Users' role in innovation processes in the sports equipment industry - experiences and lessons

The main objective of this project is to contribute to our knowledge about user-driven innovation
and to suggest how knowledge on user-driven innovation may be included in innovation efforts and
systems both for the sports equipment industry and for other industries.

The study is primarily based on case studies of how firms within the Nordic sports equipment and
outdoor industry involve users in their innovation efforts. Our studies concentrate on firms
producing equipment for winter sport and outdoor recreation. The study builds upon a large number
of interviews with firms and key persons as well as extensive analysis of available written material
and research literature.

The results focus on the identification of certain key user groups in the sports equipment innovation
cycle: user innovators, professional and sponsored users, enthusiastic amateurs, passionate insiders
and chains and retailers. We consider the extent to which these users influence or take part in
innovation processes within technical design, visual design, branding and the development of
product systems.

The report concludes with policy recommendations for how firms may take advantage of each user
group. In this respect we present some key points and examples on firms’ interaction with users in
innovation processes. Other recommendations consider public policy and suggest that public policy
ought to encourage firms to take advantage of knowledge held by those groups. In society a large
number of user groups exist and public policy ought to stimulate use of their knowledge for a
broader purpose, including societal development. Merging user groups in order to stimulate cross
sector development, in addition to organising meeting places may be a theme for public policy at the
regional level.

Project duration: Juni 2007 - August 2009

Contact person:
Hans Olav Bråtå, Senior Researcher, Eastern Norway Research Institute (Østlandsforskning)

Project participants:
Tanja Kotro, Senior Researcher, National Consumer Research Centre, Finland
Mikko Orrenmaa, Research Assistant, National Consumer Research Centre, Finland
Petteri Repo, Senior Researcher, National Consumer Research Centre, Finland
Hans Olav Bråtå, Senior Researcher, Eastern Norway Research Institute (Østlandsforskning), Norway (Project manager)
Svein Erik Hagen, Senior Researcher, Eastern Norway Research Institute, Norway
Dominic Power, Professor, University of Uppsala, Sweden
Atle Hauge, Ph.D., University of Uppsala, Sweden