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Singapore And Denmark Sign Memorandum Of Understanding To Establish Singapore-Denmark Co-Operation Programme On Design
 

- The Design Co-Operation Programme Will Establish Opportunities For Collaboration, Knowledge Exchange And Professional Networking

Singapore ’s Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Economics and Business Affairs, Kingdom of Denmark. This agreement was signed by Dr Lee Boon Yang, Minister for Information, Communications, and the Arts, and Mr Bendt Bendtsen, Minister for Economic and Business Affairs, Denmark . This MOU will see the establishment of a Singapore-Denmark Co-operation Programme on Design to Improve Life.

2. The MOU aims to spur the uptake of Design to Improve Life across respective strategic industries in both the private and public sector. It will help to improve the competitiveness and the innovative capacity of respective economies through interdisciplinary design partnerships. It will also create business opportunities for Singapore and Danish designers and design-led businesses.

3. Through collaborative development, the MOU will generate a greater understanding of the human, social, environmental and economical impact of Design to Improve Life. Singapore and Denmark will also share statistics and research studies within the field of the co-operation programme and develop links and joint programmes between educational institutions and the design industry.

4. The DesignSingapore Council and INDEX: will be the implementing agencies in Singapore and Denmark respectively. .

5. The MOU was signed in conjunction with a business mission to provide Singapore delegates with a first-hand understanding of Denmark’s market dynamics particularly in the area of design. It will also serve as an effective platform for the establishment of new business relationships.

6. “The Singapore-Denmark MOU is significant as it underscores the value that design brings to everyday life. We recognise that good design is a key differentiator in business. This MOU provides an invaluable opportunity for designers and design-led companies in both countries to explore collaborations. The mission to Denmark is a good opportunity for Singapore designers to learn about the Danish design experience and how design improves life. ” said Dr Lee Boon Yang.

7. The business mission also includes visits to business chambers, leading Danish companies and key government ministries such as the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, and Ministry of Economic and Business Affairs. The business mission includes representatives from the following companies:

  • Veredus Laboratories (Pharmaceutical Company)
  • Rockeby Biomed (Pharmaceutical Company)
  • Healthstats (Pharmaceutical Company)
  • The Upper Storey (Communications Design Company)
  • 10AM (Integrated Creative Agency)
  • Chemistry (Cross-Disciplinary Design Company)
  • Awak Technologies (Healthcare Company)
  • Osim International (Healthcare Lifestyle Company)

 ISSUED BY DESIGNSINGAPORE COUNCIL,
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION, COMMUNICATIONS & THE ARTS

 2 June 2008

 Media Contacts

1. Karen Au-Yong
DesignSingapore Council
Ministry of Information, Communications & the Arts
Email: karen_au-yong@mica.gov.sg
T +65 6837 9635
F +65 6837 9686
140 Hill Street
5th Storey MICA Building
Singapore 179369

2. Yanni Yoong / Delicia Tan
Edelman
Email: yanni.yoong@edelman.com / delicia.tan@edelman.com

T +65 6347 2304 / +65 6347 2325
[ For media queries related to this release]

 About DesignSingapore Council

Design changes and improves lives, inspires creativity and new forms of expression. It also enhances business competitiveness in today’s crowded marketplace.

esignSingapore is Singapore’s response to these propositions and opportunities. As a national initiative, DesignSingapore aims to place Singapore on the world map for design creativity. It looks to developing a thriving, multi-disciplinary design cluster of industries and activities in Singapore that has relevance and impact globally. The initiative also aims to bring design to business boardrooms, new audiences and new markets.

The DesignSingapore Council formed in August 2003 as a department within the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, is the national agency for promotion and development of Singapore design.

The Council is dedicated to enhancing Singapore’s design capabilities and growing the appeal of design in everyday life. This is achieved through design scholarships to nurture Singapore designers, as well as research and development focused on design excellence. The Council has also played a pivotal role in the establishment of design studios to grow the design industry. Up and coming Singapore designers have also raised their international profile with support from DesignSingapore’s Overseas Promotion Partnership Programme.

 

More information on the Council is available at www.designsingapore.org.