VERA – Forward Visions on the European Research Area

VERA is funded by the European Union's FP7 programme for research,
technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no 290705

CReATE - Creating a joint Research Agenda for ICT Innovation in the Creative Industries across Europe

Code: D08

Primary project information

Lead: MFG MEDIEN-UND FILMGESELLSCHAFT Baden-Württemberg
Additional project partners: Steinbeis-Europa-Zentrum (SEZ), CSP, PTO, Regione Piemonte, Imaginove, AWM
Type of activity: FP7 Regions Project
Date conducted: 2008-2010
Date of Publication: 2010
Duration: 34 MONTHS
Summary: With creativity and strategy, the CReATE project designed and implemented a novel strategic cluster development approach integrating Strategic Policy Intelligence tools (such as foresight and impact assessment) and direct innovation support instruments. Guided by a trans-regional framework and based on very different regional strengths and research, technology development and innovation (RTDI) support histories, it aimed at fostering cross-cluster and transregional learning and knowledge exchange more effectively and successfully. In an iterative process, alternating between and mutually enriching the regional and the trans-regional levels, research priorities for information and communication technology innovations in “Culture and Creative Industries” were identified. Strongly related to their “fields of excellence & fields of aspiration” (the existing strengths but also the future development trajectories set by the regional stakeholders), the strategic capabilities of the different stakeholder groups were strengthened and a strategic joint research agenda was developed. On this base, broader and more far-reaching activities will be developed regionally and trans-regionally, also involving partners from outside the consortium and optimising regional, national and EU programmes from RTDI and other policy fields.
Financed by: European Commission
Budget: 10000 EURO
Research area/market/industry/sector: ICT and creative industries, Regional Development, Business aspects
Main report (full title): Jehle S, Groeschel M, Oswald P (2010) Create the Future. Joint Research Agenda for ICT Innovations in Creative Industries

GRAND CHALLENGES

Economic Challenges: boost Europe's competitiveness by means of spill-over effects between creative industries and ICT
Economic Challenges Shortlist: boost Europe's competitiveness by means of spill-over effects between creative industries and ICT
Technical Challenges: paradigm shift towards digital eco-system
Technical Challenges Shortlist: paradigm shift towards digital eco-system

Summary of relevant aspects

Connecting fields: ICT
Aspects of ERA Governance: harnessing cross-regional synergies and for
optimising and complementing existing policies and funding streams
Aspects of RTI Governance: Making the economic eco-system more suitable for the prosperity of Creative Industries, focus on: Research and skills, access to funding, business interaction, clustering opportunities
Background information: Creative Industries are an emerging lead market in the European knowledge economy. However, while many global challenges are common to all EU countries, Europe’s
Research, Technological Development and Innovation (RTDI) landscape still remains
fragmented. Also Creative Industries
are strongly influenced and pushed by regional cluster strengths. One of the big challenges
ahead will be to intertwine Europe’s cultural heritage with its regional economic and
technological capacities in order to create a competitive European Single Market. The
recently published Green Paper on Cutlure and Creative Industries by the EU ackknowledges
the important role of Creative Industries concerning ICT innovations and visa
versa.3 Within this context, the Creative Industries are the key sector for pushing regional
strengths within an innovative European eco-system.

Scenarios

Actions/solutions implied: Framework conditions must be adapted to the special requirements of Creative Industries, being aware of their rapid innovation cycles, their project-based working habits and their micro-financing requirements.
- Research schemes have to focus promising research fields, which allow effective knowledge transfer, interdisciplinary approaches as well as business and user involvement.
- Funding programmes have to be channelled to the identified research fields and adopted to the needs of the sector: small and micro companies in need of flexible, unbureaucratic, project-based financing schemes.
- Support schemes for business interaction need to offer attractive ways to connect researchers to creative companies as well to improve the understanding of different mindsets in ICT and Creative Industries.
-Cluster support actions must take into account that international exchange activitiesare often very weak in Creative Industries, lacking contacts, time and expertise.
-Cross- and inter-cluster activities can boost creative competitiveness.
Who benefits from the actions taken?: research and business in ICT and creative industries; and the European economy

Meta information

Time horizon: 2020
Methods: coordinated participatory process at regional and trans-regional level about 250 regional stakeholders from Creative industries businesses, ICT R&D organisations and related public administrations
Target Group: Creative Industries businesses, ICT R&D organisations, public administration
Objectives: develop and apply a new assessment template; develop a joint research agenda; develop a toolkit, and implement training courses for interested regions, also for other clusters; ensure multiplying effects beyond project scope and timeframe
Countries covered: DE, UK, FI, FR, IT,AT,BG, ET,ES, PL, SL, SE, UK
ERA actors/stakeholders mentioned: European SMEs, ICT research, creative industries in general
Geographic scope:

Entry Details

Rapporteur: Katharina Jarmai
Rapporteur's organization: AIT
Entry Date: 23.07.2012