape citizens’ agency. Understanding these dynamics will contribute to the growing debate about co-creation by providing a nuanced outlook on co-creative innovation practices, their potentials, and challenges.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23299460.2024.2391574Co-creationcollaborative innovationinnovation governancepublic engagementsmart citiesScience & Technology Studies
spellingShingle Anja K. Ruess
Ruth Müller
Finding solutions to problems that never existed: a case study of co-creation in the municipality of the future
Journal of Responsible Innovation
Co-creation
collaborative innovation
innovation governance
public engagement
smart cities
Science & Technology Studies
title Finding solutions to problems that never existed: a case study of co-creation in the municipality of the future
title_full Finding solutions to problems that never existed: a case study of co-creation in the municipality of the future
title_fullStr Finding solutions to problems that never existed: a case study of co-creation in the municipality of the future
title_full_unstemmed Finding solutions to problems that never existed: a case study of co-creation in the municipality of the future
title_short Finding solutions to problems that never existed: a case study of co-creation in the municipality of the future
title_sort finding solutions to problems that never existed a case study of co creation in the municipality of the future
topic Co-creation
collaborative innovation
innovation governance
public engagement
smart cities
Science & Technology Studies
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23299460.2024.2391574
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