The European Commission published a Staff Working Document “Implementing an Action Plan for Design-Driven Innovation” on 23 September 2013. This document describes current and upcoming actions endorsed by the Commission and relating to promoting design-driven innovation in different policy fields. These actions form the Action Plan for Design-Driven Innovation aiming to accelerate the take-up of design in innovation policies at European, national and regional levels and to create the capacity and competencies needed to implement these policies.

The Action Plan is structured under three strategic areas for action:

1. -Promoting understanding of design’s impact on innovation;
2. -Promoting design-driven innovation in industries to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness;
3. -Promoting the adoption of design to drive renewal in the public sector.

The 14 action lines build on the recommendations of the European Design Leadership Board, a group of experts that was invited by the Commission to make concrete proposals on how to better integrate design, user-driven innovation and other non-technological drivers into innovation policy and support. Also, a consultation with a broad representation of stakeholders has been conducted as well as interactions with various Commission services.

Find more information on the Action Plan here.