Prof. Dominic PowerUppsala University

CCI contribution to a more dynamic Nordic business environment

Conference: What Will the Nordic Business Environment Look Like in the Future?

Stockholm2013

What do cultural and creatives

industries make?

CommercializableNarrativesSymbols

MeaningsIdeas

DreamsAesthestics

Desires

CCI competitive advantage

Creativity

Differentiation

Quality

? ?

?

?

?

?

What is needed - KNOWLEDGE• Knowledge is key to reaching competitive

advantage• Knowledge is based on internal and external

processes: the local and regional milieu plays a role• Quantity (of CCI jobs) is less important for future

development: not twice as many but twice as clever

• Policy needs knowledge: need for case studies and measurements

CCI Contribution:6 442 410 employees in European 30 countries

436 916 in the Nordic regionDenmark 98866 Finland 81818 Iceland 9215 Norway 95875 Sweden 151143

Source: Power (2011) Priority Sector Report: Creative and Cultural Industries. 2nd Edition. Luxembourg: European Commission

Innovation probably, prosperity definitely

Source: Power (2011) Priority Sector Report: Creative and Cultural Industries. 2nd Edition. Luxembourg: European Commission

What can be done at the regional level?

THE CHALLENGE… GROWING FIRMS/PROJECTS/NETWORKS/CAREERSThese industries are dominated by small and often young ‘firms’who are very creative but not always business knowledgeable, are far away from the market and lack capital

Many of them don’t reach their business potential even if they do reach their creative potential

How can they unlock their business potential without losing their creative focus?... By reaching out to others

www.amazon.com

The local/region: Proximity might not breed creativity but it builds business cultures and helps you learn

Between firms: Project support, Intermediation system/portals,

incubators, partner

information and directories, trade

fairs

Between individuals: (formal and

informal) netwrok platforms, career

development programs,

mentorship

Between sectors: icebreaker initiatives,

network events, incubators, living labs, tech transfer

offices, spend money on R&D!

Support for regional Networked business and entrepreneurshipSupport for export and getting out of the region (even if virtually or temporarily)

• The challenge for the region is to facilitate and celebrate culture and creativity (… and if possible offer them real resources and startup capital)

• The challenge for firms is to learn and adapt• The challenge for firms in regions is to be able to

internalise helpful externalities (to reach out to others)… So how can we help facilitate Nordic creative business linkages, exchange and intermediation?

Conclusion: the region has a role

Thank You!

Dominic.power@kultgeog.uu.se