As new membership of BEDA, ESAD/esad—idea has the ambition to contribute to strengthen the design sector’s capability to meet future needs and to build appreciation and use of design (namely Portuguese design) among european businesses and public policies. ESAD/esad—idea is the first Portuguese institution represented in this professional organisation.

Founded in 1969 as a not-for-profit organisation and based in Brussels, BEDA – The Bureau of European Design Associations vision is for design to be embraced in Europe as a driver of sustainable growth and prosperity. BEDA’s 44 members include design promotion organisations and professional and trade associations from 26 countries of Europe. BEDA seeks to enlarge the opportunity for design to be a positive contributor to a successful Europe, supporting design as a strategy for social and economic development and the sustainable evolution of society. It does this through promoting and enabling next generation design policy for Europe.

esad—idea is the R&D unit of ESAD. Over the last 5 years, esad—idea has accomplished more than 100 R&D and service delivery projects, working with more than 50 partner entities (research units, universities, companies and municipalities). The importance attached to knowledge sharing and work in fostering scientific research has led esad—idea to develop major events to promote Portuguese design. Porto Design Biennale is one of these major events: organised together with Porto and Matosinhos municipalities, it will take place in June/July 2021, in its second edition, and will reflect and explore the Alter Realities: Designing the Present. esad—idea is rated as Very Good by the FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, the Portuguese national funding agency for science, research and technology.

The partnership between BEDA and ESAD/esad—idea as established thanks to FNDMT, a European entity that works on bringing together traditional craftsmanship with high-end technology.

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