Following its appointment as Ambassador for the European Commission’s Design for Europe programme in Malta, the Malta Business Bureau in collaboration with the Ministry for the Economy, Investment and Small Business and the Enterprise Europe Network, successfully launched its design initiative at the Innovation through Design conference. The event, held on the 6^th of November at the Palace Hotel, Sliema, showcased various methods of tapping innovative design concepts to over 140 participants comprised of both the private and public sector.

A creative presentation delivered by keynote speaker international expert and guest speaker Dr Kamil Michlewski was followed by the presentation of research findings by an online survey conducted by esprimi.eu. Amongst other findings the results, presented by Business Leaders CEO Morgan Parnis, revealed that that innovation, technology and competitive advantage are the three words mostly associated with design according to employers and entrepreneurs in Malta.

A vibrant panel debate moderated by Times of Malta Assistant Editor, Vanessa Macdonald, followed this presentation. The panel comprised speakers from diverse, professional background including Dr Michlewski, Architect David Xuereb, CEO QP Management, Mr Richard Mifsud, Senior Manager JP Advertising and Professor Tanya Sammut-Bonnici, Head of the Marketing Department at the University of Malta discussed Design Council success stories and focused on the areas of business and enterprise, public sector innovation and design and policy.

Project Leader of the Valletta Design Cluster Caldon Mercieca later demonstrated the various Design Cluster initiatives underway to support local private sectors that use design in order to help them to internationalise.

The conference, which was moderated by MBB CEO Joe Tanti, was also addressed by MBB President Mario Spiteri and Permanent Secretary Nancy Caruana.