How can innovation activities of online communities be better assessed? The Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW) and the Technical University of Berlin have now investigated this question. In their "Peer Innovation" research project, the institutions have developed a so-called open-source toolbox that can examine the innovation activities of peer communities.
Using the open source toolbox "PICI", selected indicators can be applied to content from online forums. According to the institute, this allows innovation activities to be measured and creative online networks to be made tangible for innovation research. For example, innovation activities from the fields of energy, transport and urban development are evaluated.
The open-source toolbox is designed to make it easier for scientists, policymakers and online forum operators to identify innovation potential in peer communities. Once innovations have been captured, appropriate research and funding can be provided. Interested parties can find the open-soruce toolbox at phihes.github.io/pici/. The researchers are now interested in having other researchers pick up and develop their methods.
Sources: peer-innovation.com/phihes.github.io/pici
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