The Index Project, formerly INDEX: Design to Improve Life, is a Danish nonprofit organisation that promotes designs aimed at the improvement of life worldwide, both in developed and developing countries. The organisation is behind the biennial Index Award, the world's biggest design award. History Established in 2002, The Index Project was initially proposed by designer Johan Adam Linneballe and then Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Economic and Business Affairs as a world design event in order to promote Denmark on a global scale, as well as attract tourism and investments. However, it soon acquired a global perspective, and its mission has become expressed in its motto: "Design to Improve Life". The organisation is under the patronage of the Crown Princess of Denmark. The Index Project is promoted by means of a design award, The Index Award, education programmes, an investment entity, conferences, and publications. As of 2018, the organisation is headed by Liza Chong. It was previously led by founding CEO Kigge Hvid, former CEO of Øksnehallen. The Index Award The biennial Index Award was initiated in 2005, and originally financed by the state of Denmark with a total prize sum worth . In 2005, it was the world's largest monetary award in its area, and today is widely recognised as the most influential in inspiring life-improving design, and has often been dubbed the "Nobel Prize of design". British design critic Alice Rawsthorn in 2011, wrote for The New York Times, "Not only is INDEX: the world's most generous design prize in financial terms, it is one of the few awards to have made a meaningful contribution to design discourse." Projects from around the world are entered into competition for the award with finalists and winners determined by an international jury. In addition to choosing the successful designs, The Index Award Jury plays a key role in developing and advocating for strategies to expand the borders and impact of design in the world. 2005 winners The first Index Award was announced in September 2004, and the competition received 538 entries representing 50 countries, of which The Index Award Jury chaired by Arnold Wasserman selected 118 finalists to participate in The Index Award Exhibition. The winners, announced at the award ceremony at the Copenhagen City Hall on 22 September, were: Body Category: Torben Vestergaard Frandsen, Rob Fleuren and Moshe Frommer - "LifeStraw", a plastic straw that cleans contaminated water to