SEE Project (Europe): Design Policy Developments
SEE launches its first Policy Booklet: Integrating Design Into Regional Innovation Policy
By Anna Whicher & Gisele Raulik-Murphy
Issue 3 Spring 2010
With the conclusion of 2009, there are many exciting design policy developments at the three policy levels in Europe: the European Union, the Member States and Regions. In the coming months, the European Commission will be drafting a new innovation act in which design will be a key component. Design is also included in the policy agenda within the individual EU member states. Sharing Experience Europe (SEE), a network of eleven design organizations across Europe led by Design Wales, has been working hard to lobby national and regional governments to incorporate design and creativity into public policy. The project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund through the INTERREG IVC program.
In November 2009, SEE launched its first Policy Booklet: Integrating Design Into Regional Innovation Policy. This publication presents an overview of innovation policy priorities in the SEE partner regions. These priorities were identified from national and regional policy documents and were weighed against the strategic priorities for innovation identified by the European Commission. From this comparative analysis six common key issues emerged across the policy agendas:
- Innovation in Services
- Public Procurement
- Collaborative Clusters & Networks
- Lead Markets & Eco-innovation
- Intellectual Property Rights
- Broadening the Scope of Innovation
For each of these priorities, the SEE Policy Booklet outlines the drivers and obstacles for enhancing the performance of regional innovation policy, explores how design can be used to address the issue, provides illustrative case studies and puts forward policy proposals.
SEE has now set itself a number of targets for raising the profile of design amongst regional policy-makers as a strategic process for identifying challenges and proposing sustainable solutions. The timing is apt as much attention is currently focused on innovation as a means out of the enduring economic stalemate. Therefore, there is a real opportunity for design to contribute to recovery and addressing societal challenges. 2010 could see significant design policy developments across Europe – you can follow our progress on the SEE project website.
This is the first of four Policy Booklets to be published between 2009 and 2011. An electronic copy of the booklet is available to download from the SEE website.
Anna Whicher is Research Officer at Design Wales and one of the editors of the SEE Policy Booklet. She has an MSc in European Public Policy from University College London and graduated with First Class Honours in French and History from the University of Reading.
Gisele Raulik-Murphy is Senior Research Officer at Design Wales and SEE Project Coordinator. She has recently completed studies for a PhD looking at design policies in different national contexts. She also has an MA in Design Strategy and Innovation from Brunel University (UK) and gained her degree in Graphic Design from the Federal University of Parana (Brazil).