Robotics in Finnish welfare services: dynamics in an emerging innovation ecosystem

Abstract

This paper considers the dynamics of the emerging care robotics innovation ecosystem in the Finnish welfare services. Innovation ecosystems have both evolutionary nature as well as aspects of purposeful design, and we study the relevant actors, their roles, the accelerators and the barriers, by conducting a survey among relevant stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem. An online survey was conducted with a range of Finnish stakeholders (N = 250): service actors (n = 148) and research and development actors (n = 102). The responses of the two groups were analyzed with a pairwise t-test. The results show that a variety of stakeholders are needed in ecosystem. The role of micro-level actors, such as workmates and professional and private robot users, were considered as important. Service actors should also play a stronger role in the ecosystem. In particular, research and development actors seemed to be open to new stakeholders entering the ecosystem and highlighted the importance of collaboration between actors. The culture of piloting in Finland is accelerating the ecosystem, but attitudinal factors, such as fears and resistance to change are hindering its development. The ecosystem is dynamic, and the dynamics in the ecosystem seem to be largely based on social and cultural issues.