The ADMRC includes a strong Knowledge Exchange (KE) community working with regional, national and international companies to deliver Innovate UK funded programmes and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships.
Design Futures was established in 1997 and was the first non-STEM CIC (Centre for Industrial Collaboration). Over the last two decades Design Futures has delivered R&D to regional, national and international companies and has delivered Innovate UK funded programmes and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships. An established strategy has been to support the economic development and sustainability of the region through R&D.
“We have for a long time made a considerable impact in product, packaging and Health related design products and design-based strategies where we have a long track record working with industry partners.”
Over the last decade Design Futures has engaged with 258 SMEs/organisations generating and delivering 356 new products to market. Currently Design Futures is delivering R&D through the Sheffield Innovation Programme’ (SIP) a regional initiative which aims to stimulate business growth and promote the development of long-term relationships with SMEs through research and innovation-based consultancy.
More recently Design Futures has contributed to the new initiative, ‘Scale up 360’ (part of the Northern Powerhouse strategy to support entrepreneurs and start-ups in the region) and has delivered 25 and currently working on a further 15 projects. Design Futures also hosts a range of annual internships for our own and international students which has and is providing a valued experience in developing early research and commercial careers.
Recent Examples of KT-funded projects include a patented medical-grade wearable health monitor with a Cambridge tech company funded through a major IoT award, and the design of horse transporters with a regional company for the US export market. Both projects were assessed as outstanding by the funders Innovate UK.
We have for a long time made a considerable impact in product, packaging and Health related design products and design-based strategies where we have a long track record on working with industry partners
“Design Futures has used eco-design principles for many years to incorporate environmental, low carbon, sustainability considerations into the design process. We are making a strong contribution in terms of KT projects that contribute to packaging reduction and non-sustainable resource reduction.”
Design Futures recently won the award ‘Resource efficient pack of the year’ for a project which illustrates how large environmental savings can be made through ‘packaging design’. The pack they designed replaced 600,000 plastic packs in the first year (using cardboard) and is projected to replace 16 million packs over the next ten years.
