He presented the idea to the Ministry of Economic and Business Affairs, Wonderful Copenhagen, the City of Copenhagen and the Danish Design Centre, and received financial support for the project in its preliminary phases to determine its value for the Danish design industry as well as for marketing Copenhagen on the international stage. This preliminary investigation was guided by Johan Adam Linneballe in conjunction with Mikkel Rasmussen of the Ministry of Economic and Business Affairs and Eskild Hansen of Wonderful Copenhagen.

In 2002, the present Operational Lounge assumed control of the project to develop INDEX: and our focus shifted from traditional design to that of Design to Improve Life.

On 15 August 2003 INDEX: was established by the Danish Design Centre and Wonderful Copenhagen as an independently managed commercial foundation.

By 30 June 2003 the investigation was completed to determine how INDEX: was to be established with regard to organisation, programming and financing. This preliminary work also found that approx. DKK 25 million could be raised in Denmark to support INDEX:.

The first INDEX: meeting was held from 7 – 11 November 2003 in Executive Lounge, which also serves as the international jury for the INDEX: Award. This meeting marked the constructive beginning of INDEX: as a commercial foundation.