Innovation competition for a (pre)school environment withot harful substances

Important results from the project

City of Malmö sought funding from Vinnova to develop the basis for an innovation contest that aims to contribute to a non-toxic environment for (pre)schools. The objectives have been met by identifying problems and needs in children´s outdoor environment; the development of healthy and inspiring outdoor environments for children and youth: ´Sustainable schoolyards for the future´. A project application for funding implementation of the competition has been submitted.

Expected long term effects

Civil servants involved in the project and key people in the city of Malmö have gained increased knowledge of what a lowtox-preschool means, and what innovation contests are. All deliveries have been produced: a market analysis, a set of requirements related to the problems and needs, and ideas for prices. These are summarized in the project application for funding implementation of the innovation contest.

Approach and implementation

The project was implemented by representatives from the four relevant administrations in the city of Malmö. Many ideas were raised, processed and rejected before the project changed direction from the building itself to the outdoor environment. Thus, the project had to be extended considerably. A different structure and implementation may have proven more effective, but some processes simply need time, especially when dealing with complex subjects where a basis for decision makers is still lacking to some extent.