Over the last decade there has been a recognition of the importance of artistic and creative processes as catalysts for innovation. It is 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 SMEs'. To address this problem, in 2016 the EC launched the 'STARTS' (Science, Technology and ARTS) initiative under Horizon 2020.
RegionArts partners are convinced of the need to integrate the arts into ICT for innovation and competitiveness of SMEs. 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, knowledge and 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 cooperation and dissemination. There is also a need for a common language: the existing initiatives often come from the creative sector and reach ICT, or vice versa. That is, both parties are not involved as equal partners.
OUTCOMES
The goal 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 SMEs introducing an innovation by 2022.
The main outcomes will be:
.7 thematic workshops and 7 study visits.
. 3 policy reports to governments on steps to build 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
Porto Polytechnic Institute (Lead partner - Portugal);
Joint Consortium ASTER Stock (Italy);
Baltan Laboratories (Netherlands);
KEPA Center for Business and Cultural Development (Greece);
SERN StartUp Europe Regions Network (Belgium);
Lapland University (Finland);
Koprivnicki Business Support Institution (Croatia);
Region of Molise (Italy)
RegionArts is a multiannual program (2018 - 2023) funded by Interreg Europe.
