Over the past decade, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of artistic and creative processes as catalysts for innovation, particularly seen in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) that intersect in many fields with artistic processes. However, as highlighted by the Digital Agenda for Europe, Europe continues to 'underuse the creativity of PME'. To address this problem, in 2016 the CE launched the 'STARTS' (Science, Technology and ARTS) initiative under Horizonte 2020 (Horizon 2020).
RegionArts partners are convinced of the need to integrate the arts into ICT for innovation and competitiveness of PME. As regional authorities, business development agencies, and creative clusters, they have been working to promote these intersections in recent years.
But it is not an easy task. Most available policies are designed for an information and knowledge age (even an industrial age) that is no longer prevalent. The support offering is still fragmented. Public support programs are very strict and lack opportunities for collaboration and outreach. There is also a need for a common language: Existing initiatives often come from the creative sector and reach ICT, or vice versa, both parties are not involved as equal partners.
RESULTS
The objective is to improve the implementation of Structural Funds / other funds in partner regions by adapting or designing a support scheme in each region to promote collaborations between artists and ICT companies. As a result, through the enhanced support scheme, we will promote about 140 new collaborations in total (around 20 per region), 20% of beneficiary PME, introducing innovation by 2022.
Main results will be:
- 7 thematic workshops and 7 study visits;
- 3 policy reports to the governments on steps to build the support program;
- 7 regional match-making events 'ICT meet the arts';
- 7 design action plans;
- 1 conference in collaboration with SERN (Start-Up Europe Regions Network).
PARTNERS
Polytechnic Institute of Porto (Lead partner - Portugal); Joint Consortium ASTER Stock (Italy); Baltan Laboratories (Holland); Centre for the Development of Enterprise of KEPA (Greece);Network SERN StartUp Europe Regions (Belgium); University of Lapland (Finland); Koprivnicki Business Support Institution (Croatia); Molise region (Italy)
RegionArts is a multiannual program (2018 - 2023), funded by Interreg Europe.
