Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Design Centres: Emphasis is on fostering innovation and creativity

Louise Jury
Monday 05 December 2005 20:00 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A national network of "innovation centres" is to be set up to help foster new design talent. It will include a showcase for British design in London.

But there will be also reforms to tax credits for research and development to encourage early and innovative use of design in manufacturing and industry.

The tax incentives and the innovation centres were among a package of measures recommended in the Cox report, written by Sir George Cox, the chairman of the Design Council, and published at the end of last week.

It took evidence from a wide range of bodies on how to build a stronger relationship between businesses and creative professionals and how to strengthen the links between university departments and industry. David Kester, the chief executive of the Design Council, said they were "delighted" at the Government's positive response, which follows two years' sustained lobbying.

The Chancellor said: "The design of new products and services is now such an important sector that we propose a network of creativity and innovation centres - one in each region offering start-up help to new design talent and supported by an expanded national centre in London to showcase British design." The Lighthouse in Glasgow already acts as a design talent showcase.

The arts world, however, was disappointed. Campaigners led by the National Art Collections Fund (Art Fund) had proposed an income tax incentive to encourage people to give gifts to public collections. The scheme, which it calls Living and Giving, was aimed at addressing the fall in public funding in acquisitions in British museums and galleries. The Treasury said it intended to look at other ways of encouraging philanthropy in the arts.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in