The Malta Business Bureau has been appointed as the Ambassador for the European Commission’s Design for Europe programme in Malta.

Design for Europe is the public name of the EC's European Design Innovation Platform (EDIP). The three-year, €3.8 million programme aims to help people use design to accelerate innovation across Europe - boosting economic growth and job creation. The European project is being led by the Design Council in the UK.

The MBB was selected because of its broad local market knowledge and network of contacts and will now be responsible for increasing the reach of the programme in Malta. Through this project, MBB CEO Joe Tanti will join a number of Design for Europe ambassadors who are being appointed in each of the 28 EU member states.

“The project aims to encourage and support businesses to innovate through design in more ways than one. Design is fundamentally important not only for products, branding and services but to the core of any business,” Mr Tanti said.

To kick-off the initiative, the MBB is organising an event in collaboration with the Economy Ministry. The Innovation through Design conference will be held on November 6 at the Palace Hotel in Sliema. The aim is to provide participants with an opportunity to innovate further, network and learn how to tap existing support measures.

Guest speaker and international expert Kamil Michlewski, Senior Consultant at the Value Engineers London will be showcasing the benefits that can be achieved by integrating leading-edge design in any business model, service or structure. Dr Michlewski said: “There is no industry that is immune to the forces of disruption sweeping the world today. As a consequence, all sectors and industries have an acute need to do something about it."

To register interest for this event e-mail your request to Ms Ana Vella on avella@mbb.org.mt or call 2125 1719. Programme details may be downloaded from the MBB website www.mbb.org.mt