Have one of our talented and expert innovators join your team and help you accelerate new product development in your business. If you need help developing an insight-led innovation roadmap for your business then this is definitely the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.
MscDi(F) Host Company Information
What is the MSc Design Innovation Programme
The MSc in Design Innovation (food) is an intensive, action-oriented, award-winning Masters’ in design thinking* and innovation. It is intended to develop world class innovation capability in people and in companies like yours. This year will see the first cohort of 10 innovation champions begin the programme. They will be hosted in participating companies and will work closely with the marketing and R&D team to help develop a future-proofed, insight-led innovation roadmap with them. The first step in their interaction with you is an innovation audit that measures the climate for innovation across a number of areas and this helps the student and the company focus on the things that matter most.
What you'll be getting
- A professional with strong creative flair committed to a career in new product development in your industry and working with your business for up to 20 months
- A high-calibre executive with at least 2-3 years industry experience
- Supported by an accomplished Programme Manager who will work with your company to embed the learning and ensure your company derives business growth from the programme.
- The executive will be supported by a bursary from Bord Bia and major costs will be covered.
- The support of Bord Bia and the Thinking House, along with Maynooth University’s Department of Design Innovation
Who Can Apply?
All Irish food, drink and horticulture companies. Companies must manufacture in Ireland and must be committed to Origin Green.
Key Requirements
Independent participant sponsored by host company
- Must be Irish based/run
- Must be in process of and/or Origin Green verified
- Must be willing to incur 5k assignment fee cost
- Company must have opportunity for career path within their structure & evidence of same
What assignments do the students typically complete?
The Maynooth University MSc in Design Innovation has been in existence for three years and during that time, we have completed major projects with leading organisations in Ireland. The projects usually involve developing an innovation strategy; building an innovation capability; developing an innovation culture or, simply, creating a portfolio of novel, original, insight-led ideas to launch on domestic and international markets. Topics include:
- Innovation Management
- Design Thinking
- Consumer Innovation
- Adoption
- Entrepreneurship
- Global Marketing
- Applied Innovation Lab
- Managing Brexit
- Design Ethnography
- Brand Strategy and Development
- Market & Consumer Research Techniques
Is there a fee?
Host companies will derive significant benefit from the programme including having an executive working on innovation with them for up to 20 months. The executive
will be professionally supported by a dedicated programme manager as well as by Maynooth University’s faculty and Bord Bia.
Client companies will be asked to make a contribution to the costs of the programme and this is expected to be in the region of €5,000 per annum for two years.
Independent participant sponsored by host company
- Must commit to contribution of €5,000 (ex. VAT) p/a to host a participant on the programme
- Must be on the path to Origin Green verification or Origin Green verified
- Must be Irish owned/run with produce sourced from ROI
- Must have manufacturing facilities based in ROI
- Must commit to 20mth programme & hosting participant during this time within Innovation/Insight led department/function in the Organisation
Application Process
- Companies must submit an application online, this application is available at the link below
Host Company Expression of Interest - Priority will be given to companies who are committed to insight-led innovation and have considerable export growth potential.
- Proposals will be reviewed by an evaluation panel and candidate companies will be confirmed by 1 December, 2017