GSS EU Science Funding Gateway

To an ever greater degree, creative and cultural aspects drive innovation and growth. Successful new digital and physical products and services need to be appealing and attractive, adapted to cultural traits and market needs. Similarly, societal transformations such as the green and digital transitions depend on behavioural changes, which are largely based on changes in culture and perceptions. In such processes, the human is at the centre, and the cultural and creative industries are key to success.

The goal is to facilitate the establishment of a culture and creativity driven European innovation ecosystem, with the cultural and creative industries (CCIs)58 at its heart. Such a system should contribute decisively to Europe’s future prosperity, wellbeing, social and cultural cohesion as well as environmental sustainability.

The CCIs are in themselves an important source of growth and job creation in the EU economy, as well as a strong contributor to exports. Many European CCIs can be considered global leaders, such as in fashion, high-end and luxury goods, design, games or publishing, among others, while in other CCIs the EU punches below its weight. The European tangible and intangible cultural heritage and arts constitute an important source of competitiveness for the sector.

Thus, favourable conditions for the competitiveness of European CCIs exist. With the right policy actions, the European CCIs should be able to flourish. If mobilised to form the heart of an emerging culture and creativity driven innovation ecosystem, thriving European CCIs can be the foundation of a unique and lasting source of competitive advantage, prosperity, wellbeing and sustainability for Europe.

The basis of such an ecosystem is strong networks, with a focus on R&I, that foment cooperation across the CCIs and between the CCIs and other economic sectors. Such a system will probably experience strong network effects, therefore interoperability and scale are important aspects at this stage. The collaborative platform to be established should be the basis to build a strong CCI innovation ecosystem with all actors working together, also becoming active participants in EU R&I activities.