Living Labs - Sfax Smart Living Lab (Tunisia)

Tags: Social-technical relations Social-economic relations Reputation/legitimacy Providing alternatives to institutions Platforms New Organizing Expertise Experimenting Emergence Academic organizations

Sfax Smart City Living Lab (SSCLL), a living lab in Sfax, Tunisia, aims “to create an environment for users and different sectors of society, where they can reveal their innovative ideas by collaboration of public-private sectors and users. It offers an open platform for public-private sector and users with a mutually accepted goal: to increase life standards of society by taking into account the needs of different users and sectors in Sfax city regarding research and technological development.” (smart-sfax.org, 2016)

SSCLL is an initiative that emerged under the umbrella of the ReGIM Lab – Research Groups in Intelligent Machines, which is a research unit in the National Engineering School of Sfax University in Tunisia. While the ReGIM Lab existed since 1997 its living lab was officially established only in 2013. The living lab has since developed as an independent institution and has just been certified as an ENoLL-Living Lab in April 2016. The Critical Turning Points of the development process of SSCLL extend from before its official establishment until its very recent progresses in 2016. More details about SSCLL can be accessed via this link:

http://www.openlivinglabs.eu/livinglab/sfax-smart-city-living-lab-sscll-0

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Before CTP
Corrupt ruling family in Tunisia
Before CTP
lacking political freedoms such as freedom of speech
2000's
Universities started to talk about their 3rd mission: innovation
Before CTP
Increasing unemployment, food inflation, and poor living conditions
Since 2009
Collaboration projects between academia, students and industry
2010
Start of five Chairs of Innovation in the Middle East
End of 2010
Continuation of the Unchain projects and collaborations
After CTP
Chair of Innovation received a fund of 100,000$ from the US embassy
April 2010

The inauguration of the Chair of Innovation in Sfax
Before CTP
The idea of acquiring the ISO certification
17th of December 2010
Self-immolation of Mohammed Bouazizi
After CTP1
Previous robotic competitions
December 2011
Second robotic competition
After CTP
Closing of the Chair of Innovation Office
During CTP
On the national level there was a general interest for innovations and collaborations between research and industry
January 2011

The Tunisian Revolution
14th of January 2011
Tunisian president officially resigned
October 2011
Free and democratic elections for parliament
After CTP2
Closing the chair of innovation
September 2012
Increasing number of research projects financed by international organizations
December 2012
RoboComp
January 2013

Official declaration of the Regim Lab as a living lab
December 2013

Robotic Competition: RoboComp’2013
During CTP
ICBR Conference
January 2013
Relocation of the Chair of Innovation in the living lab ReGIM (CTP3)
After CTP
Boost in partnerships and collaborations with international institutions
After CTP
Robotic competition (CTP4)
After CTP
Participation of Tunisian competitors in the World Robotics Olympiad WRO'2014
After CTP
Postponing of the next RoboComp to 2015, instead of 2014
Summer 2014
Amsterdam conference
May 2015

Application of a quality management system to acquire ISO certification
After CTP
ReGIM Lab gained more confidence to participate in international competitions and acquired increased international recognition, support and memberships
After CTP
ReGIM Lab has an increased coaching role
After CTP
Bi-yearly surveys distributed to the ReGIM Lab clients, members and industrial partners
May 2015
Application of a quality management system in the ReGIM Lab to acquire the ISO certification (CTP 5)
January 2016

Application process and certification of IEEE
April 2016
ENoLL – European Network of Living Labs - application and affiliation of SSCLL

April 2010

The inauguration of the Chair of Innovation in Sfax

This CTP is about the inauguration of the Chair of Innovation of Sfax University in April 2010.

Read more

6 related events
2000's
Universities started to talk about their 3rd mission: innovation
Since 2009
Collaboration projects between academia, students and industry
2010
Start of five Chairs of Innovation in the Middle East
End of 2010
Continuation of the Unchain projects and collaborations
After CTP
Chair of Innovation received a fund of 100,000$ from the US embassy
During CTP
On the national level there was a general interest for innovations and collaborations between research and industry
January 2011

The Tunisian Revolution

The CTP is about the Tunisian Revolution in January 2011, which resulted in the closing of the Chair of Innovation in the School of Engineers of Sfax University.

Read more

8 related events
Before CTP
Corrupt ruling family in Tunisia
Before CTP
Increasing unemployment, food inflation, and poor living conditions
Before CTP
lacking political freedoms such as freedom of speech
17th of December 2010
Self-immolation of Mohammed Bouazizi
14th of January 2011
Tunisian president officially resigned
After CTP
Closing of the Chair of Innovation Office
October 2011
Free and democratic elections for parliament
December 2011
Second robotic competition
January 2013

Official declaration of the Regim Lab as a living lab

This CTP is about relocating the Chair of Innovation Office from the School of Engineering, University of Sfax, to the ReGIM Lab - ‘Research Group in Intelligent Machines’ Lab in January 2013.

Read more

5 related events
After CTP2
Closing the chair of innovation
September 2012
Increasing number of research projects financed by international organizations
December 2012
RoboComp
After CTP
Boost in partnerships and collaborations with international institutions
After CTP
Robotic competition (CTP4)
December 2013

Robotic Competition: RoboComp’2013

This CTP is about the fourth robotic competition – RoboComp’2013, which took place in December 16, 2013 in Sousse, Tunisia.

Read more

5 related events
After CTP1
Previous robotic competitions
January 2013
Relocation of the Chair of Innovation in the living lab ReGIM (CTP3)
During CTP
ICBR Conference
After CTP
Participation of Tunisian competitors in the World Robotics Olympiad WRO'2014
After CTP
Postponing of the next RoboComp to 2015, instead of 2014
May 2015

Application of a quality management system to acquire ISO certification

This CTP is about the application of a quality management system in the ReGIM Lab to acquire the International Organization for Standardization 9001 (ISO-9001) certification in May 2015.

Read more

4 related events
Before CTP
The idea of acquiring the ISO certification
After CTP
ReGIM Lab gained more confidence to participate in international competitions and acquired increased international recognition, support and memberships
After CTP
ReGIM Lab has an increased coaching role
After CTP
Bi-yearly surveys distributed to the ReGIM Lab clients, members and industrial partners
January 2016

Application process and certification of IEEE

The affiliation of Sfax City as a Smart City occurred in January 2016 by IEEE, the world's largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity.

Read more

3 related events
Summer 2014
Amsterdam conference
May 2015
Application of a quality management system in the ReGIM Lab to acquire the ISO certification (CTP 5)
April 2016
ENoLL – European Network of Living Labs - application and affiliation of SSCLL

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Living Labs - Sfax Smart Living Lab (Tunisia)

The inauguration of the Chair of Innovation in Sfax

The Tunisian Revolution

Official declaration of the Regim Lab as a living lab

Robotic Competition: RoboComp’2013