The INNOCOPE method

(INNOvating through COnsumer-integrated Product dEvelopment)

Overview

The INNOCOPE method allows to develop marketable products that both satisfy customer needs at the best, and proceed towards sustainability. This is done by combining the expertise of a company with the users' experiences from everyday's practical use of the considered product.

The INNOCOPE method involves possible users actively during product development. They provide their experiences from everyday's use of existing similar products in order to develop a better product that fits to their needs. Integrating the users already during the conceptual phase allows to take these experiences into account most effectively and efficiently. Besides usability, INNOCOPE pays special attention to the climate impact of the product. By employing an easy-to-use software (ECOCLASS) the emissions of greenhouse gases during production and product use can easily be determined.

Concept of the INNOCOPE process

(Click graphics to enlarge.)

The INNOCOPE process consists of three workshops that last for one day and take place every three months. About 15-20 consumers and up to four representatives of the cooperating company attend the workshops. The company's representatives should come from different divisions, e.g. R&D, Sales/Marketing, Production, Environment. Preferably, all three workshops should be attended by the same participants.

The INNOCOPE process starts with a preparation phase, which is followed by a workshop phase of about 6 months. Details of planning and implementation are arranged in close coordination with the participating company. The preparation phase focuses first on adjusting joint targets and expectations between the scientific team and the company. Later, the product or product range to be considered during the workshops is determined.

During the first workshop the participants generate product ideas, which are evaluated, substantiated and refined at subsequent meetings by using professional creativity and moderation techniques. In between the workshops, the company should build on the results and develop initial concepts to realise them (drafts, models, maybe prototypes).

The goal of INNOCOPE is to have a marketable product concept available after the third workshop. The decision whether this can be realised or not remains with the company.

INNOCOPE in the press

Experiences from the INNOCOPE workshops are starting to spread within the journals read by bicycle and pedelec manufacturers. The first online article appeared in spring 2006 at www.extraenergy.org. A printed version of this text also appeared in the Bike Europe of 10.02.2006.

You can also download our press release on the INNOCOPE process (in German only).

INNOCOPE guidelines

Are you interested in INNOCOPE, or do you want to use it yourself? Then you should read the hands-on INNOCOPE guidelines beforehand. The guidelines describe aims and design of INNOCOPE in a comprehensive and easily understandable way and pick up experiences from the INNOCOPE pilot study within the GELENA project.

The guidelines are available as PDF download (76 Seiten, 5.6 MB, only in German).
Printed copies (in German only) can be obtained against mailing expenses from:
Institut für ökologische Wirtschaftsforschung (IÖW)
Margarete Fischer
Potsdamer Str. 105
10785 Berlin
E-Mail: vertrieb@ioew.de
Fax: +49-(0)30 - 8825439