6 Conclusion

From the goals for Apollon in engagingin Extra European living lab:

tocreate a cooperation between the established thematic network of Living Labs and international stakeholders and

a method and environment through which European SMEs easily can explore emerging markets outside the EU (e.g. Southern Africa, South-America and China).

the following can be concluded from the Apollon extra European living lab activities:the upcoming global regions have adopted the living lab concept and in are pushing and driving specific domains that are extremely relevant to the European Living Labs and companies. In addition to the ineternational membership of living labs joining the European Living Lab network (ENoLL), the establishing of regional or even continental living lab networks (like the African Living Lab network) provides furtheropportunity for collaboration. In the are of energy efficiency, healthcare and new media there joining forces in thematic networks is a good starting point, as well as joint International projects that have and are being developed. The European SME’s can explore the international market making use of the international collaboration between the living labs.

As the regional conditions differ even more than within Europe, e.g. cultural aspects, the cross border methodology and tools developed in Apollon Workpackage one are a big asset for SME’s that are willing to explore markets outside EU.Concrete example for this ESCOM, the South African Energy company, that is now collaborating with the Dutch Industry partners to introduce and tailor the findings of the Amsterdam grid work done in the Amsterdam Smart City program as part of the Amsterdam Living Lab, to the local South African situation. This also eases up the introduction of other SME’s solutions that have been successfully tested in the Amsterdam Smart City & Living Lab.