VIENNA - UNIDO and the World Design Organization (WDO)® have signed a Memorandum of Understanding signalling their commitment to reinforce collaboration for the advancement of innovative and sustainable design solutions in developing countries and economies in transition. The MoU aims to utilize relevant expertise to enhance understanding and application of intangible economy tools, such as industrial design, marketing and branding. The beneficiaries of these efforts will include industry specialists, entrepreneurs, mentors, trainers, policymakers, and other interested stakeholders.

At the signing ceremony, held as part of the 20th session of the UNIDO General Conference, the two organizations committed to work hand- in-hand to identify opportunities for technical assistance projects and the organization of global fora and conferences, as well as sharing know-how and expertise to advance sustainable industrial design solutions. The ultimate goal of such joint initiatives is to enhance competitiveness and innovation, leveraging industrial design as an asset conducive to increased value added, improved economic performance, circular economy and long-term sustainability.

The collaboration between UNIDO and WDO will encompass key initiatives that integrate design thinking into industrial processes, fostering environmentally friendly, socially inclusive, and economically viable development approaches that ensure long-term sustainability across diverse countries and industries. Additionally, the partnership will leverage global cultural diversity and heritage to inspire innovative industrial design, aiming to create products and services that raise economic profile of the country of their origin while contributing to the preservation of locally available know-how and unique cultural identities. Another aspect of this collaboration involves the facilitation of experience exchange and knowledge transfer between UNIDO and WDO networks. This will involve organizing workshops, seminars, and conferences to promote dialogue, share best practices, and enhance the capabilities of professionals and institutions in the realms of sustainable industrial development and design.

Ciyong Zou, Deputy to the Director General and Managing Director of UNIDO, stated: "The collaboration with the World Design Organization aligns with our vision to foster innovation through the adoption of knowledge-intensive business models and skills among SMEs and industry professionals that are essential in the era of intense competitive pressures. The partnership between UNIDO and the WDO draws upon the extensive global expertise of both organizations in the field of industrial design. This collaboration will strengthen vital capacity-building aspects of UNIDO technical assistance projects, fostering job creation, promoting exports, and fortifying developing countries against the diverse challenges of navigating global markets. This will be achieved by infusing intellectual value derived from innovative design solutions into industrial and manufacturing processes, ensuring that these nations remain dynamic, inclusive, and sustainable participants in the global economic landscape”.

“As the international voice for industrial design, WDO is committed to strengthening our relationship with other world bodies supporting design-led transformation. This new partnership with UNIDO will build upon years of collaboration between our two organizations to further our shared priorities in the areas of sustainable industrial development and design,” stated outgoing WDO President David Kusuma. “Together, we look forward to leveraging our collective resources, knowledge and expertise to promote the impact of design-driven innovation across diverse global contexts.”

In their previous collaboration, UNIDO shared insights from its technical assistance projects under the theme of "Design for Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development" at WDO’s 2021 event 'Let's talk: diversity'. Additionally, David Kusuma, WDO’s 2022-2023 President, participated as a speaker during UNIDO’s 'Brand Global Summit 2021: Brands for Change' co-organized by UNIDO and the European Brand Institute, emphasizing the role of innovative design in creating robust development strategies and fostering resilience of SMEs and industries.

For additional information, please contact: Farrukh Alimdjanov:  f.alimdjanov@unido.org

The World Design Organization (WDO)™, formerly known as the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid), is an international non-governmental organization that promotes the profession of industrial design and its ability to generate better products, systems, services, and experiences; better business and industry; and ultimately a better environment and society.