The KEA Blog

KEA's contribution to the consultation on the future “EU 2020” Strategy

Europe’s future prosperity and competitiveness will undoubtedly depend on its capacity to foster innovation and creativity.

 

The Lisbon Strategy has put innovation at the heart of EU policies. However, the focus has been firmly concentrated on technological innovation and support to research and development initiatives.

KEA's contribution to the European Commission’s public consultation on Community innovation policy

The European Union (EU) is now facing a range of challenges on its way to economic recovery. It will only be able to continue developing the high level of life opportunities, social security and economic well-being that many Europeans enjoy by further developing its capacity to innovate.

To do so, European innovation policy as well as the innovation strategies of many Member States, need to be re-examined. So far, these strategies have almost exclusively focussed on technological development and research expenditure. They should embrace the concepts of people-driven innovation and related soft skills, including the notion of creativity. The role that the arts, culture and the creative industries play in fostering a more creative and innovation-friendly society as well as a more competitive and sustainable economy should be more strongly reflected by EU innovation policy makers.

2009, the Year of culture and creativity in Europe, in review

2009 was the year of the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty: majority voting (over unanimity) becomes the rule with increased power given to the European Parliament.  Von Rompuy, a little known Belgian politician, is nominated President of the European Council and Barroso is appointed President for a second term promised to be driven by social cohesion and sustainability imperatives.  

The EU 2020 Strategy: an opportunity to mainstream culture and creativity in EU policy making

The European Commission has recently launched a consultation on its priorities for the years to come.   The EU 2020 strategy will follow on from the current Lisbon Strategy and will determine policy and investment priorities up until 2020.  It would be a mistake to consider this as a new branding of old policies.  The new vision of EU policy is characterized by the emphasis on more efficient use of energy (for obvious environmental and sustainability reasons) but also the need to address social challenges (notably inclusion and integration). 

Reviewing Community innovation policy - A place for culture-based creativity?

EC innovation policy is characterised by its strong emphasis on spending in R & D (the 3% Lisbon goal) and its faith in technological innovation. The financial means of the Framework programmes, the CIP and the structural funds as well as EIB instruments are geared towards considering innovation as a result of technological progress. The EC's Communication "Reviewing Community innovation policy in a changing world" of 02.09.2009 is another illustration of this techno-centric vision. It is time for the creative and the cultural sector to influence policy decision making.  

Art and Cultural learning to stimulate creativity

In recent years creativity has become a prevailing catchword. In a society constantly aspiring to innovation and “progress”, creativity incarnates the trends for novelty, dynamism and excitement. At different levels - individuals, enterprises, cities, regions or countries, policy makers are increasingly taking up “creativity” as their motto.

Europe’s place in the world is increasingly determined by its capacity to keep innovating both economically and socially. With an economic context characterised by financial upheavals, with growing environmental concerns and a need to focus on sustainable development, the 21^st century requires us to think differently and creatively about economic and human development. Creativity is considered as key to addressing those challenges and education can play a decisive role in developing and advancing creativity.

The Impact of Culture on Creativity

These days creativity seems to be everywhere. The term has turned into a catch phrase, used in the media, in policy statements and in academic literature. Creativity consequently means different things to different people. You can be a creative accountant or a creative football player. Likewise, management literature has turned creativity into an essential means to stimulate productivity in the work place. As a result, the notion of creativity has become ubiquitous and has lately been used to describe vaguely defined capacities that are attributed to creative people. A more tangible notion of the concept of creativity and an assessment of its relationship with the European cultural sphere is therefore required.

Towards a European sport policy?

Towards a European sport policy?

"Sport is a growing social and economic phenomenon which makes an important contribution to the European Union's strategic objectives of solidarity and prosperity." The first sentence of the European Commission's White Paper on Sport, published on 11 July 2007, can be said to encapsulate the importance and complexity of the role of sport in Europe.

The Conditional Access Directive: a lesser known instrument to fight piracy

The Audiovisual Industry and the Digital Revolution

After years of uninterrupted talking about convergence and the turbulent ups and downs of the dot.com bubble, it seems that the digital revolution is at last bringing its promised benefits to Europe. Broadband uptake is surging everywhere, mobile penetration is close to saturation (with 3G handsets gradually replacing existing phones) and the planned digital switch-over is transforming the way people watch TV, the most popular media of all time. Content, the self-proclaimed king of this revolution, is finally going to be available “anytime, anywhere”.

Creativity: driving local economic development

1.Economic and social contribution of the creative sector

In today’s knowledge-based society the rationale for publicly supporting the cultural and creative sector goes beyond the traditional “arts for arts sake” approach. Fostering sector development is based on multiple social, cultural and economic objectives. Culture and creativity are considered vital factors in attracting talented individuals and investment. They also foster economic development, local regeneration and strengthen cultural diversity and social integration.

Make VoD an opportunity for European Films

Are there lessons to be learned from the experience in the music sector?

Seven years after the start of Napster the music industry is still struggling to find a business model. The turnover of the music industry has decreased by almost 50% in five years. Neither the download business nor other internet business has been able to compensate for lost sales at retail level.This is the lesson film people should really think about.