Millennium Products, the Design Council initiative which identifies ground-breaking new products and services created in Britain, is promoting the UK’s strengths in innovation and creativity around the world.
A new round of Millennium Products international exhibitions begins shortly in China before going on to Seoul and Johannesburg later this year. The award-winning exhibition has already been to Singapore, Brunei and three cities in India - New Delhi, Ahmedabad and Bangalore.
The exhibition has already proved popular, attracting an estimated 42,000 visitors in India - some 2,300 a day, and has been used as a focus for seminars on innovation and design at these international venues.
Part of the same exhibition is in the process of being installed in 13 British Embassies around the world (see below for a list). And a new Millennium Products exhibition is being developed with The British Council to tour Europe in 2000.
Foreign Secretary Robin Cook has added his personal support to the initiative launched by Prime Minister Tony Blair in 1997, saying Millennium Products would have ‘a dramatic effect on how Britain’s businesses are seen around the world.’
He added: ‘The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is committed to promoting Britain’s strengths in innovation and design, both through our own Embassies and through the British Council and the Export Promotion Directorate.
‘In an increasingly global marketplace, with rapidly emerging markets, instant communication and a host of new competitors, UK companies cannot depend on lowest cost alone, or cosy local markets.
‘Companies will have to strive to provide best value - providing high quality, distinctive and appealing products and services. Britain is ideally placed to thrive in this environment. We have a rich heritage in innovation and many of the world’s finest designers.
‘But we have to make sure the world knows about these strengths. Millennium Products provide a way for us to do so.’
Design Council Chief Executive Andrew Summers said Millennium Products was a vital component of the Design Council’s continuing partnership with the Foreign Office.
Mr Summers said: ‘Britain has an extraordinarily strong heritage of innovation and creativity. We have for example given the world penicillin, television, the jet engine and the hovercraft.
‘Millennium Products aims to show that, as we enter the next Millennium, this British genius for innovation very much continues - from new generations of jet engines to Viagra, from clockwork radios to world class computer games like Lara Croft’s Tomb Raider.’
