To promote service design expertise and digitalisation, Centria has developed a simulation environment and group working space, the SILMU laboratory. SILMU enables presentation of service ideas and situations by combining images and sound for the purpose of rapid testing and development.

The SILMU laboratory is a simulation environment and group work space that enables presentation of services as visual material for rapid development and testing, utilising various digital tools. New aspects and ideas are created through trial when students and experts of different fields meet. The SILMU laboratory is utilised as Centria’s learning environment and as a development environment of RDI activities’ services. In the environment, it is possible to examine existing services or develop new ones.

In the SILMU laboratory, various digital tools are utilised and new creative utilisation methods are developed for them through practical work. For example, the threshold of utilisation of smartphones with new ways is lowered. We bring new tools and operating methods as part of the everyday life together with working life representatives and the staff while working on real working life development areas. In the SILMU laboratory, service experiences meeting the needs of the user and the service provider are developed for working life partners, including both the service providers and users. Digitalisation will not be left at the level of device use, but we focus on what kinds of new service models digitalisation enables for working life partners and for Centria.