The Research Associates Programme offers an organisation the chance to work on a research, development or communication project of their choice with the Royal College of Art, Helen Hamlyn Centre in London. Projects typically result in new knowledge, products or services that are directly applicable to the host business. Each project lasts for one calendar year, running October to October.

The benefits of participation are best summarised by companies that have joined the Research Associates Programme. They say that participation

• Addresses research and development issues in a way that enhances an organisation's reputation and competitive edge
• Creates tangible design outcomes, including new intellectual property and new knowledge advantageous to the organisation
• Opens up new and surprising creative avenues that can nourish and energise an organisation's design thinking

See www.hhc.rca.ac.uk/research/ra to find out how you can take part