Output details
34 - Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
Robert Gordon University
Effective Approaches for innovation support for SMEs
This paper describes a number of models for Innovation Centres and questions the underlying assumptions which have driven various Government funded innovation initiatives in recent years. The paper reflects the approach now being adopted in new government initiatives for example those being promoted by the Technology Strategy Board’s Innovate UK brand which emphasises the importance of design being applied in the early stages of the innovation process.
The paper identifies the appropriate learning framework for supporting SMEs based on an experiential model derived from design practice. This involves hands-on workshops, which involve collaborative sharing of ideas and experience, as opposed to non-interactive activities, which is the standard approach most often adopted by innovation programmes.
Malins provides a critical review of various models for innovation centres and explores the effectiveness of the support programmes, which are intended to stimulate innovation. Gulari’s current PhD research (supervised by Malins) is briefly referenced in this paper, questions the role of the “designer as expert”, and provides conclusions based on an analysis of interviews undertaken with designers and SMEs. The paper questions whether designers have the appropriate skill-sets to support the innovation process.
This paper aims to influence the debate around how SMEs should be provided with innovation support and questions the role of universities in this process. As Universities become more concerned with developing new forms of income based on consultancy, this paper considers what the appropriate role would be for them to adopt, to avoid conflicts of interest with commercial providers.
The paper emphasises the importance of the prevailing culture within SMEs, which can either facilitate or inhibit innovation. The paper concludes by suggesting a multidisciplinary human centred approach to encourage the adoption of new perspectives that challenge existing assumptions.
