British Design Innovation (BDI) has published a position paper calling on the government to reconsider the way it funds universities to deliver design, innovation and prototyping services to businesses. BDI questions whether such funding is worthwhile, given that it attempts to duplicate existing commercial provision by highly-qualified practitioners, and asks why public money should be used to set up anti-competitive practices.
BDI unequivocally supports the government's promotion of innovation and manufacturing as a means of driving economic growth. However, its members - who help entrepreneurs, businesses, universities and public sector organisations throughout the UK develop ideas, intellectual property and new technology - are increasingly frustrated by the displacement impact of these publicly-funded interventions.
"Industrial Design professionals simply require equality, transparency and fair dealing," said BDI national director Alistair Williamson of Lucid Innovation, lead author of the paper.