The union between ICT and Design at the basis of the companies' innovation strategy.

In the last years, ICT has been crossing its original barriers and is now occupying markets which apparently have little in common with the more traditional and renowned information and communication technologies.

In the 90's the world production of micro processors was nearly entirely being installed in computers or other objects closely connected to telecommunications and informatics. Today, the majority of microchips are conversely installed in cars, household appliances, medical equipment, lighting and many other every-day objects.

ICT is progressively penetrating, in a transversal way, the consumer market already dominated by the forms and the creativity of industrial design.

In this world, in the past, functionality was guaranteed by mechanical or electromechanical devices and the need for software and microprocessors was not a priority. But gradually and always more frequently, designers have had to confront themselves with complex functions. Today, in fact, a designer must cope with a number of challenges: he must be able to build objects with a captivating design, functional, ergonomic and easy to use. There are many examples, one for all the iPod.

Today ICT and design are complementary, they interact and are at the basis of the innovation strategy to compete on the market and open new business areas.

It is the first time ever that something like this has happened and it is creating new and pressing demands.

On the one hand ICT specialists need to add industrial design concepts to their projects, on the other hand design houses (especially those related to enterprises) must add electronic and information technologies into their products. The problem is that most managers do have neither the experience nor the background to successfully manage the development of complex products which requires competence in different disciplines.

In this unique situation, Italy is in a vantage position. It is undeniable that the rest of the world looks at Italy as an example for style, fashion and design. What is more, in the ICT sector it can count on centres of excellence, internationally recognized.

This know-how has allowed CEFRIEL, together with the Polytechnic of Milano and the Nanyang Technological University of Singapore, to promote a revolutionary initiative, the first international executive master which integrates Italian design and ICT technologies.

It is called "Master of ICT and Design for Innovation" (MIDI). Its strategic objective is to form a new class of managers able to handle the three main factors of the innovation process: the human, the technological and the business factors.

The MIDI is a unique educational experience based on an international perspective. It's not only led by an internationally renowned faculty, but it is also run in In this unique situation, Italy is in a vantage position. It is undeniable that the rest of the world looks at Italy as an example for style, fashion and design. What is more, in the ICT sector it can count on centres of excellence, internationally recognized. Today ICT and design are complementary, they interact and are at the basis of the innovation strategy to compete on the market and open new business areas. two campuses: in Singapore for the classes, in Milan for the project work in collaboration with reference design and innovation companies.

This is an ambitious initiative with multiple aims and advantages: to create a new educational format and new research models, to offer a culture based on design, style and innovation, to develop new projects with Singapore-based companies, to stimulate an Asia- Europe exchange and, last but not least, to establish a basis which allows to be ahead of new market trends.

Singapore is at the third place in the Global Information Technology Report 2006-2007 of the World Economic Forum. Singapore's excellence in ICT is due to the government rules and economy, their adoption and dissemination of advanced technology and their ability to involve the private sector in a shared longterm ICT strategy. Moreover, sixteen of the major universities, such as INSEAD, Chicago, Duke, MIT, Stanford, Georgia Tech, Jiao Tong Shanghai, TU Munich etc, and soon the Politecnico di Milano, are present in Singapore.

The MIDI will last four months. During the first three months in Singapore, the managers will attend the courses on the three "pillars" of the program: ICT, Design and Innovation Management.

Then in Milan the project work will be the "lintel" of the master: a one month interdisciplinary project work in which students will experiment a product/service development process characterised by peculiar innovative components under stringent economic and managerial constraints.

The MIDI is an innovative programme, created as a courageous and far sighted answer to a market on the move. This is the only way to be leaders in the global market.