Co-Innovate @ Brunel: Design Innovation Support as a Driver of Business Capacity

Abstract

This paper presents Co-Innovate, a design innovation support programme run by Brunel Design School, Brunel University London. Established in 2012 and funded by Brunel and the European Regional Development Fund/ Greater London Authority, the programme is made up of two complementary projects: Brunel Co-Innovate Journeys and Bridging the Gap. The projects are both aimed at using design innovation to grow the business capacity of Greater London-- based companies, with the former supporting SMEs and the latter start ups. The projects deliver the support in three different formats: 01) educational workshops centred around the design innovation-related knowledge transfer from the academia to the business community, 02) mentoring on design management and business development strategy and 03) collaborative projects whereby the businesses taking part work with Brunel Design School students and academics to develop their product and service concepts into the near market-ready solutions. Since the establishment, Co-Innovate has supported approximately 500 companies, successfully facilitating their business growth and thus stimulating the Greater London economy by design.