Smart growth through creativity
Since the turn of the millennium and the adoption of the Lisbon Strategy, one of the EU’s main goals is focused on becoming a more competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy. Alongside that is the aim of sustainable economic growth with an increase in jobs and greater social cohesion. Smart growth was added as a goal with the EU 2020 strategy. Three things comprise smart growth: education and skills; research and innovation; and making effective use of digital technologies. Thus, it is evident that innovation is central to these objectives. However, innovation involves much more than research and development; it involves creativity. Creative and cultural industries have been poorly understood and have received very little research. The EU-funded project CRE8TV.EU (Creativity for innovation & growth in Europe) addressed this gap by covering several issues that are crucial to understanding creative industries. The work was organised into six themes: identifying, mapping and measuring creative industries; modes and models of creativity, design and innovation; entrepreneurs and industrial dynamics in creative industries; digital platforms; intellectual property rights; and policy issues and recommendations. Eleven European research institutes comprised the consortium. Coordination took place via a series of plenary and semi-plenary meetings and by telephone conferencing. CRE8TV.EU also organised a set of engagement activities and events for policymakers, practitioners and the public. Among the main findings was that of open innovation being of particular importance to the creative industry and the wider creative community. This is because creative industries do not usually engage in researcher-based innovation but still innovate through creativity and design. Therefore, innovation policy needs to be broadened to include these forms of innovation. They are also highly relevant to the creation of jobs, to realising the benefits of a connected digital single market, to strengthening Europe’s industrial base and to providing a more inclusive society. Research findings were disseminated through conferences, workshops and seminars and within the academic community. The researchers sought to encourage further scholarly research interest in the creative industries and in innovation by creativity and design. Also undertaken were activities aimed at engaging with and disseminating the research findings to non-academics, such as policymakers, managers in firms and the general public. The findings will be useful to the creative industry as well as to policymakers.
Keywords
Smart growth, creativity, innovation, CRE8TV.EU, creative industries, entrepreneurs