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Call for Papers – RESER 2024 Conference on
“Co-creating sustainable solutions for Future-proof Societies”
Hosted by VTT Technical Research Center of Finland.
Conference is organized 31st October – 2nd November, Helsinki, Finland
Transformative changes within the socio-technical system are imperative to tackle global challenges and foster sustainable growth for long-term wellbeing. Addressing systemic challenges necessitates shifts beyond individual product or service innovations to, demanding large-scale systemic transformations. Essential for addressing societal transformations are fundamental shifts in innovation cultures, management and governance practices, and mindsets. Future directions for developing solutions for future-proof societies emphasize the following:
- Multi-faceted Innovations: Solutions must encompass both technological advancements and service-based innovations, intertwined with broader social and systemic changes.
- Collaborative Engagement: Collaboration among diverse stakeholders from industry, public sector, third-sector organizations and citizens is paramount to harness synergies and address complex challenges effectively.
- Systemic Understanding: Developing and disseminating innovations requires a holistic understanding of the socio-technical system, encompassing dynamic interactions between companies, policymakers, and citizens.
Decision-making faces challenges due to the interconnectedness of sectors, necessitating a departure from traditional sectoral and industrial approaches. This calls for systemic governance approaches that integrate sustainability as a target into decision-making processes, requiring new approaches for value creation and related indicators to support transition effectively. Overall, by harnessing the power of innovation, creativity and collaboration, service providers and policymakers can create positive social and environmental impacts that benefit present and future generations.
The RESER 2024 conference is a forum for the presentation and discussion of innovative studies on services to ensure the active development of service research. Scholars and practitioners of management, marketing, engineering, economics, sociology, geography, or any other discipline are invited to submit papers that explore and develop a multidisciplinary understanding of various service issues. Papers can include literature reviews, conceptual papers and empirical studies using qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods. In line with the above, we organize the conference around the following six themes, but papers on related topics are also welcome.
- Future-oriented approaches in building sustainable society: Foresight is a basis for giving a long-term direction and creating future-proof strategies, products and services. Studies have shown that companies and organisations investing in strategic foresight find decision-making environment less complex and are able to review their own organisations as part of broader development. The integration of scenario development activities with service design thinking is also an avenue for the creation of not only future-proof strategies, but also services that actively shape a desirable future.
- Co-creation in societies and ecosystems as an engine for change: Many societal challenges, such as climate change and urbanization, are multifaceted and require innovative solutions that go beyond traditional approaches. Co-creation approaches are becoming increasingly prevalent: ecosystems and networks are reshaping the landscape of service design, delivery and value creation. Research may focus on understanding the dynamics of collaboration among diverse stakeholders, including industries, decision-makers, researchers and citizens, and how co-creation processes can lead to the development of innovative service offerings and examine the structure, dynamics, and governance mechanisms of service ecosystems. Of interest here is also an enhanced understanding of how service co-creation can bridge the gap between top-down policy and bottom-up citizen engagement, fostering a sense of shared ownership for sustainable solutions.
- Smart cities and resilient infrastructures: Cities have been considered potential ‘drivers’ and loci for sustainability, innovation, and societal progress. They have a dual role in solving and contributing to sustainability: cities generate both problems and solutions to sustainability challenges. Cities may play a proactive role in promoting sustainable policies and developing sustainable solutions. Studies may investigate how smart infrastructures, urban planning, smart mobility and energy solutions can create resilient, interconnected service ecosystems within cities and regions, enhancing quality of life, sustainability, and economic vitality.
- Empowering citizen and communities: Empowering individuals and communities to actively participate in problem-solving and decision-making processes may lead to more inclusive and democratic societies. By leveraging technology and collaborative platforms, service providers can engage stakeholders in co-designing and co-implementing solutions that address local needs and priorities. Additionally, there is a growing interest in social innovation and inclusive design approaches that address the needs of marginalized and underserved communities. Studies may investigate how service innovations can promote social inclusion, equity, and accessibility, as well as empower diverse stakeholders to participate in co-creation processes.
