Public Innovation and Living Labs in Action: A Comparative Analysis in post-New Public Management Contexts

This article studies innovation (living) labs (or i-labs), an emergent trend in public management oriented to transform public sector organizations. To do so, this article reviews the most recent literature in public innovation and i-labs. The objective is comparatively analyse the functioning of public innovation labs through two case studies in Spain and Brazil. The article uses qualitative methods, have an exploratory nature, and aims to assess the current stage of implementation of innovation labs, regarding international experiences. The following dimensions are explored: type of lab, origin, methods used, team, focus of activity, and working patterns. This research provides ideas and findings about implications of living labs as a source of public management change, creation of public value, and understanding of the new mechanisms of co-creation, co-production, and collaboration with citizens in the solution of societal problems, within post-New Public Management contexts based on smartness in government.