The EU invests in culture and creative industries

The consortium "Innovation by Creative Economy" with Uppsala University as a leading partner, has been entrusted by EIT to run the EU's new Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC), a billion-SEK investment focusing on culture and creative industries.

"It is incredibly inspiring to be involved in influencing how the EU's initiative will reach the right activities and provide the best results for the future," says Mattias Martinson, Deputy Vice-rector for Humanities and Social Sciences and responsible for Uppsala University's work in the consortium.

Vitamin injection for an industry

A KIC aims to jump-start an industry through the financing of various types of knowledge-intensive and innovative collaborative projects in order for knowledge to be of use and create new industries that also require educational initiatives. In this context, innovation should be interpreted broadly in the form of how new opportunities can be created to transition to a social, democratic, digital, and sustainable society.

"Culture and creative industries are a multifaceted and vulnerable industry that has not always attracted political attention. That has now changed," says Mattias Martinson.

KICs are based on a knowledge triangle and the interaction between education, research and innovation. The aim is to support cooperation between education, research and business to strengthen Europe's competitiveness. The KICs are part of Horizon Europe, the EU's Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, and are funded through the EIT.

Opening up new opportunities

Investment in a KIC in culture and creative industries clearly demonstrates the importance the EU places on these industries for the development of society. The KIC that is just about to start means that over a long period, project funds will be announced for various collaborative projects in the cultural and creative industries.

"This is a different type of funding compared to the external research funding we are used to, and as a researcher and teacher, real momentum can be achieved with regard to collaboration with the surrounding society through the setting up of collaborative projects with external actors. It will open up new opportunities for the humanities and social sciences to be involved in the development of a more sustainable and inclusive society where culture and its innovative power are utilized in new ways, it is only the imagination that sets limits," says Mattias Martinson.