- Future directions in technological development: Embracing technological advancement is crucial for future-proof societies to drive innovation, enhance productivity, and improve quality of life. Societal and economic development is increasingly dependent on technological knowledge and the ability to develop and efficiently use novel technologies. From the viewpoint of future-proof societies the advancement of digital technologies and data analytics will be central also in the future. Making sense of data requires new, improved methods for communication both between humans and machines and it also requires the development of data management and data governance methods. It also requires adequate engagement with the ethical implications of data-driven services, in order to explore how service design can promote responsible data collection, use, and ownership.
- Policies and Governance for sustainable solutions: Future-proof societies and related innovations do not emerge without policy measures and governance structures that support their creation. In order to guarantee robust and real-time information in decision-making we need to understand the role of policy frameworks, regulatory mechanisms, and governance structures in fostering sustainable solutions, how the sustainability value is co-created and what are long-term and systemic impacts of solutions. To capture the comprehensive sustainability of the solution and to offer versatile perspectives to decision-making, novel tools for evaluating, validating and arguing the sustainability value from the perspective of different stakeholders is required.
By exploring these topics, the conference aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue, collaboration, and knowledge exchange among researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and industry leaders working towards building future-proof societies through service research.
Author guidelines
All submissions should be done by using the following formats:
Abstract Template
Abstract proposal should not exceed 6000 characters (including spaces and except references) and must be sent according to the RESER-Abstract-Template.doc
Extended abstract Template
Full paper submission is not compulsory: It is also possible to submit an extended abstract/executive summary of about 10000 characters (including spaces and except references) according to the RESER-Abstract-Template.doc.
Full Paper Template The Full Paper should not exceed c. 20 pages (including tables, notes and references), and must be due according to the RESER-FullPaper-Template.doc
Deadlines:
Abstract submission deadline: 31st May 2024
Notification of acceptance: 5th July 2024
Extended abstract or full paper submission deadline: 11th October 2024
PhD students
PHD students can apply to the RESER founders award, for details go to: https://reser.net/reser-founders-phd-award/
On Thursday morning (30th October), there will be a workshop for PhD students (information and registration on https://conference2024.reser.net ).
Conference Fees
- Early bird until 1st September: 380€ (regular) 250€ (student)
- Regular after 1st September: 450€ (regular) 280€ (student)
- Partners : 100€
- Virtual participation :
- Early bird until 1st September: 150€ (regular) 80€ (student)
- Regular after 1st September: 200€ (regular) 150€ (student)
Scientific Committee (TBC)
- Veronika Belousova, Moscow National Research University, Russia
- Daisy Bertrand, Aix Marseille Université
- Pedro Costa, University Institute of Lisbon, Portugal
- Lars Fuglsang, University of Roskilde, Denmark
- Faiz Gallouj, Université Lille France
- Ida Gremyr, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
- Estibaliz Hernandez, Mondragon University, Spain
- Kirsi Hyytinen, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
- Luna Leoni, University of Rome Tor Vergata
- Céline Merlin Brogniart, Université Lille France
- Luciana Oliveira Militão, University of Brasília, Brazil
- Marie-Christine Monnoyer, Catholic University of Toulouse, France
- Jean Philippe, Aix Marseille Université
- Tiziana Russo Spena, University of Naples Federico II, Italy
- Markus Scheuer, Essen, Germany
- Alexander Schletz, Fraunhofer IAO, Germany
- Arho Suominen, VTT Technical Research Center of Finland
- Kalle Kantola, VTT Technical Research Center of Finland
- Tiina Tuominen, VTT Technical Research Center of Finland
- Jorge Martins, VTT Technical Research Center of Finland
- Ville Valovirta, VTT Technical Research Center of Finland
- Anu Seisto, VTT Technical Research Center of Finland
- Mika Nieminen, VTT Technical Research Center of Finland
Organising Committee (TBC)
- Kirsi Hyytinen, VTT Technical Research Center of Finland
- Arho Suominen, VTT Technical Research Center of Finland
- Kalle Kantola, VTT Technical Research Center of Finland
- Katri Valkokari, VTT Technical Research Center of Finland
- Tiina Tuominen, VTT Technical Research Center of Finland
- Jorge Martins, VTT Technical Research Center of Finland