Early Stage Design in Innovation
Design is a powerful tool when used effectively throughout the entire life of an innovation project – from concept all the way through to commercialisation.
It can lead to time and cost savings and better project outcomes, especially when embedded early in a project’s life cycle.
The UK is in the premier league of creativity and design boasting a multidisciplinary sector, from strategic design to brand design. According to a Department for Business, Innovation and Skills report, every £1 invested in design provides an average return on investment of £25. There is a huge opportunity for UK companies to increase their use of design in early stage innovation to deliver products and services with increased ‘market pull’ and improved social, economic and environmental impact.
The Early Stage Design in Innovation Guide helps businesses explore how design can be used in innovation and what is needed to create the best environment for design to deliver high value.
Explore the guide here.
Current Early Stage Design in Innovation funding opportunities
Design Foundations July 2022
Opens: 06/07/2022 Closes: 31/08/2022
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £2 million for early-stage, people and planet centred design projects to influence their future R&D activity.
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Eureka Eurostars 3: call 3
Opens: 13/07/2022 Closes: 15/09/2022
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £2.5 million for collaborative research with organisations from participating Eureka Eurostars members countries.
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Knowledge transfer partnerships (KTP): 2022 to 2023, Round 3
Opens: 27/06/2022 Closes: 14/09/2022
The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) programme allows a UK registered business or not for profit organisation to partner with a UK education institution, research and technology organisation (RTO) or Catapult to deliver a specific, strategic innovation project.
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Related News
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What does the future of design look like?
This article features insights on the future of design from designers and innovators working in the sector.
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24/03/2022
Young Innovators 20/21 Success Stories
There are many different routes into innovation, and this is clearly illustrated in the stories of our award winners. Read the stories of our 2020/21 Young Innovators to find out how the Young Innovators programme helped them to navigate and accelerate their entrepreneurial journey.