Open Innovation Challenge

British Design Innovation, in partnership with London Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), PERA and EEF South, has announced the first series of Innovation awards to 12 strategic design firms to look at first stage innovation for twelve selected London based SME manufacturers.

The awards of £5,000 each are the results of the newly launched BDI Open Innovation Challenge (OIC). See end of release for Designer and SME pairs

What is Open Innovation Challenge?

The OIC is a BDI collaborative innovation programme that utilises the expertise of strategic designers and innovation consultants to unlock innovation within small, medium and large industrial companies and within science based university faculties seeking to utilise strategic design as a bridge to industry and/or to support spin-out companies.

The OIC was created by British Design Innovation with input and knowledge-based experience of its national and regional Board directors. Board directors include leading strategic designers, in-house design and innovation directors, Knowledge Transfer Officers from leading universities, management consultants and IP specialists.

The OIC features five core models that enable sets of originators to come together collaboratively with industry and dealmakers.

Originators include designers, graduates, entrepreneurs, inventors and PhDs from all sciences. The industry and dealmakers include SMEs, mid to corporate brand owners, global players, venture capitalists and innovation brokers.

The five models vary according to which set of originators are leading the OIC and which industry and dealmaker partners are selected to partner them.

Each OIC has its own set of partners and core business, social and or sustainability theme.

Design, Innovation and Sustainability

The first 12 design firms and 12 SMEs were brought together by BDI from an application list of over 40 proposed partnerships. The winning firms were those whose applications supported utilising innovation and design thinking to create potential new jobs at the same time as a positive impact on the sustainability agenda. All OICs have sustainability at their core.

Open Innovation Challenge throughout the regions

Open Innovation Challenges are being developed throughout the regions by the BDI Regional Boards in line with the economic priorities and industrial make-up of the regions.

Currently under development are:

• Open Innovation Challenge – Scotland. A programme called ‘Brands Hatch’ centres on start-up brands and will bring strategic design firms together with start-ups in incubator centres in Scotland. Programme producers in Scotland are Third Eye and 4C.

• A second London OIC will focus on two areas – healthcare and sustainable packaging, both backed by a national brand sponsor and the second by a global brand sponsor. The latter may result in a substantial fund for the development of innovative and sustainable packaging solutions. Programme producers in London are Live|Work and Frazer Designers.

• Open Innovation South East – is focusing on domestic recycling and social enterprise recycling solutions with potential backing of a South East University, one major South East based brand and several County Councils. Programme Producers in South East are Alloy, University of the Arts, Virgin Airlines, BDI

• Other OICs are taking shape in Yorkshire, North West, East and West Midlands, and Wales.

Any strategic design firm or industrial firm or dealmaker interested in the OICs is welcome to contact BDI for further information. Producers mentioned are leading the design of the programmes but, as with the London Pilot, are seeking applications from the open market.

Roll-out

Pending the success of the London MAS pilot; the first operational OIC is likely to be rolled-out across the South East, West Midlands and repeated in London. Further announcements in this regard will take place in April/May 07

The first 12* award pairs are:

LMB with Third Eye Design
PLI with Sprout Design
Pedalite with Product Resolutions
Multi Sharp Tools with Isis UK
You and Me with Gavin Thomson Design
Prestat Ltd (Marasu’s) with Curv8 Ltd
The Fine Chocolate and Baking Co with Julia Parkinson Design
Vortex Comunications Ltd with Rennie Sinclair, Sinclair Services
Double Eye with JAB Design
More Associates with Element 06
Accoson Works with Isis UK

The BDI launch event, award confirmation and sustainability debate led by expert Alastair Fuad-Luke took place in London on Tuesday 27th February, 2007.

Ray Phillips, PERA & London Manufacturing Advisory Service project manager said the event was the culmination of, “by far the most successful recruitment scheme of the 5 pilots I am running”
 
SME and Designer feedback was exceptionally positive. It was apparent from the participants’ engagement with the sustainability workshop, and the quality and depth of their brainstorming presentations that everyone had found Alastair Fuad Luke’s presentation and workshop stimulating and inspiring.

SME participant Richard Hicks, Technical Director, Pedalite said "Due to the BDI Open Innovation Challenge, we have been able to unlock an innovation project, moving it forward and more quickly than we would have done without this award”.

A set of case studies will be produced at the end of the project with accompanying press releases.