An innovation laboratory for 15 SMEs from the Eyewear District

The initiative is based on a study carried out with the Research Center of theEuropean Design Institute by Anfao and Mido, and is set up to satisfy a particular need of the small and medium eyewear firms. The businesses, the study points out, still focus most of their activity on production, whereas, in order to keep up with international competitors they must innovate the design, improve the prototyping, strengthen marketing and implement after-sales service.

An investment of 160,000 euros financed by the companies, by Reviviscar S.r.l., a Service Company from Assindustria Belluno, and by the Region of Veneto, together with a team of designers at small and medium firms of the Eyewear District to strengthen product innovation: in short, a research and design laboratory promoted by the Eyewear District in conjunction with CRIED, which has witnessed the collaboration, for over a year, between 8 designers, of various nationalities and specializations, with the 15 eyewear firms involved in the initiative.

Thanks to the participation of these firms and financing for 36% obtained by the project in the framework of the Development Pact for the Eyewear District in accordance with the regional law 8/2003, Diesse S.r.l. and Fedon Giorgio & Figli S.p.A. from Domegge di Cadore, GB S.r.l from Auronzo di Cadore, Giesse S.r.l from Domegge di Cadore, Ioves S.p.A. from Lozzo di Cadore, Italian Style S.r.l from Scandicci (FI), Joint Project S.r.l from Belluno, La Fenice S.r.l from Lozzo di Cadore, Look Occhiali S.r.l from Longarone, Optital S.r.l from Lozzo di Cadore, Pramaor S.r.l from Taibon Agordino, Sopracolle S.r.l from Perarolo di Cadore, Sover S.p.A. from Soverzene, Trenti S.r.l from Perarolo di Cadore and Trevi Coliseum S.p.A. from Longarone have been able to take advantage of advice from professionals, who, after identifying each company's strengths, studied innovative solutions with them to produce features, such as new hinge systems, stem-bridge connection, assembly, general architecture, the use of finishing systems and coupling of materials.

'We have also tried to attract smaller companies to the world of design with the DesignLab project. Working with designers mainly from sectors other than eyewear guaranteed us a fresh, new approach to the product' - explains Renato Sopracolle, Eyewear District Representative and project manager - 'Each designer presented a series of personalized proposals on the basis of the entrepreneurs' indications and needs, and the company selected and developed those considered most valid and most feasible. In the final phase, each company was given all of the technical documentation to allow the projects to be verified and industrialized. Now it is up to the companies to decide how to use these results, and whether to continue on the road to innovation. In the coming months, we shall assess the possibility of including an additional phase of the project in the regional announcement 2007 for the production districts, thus following up this important initiative for industrial design' - concludes Renato Sopracolle.