Research>Research Excellence Framework 2021>Impact Case Study - Design Ecosystems

International design ecosystems: How Cardiff Met’s research increased SME competitiveness

Prof. Anna Whicher and Prof. Andrew Walters


Whicher and Walters’s research significantly impacted policy and practice in Europe through the development of a design ecosystem for innovation. Via multiple large scale RCUK and EU-funded projects, they contributed to seven policy instruments across six countries, influencing €358,000,000 of structural fund provision and direct government investment of €14,036,796 into c2,600 European SMEs. In Scotland alone 618 companies benefitted, leading to £134,971,200 of additional sales for a government investment of £3,090,000 – a taxpayer return on investment of over 4,000%.

Download the Research Excellence Framework Impact Case Study