Meet Mike Bray, RS Group Lead for Innovation and R&D as well as Head of DesignSpark. Originally a university researcher and lecturer on political science, Mike joined the private sector with RS Group more than 20 years ago. He has worked in a number of senior management positions across the U.K.-based corporation's international division, Electronics and Product Marketing teams. Mike is now the RS Group Lead for Innovation, R&D and DesignSpark.

About DesignSpark: 

DesignSpark users enjoy free access to high-quality design software without having to worry about licenses. The software provides users with data such as CAD models in 2D and 3D along with technical information. In addition, there are now more than 1 million users in the DesignSpark community around the world and, according to Bray, DesignSpark is adding from 10-12,000 new users monthly.

“DesignSpark is all about providing a valuable resource for the engineering and design community which, in turn, we hope will lead those people to have an instinctive preference for RS as a supplier of parts and equipment,” explains Bray. “What’s particularly exciting for us is that the user group of DesignSpark tends to be in the 18-34 demographic, which represents the future of the industry.

About DesignSpark Innovation Center: 

DesignSpark Innovation Center is a 50,000 sq ft LEED-certified Google-style corporate campus located on 8 acres in the Texas A&M Biocorridor. The three buildings and property are owned by The City of Bryan, TX and William Cole Co. through a P3 called Traditions Acquisition Partnership. Naming partner for the center is RS Group, through its DesignSpark brand.

DesignSpark is a member of the center and manages a collaboration area, offices and a makerspace within its 8,000 sq ft of space located in two buildings on the campus. A team of on-site engineers and subject matter experts are available to work with startups and others. RS Group is also a corporate sponsor of the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University.