DESEÑAPEME: Grants to incorporate design in Galician SMEs and micro-enterprises
About this good practice
DESEÑAPEME is financial support oriented to the improvement of the capacity for innovation and sustainability in Galician SMEs through the incorporation of the strategic design of products, services, experiences and brands and corporate identity.
To participate in DESÑAPEME, the design projects have to be aimed at the conception and development of products, services and experiences that are perceived in the market as new or, in the case of re-design of existing ones, that a substantial improvement is appreciated. The elaboration of corporate identities and company brands must be designed with a significant interrelation with the design of their products and services.
The participating companies will be subsidized non-refundable and 50% (range of projects between minimum EUR 5,000 and MAX EUR 100,000) for the contracting of activities aimed at:
• Advisory services on innovation.
• Obtaining, validating and defending patents.
• Everything needed to make prototypes of the designs like moulds, tools, 3D impression, design software and other equipment necessary.
• Hiring external design services.
• Costs of managerial personnel that carry out activities of the design project with a maximum dedication of 30%.
• Recruitment of new staff with qualifications or recognition in the field of design and who must dedicate themselves exclusively to the subsidized design project.
Main stakeholders involved: DAG (Association of Galician Designers)
Expert opinion
Measures that connect cultural and creative industries (CCI) experts with other SMEs have a proven track record of improving the latter’s competitiveness. This grant measure implemented in Galicia, Spain is noteworthy because of the various eligible activities. For example, compared to voucher schemes which are often used to promote the uptake of design in SMEs, the DESEÑAPEME grant also enables to cover the costs of existing personnel or recruit new qualified staff. This provides flexibility to SMEs as each can find the most suitable use for the additional financing; but it can also lead to more long-term benefits. Another positive element of the grant is that it can be used for various levels of design – strategic design (e.g. innovation management within a SME), product and service design or branding. Other regions seeking to support innovation in their SMEs and/or collaboration with the CCI sector could surely learn from the DESEÑAPEME experience.
Resources needed
Two Deseñapeme calls (years 2021 and 2022), for a total amount of €3M (€1.5M in 2021 and €1.5M in 2022).
In order to select the projects to be subsidized, assessment criteria and punctuations have been previously established and after that, a commission of 5 people punctuate projects.
Evidence of success
During the first call of Deseñapeme (2021), 61 application forms were presented, but only the best 25 were accepted before the budget for the grants was depleted.
As a consequence of Desñapeme 2021, 16 new designers or similar professions were hired in order to be held the projects presented.
In the Desñapeme call for this year 2022, more than 90 project proposals have been received, which demonstrates the interest that these grants have for companies.
Potential for learning or transfer
The abundant and wide range of technological agents present in the Galician innovation ecosystem does not mean, a high rate of absorption of innovation by small and medium-sized R&D&i companies generated in Galicia, especially in those non-technological SMEs belonging to traditional sectors.
The Galician design sector, therefore, is called upon to play a key role in this process where the union of design and innovation through the construction of a solid ecosystem will drive innovative agents to enable a sustainable and digital transformation to be more accessible to SMEs.
Through DESEÑAPEME aids, we want SMEs to implement a method for the strategic management of the design of products and services as one more part of business management, in order to ensure a greater degree of efficiency for companies in their relationship with the buyer, and provide it with greater traces of innovation, sustainability, differentiation and adaptation to the user.