{"id":7870,"date":"2021-06-04T07:56:41","date_gmt":"2021-06-04T07:56:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focus.cbbc.org\/?p=7870"},"modified":"2021-09-16T10:20:30","modified_gmt":"2021-09-16T10:20:30","slug":"the-design-intelligence-awards-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focus.cbbc.org\/the-design-intelligence-awards-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"The Design Intelligence Awards 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"

No longer just a low-cost manufacturing hub, today China is a high-tech destination with a flourishing design culture and an appetite for innovation. The Design Intelligence Award offers UK innovators a chance to tap into this huge potential market.<\/h2>\n

Conventional Western thinking has often positioned China as a \u201cfast-follower,\u201d an absorber of technology rather than an innovator. However, in recent years, growth in multiple indicators, including R&D spending, patent applications and scientific publications, show that China is taking measures to dramatically upgrade its domestic innovation capacity. For example, in 2019, China became the world\u2019s biggest source of international patent applications, filing 58,990 applications via the World Intellectual Property Organisation\u2019s Patent Cooperation Treaty.<\/p>\n

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China has also made significant strides in intellectual property<\/a> protection, formerly a key area of concern for design-led companies considering the Chinese market. The introduction of a new\u00a0Civil Code<\/a> in 2020 brought with it important changes to the country\u2019s IP<\/a> system, in particular by cementing the principle that punitive damages can be claimed against infringers.<\/p>\n

Beyond that, a new generation of creative talents are finding inspiration within China, rather than from foreign products or designs. The number of design colleges alone has grown from 300 to 1,800 in the past 10 years. Some sources suggest that there are now more than 50,000 designers in China, including architects, urban planners, industrial and graphic designers, and, most crucially, advanced digital designers.<\/p>\n

The rapid pace of change in the Chinese market and the openness to new technologies and experiences represent a major opportunity for innovative UK companies, which they can leverage via programmes such as the Design Intelligence Awards (DIA).<\/p>\n

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What are the Design Intelligence Awards?<\/h4>\n

Now in their sixth year, the DIA is one of the world\u2019s most prestigious award programmes. It represents an opportunity for UK entrepreneurs to access global decision-makers, investors and commissioners, build their reputation internationally and grab a share of a \u00a3750,000 award fund.<\/span><\/p>\n

DIA 2021 has a strong trade and commercialisation focus, with partners including China Britain Business Council<\/a>, Innovate UK, Barclays Eagle Labs, Imperial London and Plus X Accelerators. <\/span>The DIA Trade and Business Portal helps applicants evaluate product or service potential, offering guidance in growing business in China. The Industrial Transformation Service provides industrial transformation support, including project landing, investment, entrepreneurship guidance, design refinement, marketing promotion and sci-tech transformation to accelerate market expansion.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cChina is becoming an ever more important market for UK businesses. It\u2019s vital for British jobs that we continue to develop our economic ties with the world\u2019s fastest-growing major economy.\u201d <\/i><\/span> Matthew Rous, CEO, China Britain Business Council<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This year\u2019s UK partners and judges include John Mathers, chair of the British Design Fund and chair of the DIA UK judges; Mark Hedley, Tech & Knowledge Economy Director, China Britain Business Council; Thang Vo Ta, CEO of previous winner Callaly; and Dr Helen Crampin, Innovation and Technology Lead, Healthy Ageing, Innovate UK.<\/p>\n

A golden opportunity for UK businesses<\/h4>\n

Asia\u2019s rapid growth markets, particularly China, offer a major boost for UK innovators. Growth in China surged by 18.3%<\/a> in the first quarter of 2021 and it was the only major economy to grow in 2020 (by 2.3%). In 2020 British exports<\/a> to China rose by 10.7%, compared with 2019, up \u00a3837 million.<\/span><\/p>\n