The document discusses the concept of third generation science parks (3GSP) and the importance of platform thinking in fostering sustainable ecosystems and innovation. It highlights the shift towards a collaborative, pull-based society where platforms facilitate co-creation and value generation among diverse stakeholders. Examples from Finland illustrate the successful implementation of this approach in urban innovation and entrepreneurship.

1.
"Platform Thinking within the Third Generation
Science Park Concept"
Ilkka Kakko
UNESCO – WTA International Training Workshop, Daejeon, 22.9.2015

2. Content
Big Shift towards the Postnormal Era
Vital elements and features of 3GSP
Platform classification
Platform thinking
Competence platforms
Case Urban Mill
Case Meetberlage
Competence platform case:Part-up

3. The Big Shift towards Postnormal Era
• The “Big Shift”
- The useful information is flowing
- The most dynamic way to motivate is “the movement”
- The driving force is passion
- The most effective way to organize resources is using platforms
- The potential for new ventures is measured by their social capital
- The competitive edge comes from understanding serendipity
• Pull society
- To attract - pull instead of push
- Platforms (virtual and physical) --- to share, to co-create, to generate value
*) Ref: “Postnormal era” was coined by Stowe Boyd, Big Shift is a term by John Hagel et al from the book
“The Power of Pull”

4. 3GSP concept – the main features
The competitive edge of 3GSP consists of following elements:
• Focus on individuals and dynamic community building
• Pre-incubation is strongly supported
• Platform thinking is fundamental for the sustainable ecosystem building
• Healthy balance between effectual entrepreneurship, start-ups, SMEs and established
companies, also social entrepreneurship and virtual teams/organizations are supported
• Geographically dispersed locations – like having a node (coworking space) in a downtown
location – and the main activities in the university campus area
• The design of physical premises (layout and interior design) and the implementation of
competence platform both support open innovation activities and community building
• Understanding the importance of ”sticky knowledge” in regional development context
• Serendipity management methodologies are widely used: in team building, in the design of the
physical space and the embedded competence platform
(”Serendipity= the art of benefiting from unexpected”)

5. 3GSP is gaining momentum in Finland
Traditional STPs are loosing edge in Finland
Technopolis Ltd focusing only on real estate and facility management
Innovation activities moved to separate public organizations in eight Finnish cities
In Lahti the local STP, regional development organization and new business center mergered
New platforms emerging
Coworking -> maker spaces, hacker spaces, Fab-Labs, Open Innovation House, Design Factory,
Start-up Sauna, Urban Mill, Vertical
Community building -> Aalto ES, Hobbyist communities, Lead user communities….
Start up scene -> Summer Schools, SLUSH, Protomo/Demola
Effectual entrepreneurship -> 3GSP, Urban Mill, Malski in Lahti
Espoo Innovation Garden is a great example for this approach

6. The definition of a platform
“A platform is a plug-and-play business model that
allows multiple participants (producers and consumers)
to connect to it, interact with each other and create and
exchange value.”*
In many cases we want to add that the roles of producers/
consumers or co-creators/consumers may swap freely and without
friction.
*
Defini(on
by
Sangheet
Paul
Choudary
h7p://pla;ormed.info/pla;orm-­‐stack/

7. Platform classification
© Ilkka Kakko 2015

8. Competence platform
Competence platform is the fundamental tool for business creation:
1) Team building and competence sharing according to the serendipity
management approach
= > New and unexpected combinations of competences
2) Idea sharing and co-creation (swarms, part-ups, virtual teams etc)
3) Combined idea and business proposal elaboration
=> Networked business models widely used
4) Embedded business model canvas
5) Full integration with project management tools
=> The whole value added process in the same platform

9. Pipeline thinking vs. platform thinking
© Lee Fleming 2004 /HBR November 2004
© Ilkka Kakko 2015

10. Meetberlage - case
Competence platform in Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Great downtown location in an historical building, unique ambience
- Enough critical mass for community building and serendipity management
- Very motivated and inspired management team
A vital part of Seats2Meet global chain of platforms:
> Long experience of real estate business and co-creation processes
> Real ambitions to become global
> Supportive elements well designed (for operators as well as customers)
> The concept is following Society 3.0 thinking of the S2M founders
Platform thinking highlighted operationally:
> Hybrid solution, physical and virtual environments in balance
> Global focus to attract talent
> Easy to enter as a new operator

11. Urban Mill - case
Part of Espoo Innovation Garden ecosystem in Helsinki metropolitan area
- Novel solution, started 2013 January
- Coworking space, innovation community, change orchestration tool
- Focus on sustainable urban innovations
- Challenge: How to enhance the quality of urban life and services through ICT and built environment
development and how to orhestrate and energize urban ecosystem development
Urban Mill’s main principles:
- Joint development work guided by co-created vision rather than by strictly pre-planned
processes
- Community building in focus, engagement through ”pull” factors
- Open innovation principles widely used
- New orchestration methods piloted
- Connectivity (local and global) supported
- All types of entrepreneurships are attracted – effectual entrepreneurs especially
- Sustainability --- walk your talk, old VTT building renovated almost without any
investments

12. Urban Wheel ™ - Urban Innovation Accelerator Platform

14. Competence platform case: Part-Up
• A new competence platform initiative from Netherlands
• Beta version was tested during the summer 2015, the launch was on 18th
of September
• Ambitious plans, a great and inspired team working hard
• Most of the other competence platforms listed in my paper have some
similar features, the best solution for any customer case depends on the
requirements:
• Skillhive
• Seats2Meet Connect
• Focal Shift
• Babele
• …. and all those projects already in the pipeline, which I am not even aware
of….

15. Functionalities of Part-Up comptence platform
Ø Find great part-ups (called also swarms and pop-up challenges)
Ø Get attracted into those part-ups that may need you
Ø Start your own part-up
Ø Find the perfect combination of competences
Ø Co-create and enable action, facilitate the process
Ø Timeline collaboration within part-ups
Ø Evaluate contributions on personal and team level
Ø Secure the performance indicators for coming challenges (inheritance)
Ø Organize using Collaborative Networked Organization theoretical reference model (CNO /
ECOLEAD)
Ø Encourage the use of networked business models
Keep it simple and fun!

16. Conclusions
1) The global innovation landscape is
transforming rapidly
2) The once successful Triple Helix model is
becoming outdated – it follows push principles
3) Platform thinking fits for the VUCA business
environment of today
4) Global talent can be engaged by competence
platforms (Note: WTA!)
5) Practical solutions are at the moment only at
piloting phase
6) The quick adopters will lead the disruption!

17. The benefits of coworking
© Lee Fleming 2004 /HBR November 2004
Yogi
Berra
”The future ain’t what it used to be”

18. Thank you!
For further information:
Ilkka Kakko
+ 358 50 536 2941
Twitter: @Serendipitor
ilkka.kakko@karostech.fi
www.karostech.fi
www.respectserendipity.com