INNOVATION DESIGN in the Veneto Region

Design Innovation is not just about coming up with new ideas and products, it is also about changes that lead to growth and differentiation.

Design-driven innovation (DDI), is an approach to innovation based on the observation that people do not just purchase products or services, they buy ‘meanings’ – where users’ needs are not only satisfied by form and functions, but also through experience (meaning).

DDI unveils how a company can build a sustainable competitive advantage through innovations not coming directly from the existing markets but that create new ones.

Accordingly, this company conveys a new reason for customers to buy them as they recognized a vision successfully proposed.

This added value can be reached and effectively exploited if a company leverages the rich and multifaceted network of a firm outsiders, that means suppliers, researchers, designers, artists operating as “final customers’ interpreters”.

Confindustria Veneto SIAV S.p.A. will include regional companies, considered as best practices, within an international circuit that offers to participants (regardless of whether they are students, entrepreneurs, VET staff, etc. …), a comprehensive overview of the topic and the way in which Innovation Design is managed and produces its effect and impact within companies and local economic environments.

Along with companies, selected stakeholders have been included in order to give the participant a comprehensive, complementary and clear overview of the innovation environment and how different players involved, companies, business support services, KIBs, Universities work together creating added value at territorial level.

Confindustria Veneto SIAV S.p.A. is considering to includes in the international circuit companies that have already dealt with the topic within the ESF or other training programmes, designing and putting in place internal reorganization and dedicated procedures to seize the opportunities offered by Innovation Design in conceptualize and manufacturing/organizing new products and/or services to be offered on the market.

Potential companies to be involved in the proposed international circuit are:

Companies:

• METALCO S.r.l., Resana (TV), street furniture;
• GALDI S.r.l., Postioma (TV), design, manufacture and installation of filling machines for bottling;
• Margraf S.p.A., Chiampo (VI), marble processing;
• Zafferano S.r.l., Quinto di Treviso (TV), glass processing;
• Elite, Fontanaviva (PD), professional cycling equipment.

Business Support Services:
 Galileo Visionary District, Padua (PD), scientific and technological park of Padua and business incubator.
 Politecnico Calzaturiero S.c.a.r.l., Capriccio di Vigonza (PD), specialised VET training center and fablab.

The reasons behind the selection of the above listed companies and support organisations is the expertise they gained dealing with innovation design and open innovation, e.g. reshaping their internal organization processes or assisting enterprises and start-ups in rethinking their internal processes, products and organisations.
Both companies are considered as best practices and innovation leaders at regional level. Due to these reasons, they agreed to the possibility to host participants from abroad within the Go&Learn+ framework.

N. of days dedicated to the company visits: 3-4 days, half-day per company visit.
N. of days dedicated to travelling: 1-2 days.

Suggested airports:

• VCE, Marco Polo airport, Venice;
• TSF, Treviso Airport, Treviso.

The n. of days above indicated are to be considered as a hypothesis based on the n. of companies already identified.
The visit format and duration can be adapted and customized in order to be more in line with both companies’ and participants’ availabilities.
Moreover, the mobility format could be customized according to the discretion of the visiting body and taking into account selected companies availabilities. 

The proposed international circuit hypothesis lasts 4 to 6 days.
As previously mentioned, the general pattern can be adopted to the discretion of the visiting body and companies’ availabilities.

In addition to the company visits, dedicated tourist-cultural discovery of the territory can be added to the proposed agenda in order to offer to participants a comprehensive overview of the territory both on the economic and social aspects.