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BEDA's Position on the Culture Compass
24/07/25BEDA has released its official position paper responding to the European Commission’s Culture Compass initiative. The paper highlights the vital role of design in addressing Europe’s pressing challenges—from digital and green transitions to democratic resilience and social cohesion.
Key to BEDA’s message is the need to go beyond traditional Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and include Key Behaviour Indicators (KBIs) to better reflect the long-term, human-centred impact of cultural and design initiatives.
The paper also addresses key barriers to innovation in the design sector, including outdated classification systems, disproportionate regulatory burdens, and unbalanced IP frameworks. To support a thriving design ecosystem, BEDA presents nine policy recommendations, calling for smarter legislation, broader design integration in policymaking, and greater investment in design literacy and innovation.
Design is a strategic asset for Europe’s future—and must be recognised as such in EU policy.
Related Article: BEDA at the Cultural Compass Stakeholder Meeting: Advocating for Design-Driven Policy