Living lab proposal takes shape

German software maker SAP and German ICT research group the Fraunhofer Institute are proposing to team up with local information technology think tank Nicta to build what is called a living lab at the Australian Technology Park in Redfern.

In the living labs model, businesses take problems that could be fixed by technology directly to the lab, rather than hoping some researcher somewhere picks up on the quandary.

An advantage of the living lab idea is that the ultimate end user is involved all the way through the research process, rather than at the end, and the product is better tailored to the real world.

An SAP-inspired living lab in Switzerland operates a supermarket of the future that works on potential retail sales technology. It is understood the NSW Government has offered to tip in about $1 million in cash and payroll tax concessions to sweeten the living lab deal, which is awaiting Carr's sign-off.

A spokeswoman for Senator Carr said the issue of building the living lab here was raised with the minister's office in late May and that a proposal was waiting assessment by the Department of Innovation Industry Science and Research.

Source: www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,25606592-5013040,00.html