Paris (France) - From 12-13 January 2009, Icsid Promotional Member APCI (Agence pour la promotion de la création industrielle) will host the 6th European conference on design innovation and the challenges of design promotion. This year’s conference will focus on the potential synergies between design support actions and innovation policies.

A number of recent evolutions suggest that it is time to look at the issue with new eyes:

1. One can notice that there is an increasing interest for "user-driven" innovation from the innovation support side (this topic was already approached in the 2005 and 2006 conferences). Yet, this has not yet resulted in a huge interest in the potential contribution of the existing design industry.
2. There is a convergence between different actions taken at the European level and in different countries (e.g. IP protection, public procurement, clusters, taxation schemes etc.). But to what extent do they impact on the knowledge intensive services, and can they offer opportunities for the design profession?
3. Finally, the European Commission (DG Enterprise and Industry) should release a consultation document this spring that will focus on design and innovation.

The first day of the conference will be devoted to the recently developed tools, as well as to the support strategies implemented in different European regions. The programme and the speakers will develop insights on the integration of design in many actions. Policy makers fom regions that have focused on design and creative industries as part of their economical and social development strategies will come and share their experience.

The second day looks at the deployment of a design approach and the consolidation of design services as a core component for driving innovation. It will gather representatives of various companies and will illustrate the potential of a design attitude, ranging from small companies to the largest one, and from product through social innovation to the management of organisations.

Register before 15 December and receive a 20% discount.

Registration fees

Normal registration:
Both days: 500 € (400 € until 15/12)
One day: 300 € (240 € until 15/12)

Students (student card required):
Both days: 60 €
One day: 40 €

Visit the APCI website for more information and to download the registration form.

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For more information, please contact:

Agence pour la Promotion de la Création Industrielle
24, rue du Charolais
75012 Paris
France
t: +33 1 43 45 04 50
f: +33 1 43 45 10 76
e:
w: www.apci.asso.fr