Capabilities for design-driven innovation in European SMEs

The objective of the contract is to improve the competencies of intermediary business development organisations across Europe. They should deliver support to SMEs interested in using design as a strategic tool in their business.

The goal is to deliver a training programme on design-driven innovation for intermediary business development organisations. The programme should improve their capabilities to support SMEs to use design in their business.

About the programme

• A broad understanding of design should be applied in the programme: design is not only about form and aesthetics but about processes and how things work.
• Design in business models - particular attention should be paid to the role of design in business models and processes that benefit from advanced manufacturing technologies and digital user-data.
• Face to face events - the training activities may include on-line elements but major part of the programme should be delivered through events where participants meet qualified trainers face-to-face.
• Support material - this programme should produce support material that will help participating organisations serve their client SMEs. It should include guidance and tools on the use of design in business and concrete case examples where design has played an instrumental role in creating new value and promoting productivity. This support material will be made publicly available on-line to all interested.
• Impact monitoring - the action should also monitor the impact of the actions carried out under this contract. Data should be provided on the number of participants that have included design-driven innovation in their services for SMEs, after having finished training under this contract.

Who can take part

The primary target group of the training actions delivered are intermediary business development organisations who are working directly with SMEs.

Policy makers, managers of support schemes and other players involved in planning and delivering innovation policy actions are not excluded from the training. 

Definition of intermediary business development organisation The definition of intermediary business development organisation in this call is broad - it can be any public or private organisation working directly with SMEs and helping to improve their competitiveness, such as innovation agencies and incubators.

Also design consultancies and associations of designers can be included in this definition if they are serving SMEs in integrating design into their business.