More information
Description
The project focuses on harnessing the potential of Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) to promote economic growth and societal development. CCIs are vital to our modern society, contributing significantly to our economy, identity, and culture. They not only generate substantial economic wealth but also play a pivotal role in job creation, particularly for the youth, and have the power to enhance societal well-being. In line with Eurostat data, the CCI sector has already had a notable impact on employment and GDP in both the EU and Bulgaria. As CCIs continually drive innovation, they become the catalyst for progress in various sectors and society as a whole. The project''s objective is to bolster the capacity of Ligna Group and Createch Bulgaria members to develop sustainable business models within the creative industries, with a strong emphasis on immersive technologies. The project aims to achieve this by fostering innovation, promoting skill development, enhancing cooperation through networking, and aligning SMEs from Bulgaria and Norway with a focus on the green and digital transition.
Achieving these aims require a series of key activities, including:
- Study Trips
- Project Management
- Project Publicity
- Research Activities
This project also has a strong bilateral component. The project aims to foster collaboration between Bulgarian and Norwegian SMEs, focusing on the dual transition (green and digital). It involves the Norwegian cluster VRINN and its network, actively participating in project implementation. Simultaneously, a Bulgarian cluster will enhance networking and expand opportunities for bilateral partnerships on Cluster and B2B levels, aligning with the objectives of the European Economic Area and Norwegian Financial Mechanism to reduce disparities and strengthen relations between Norway and Bulgaria, contributing to a socially inclusive Europe.
Summary of project results
Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) play an important role in the modern development of our society and are at the core of the creative economy. Based on intensive knowledge and individual creativity and talent, they generate considerable economic wealth and help shape our identity, culture and values. The sector is showing above-average growth and creates jobs – particularly for young people – while having significant potential to generate positive change in and for society by strengthening people''s welfare.
According to Eurostat data published in the latest Culture statistics 2019 edition, the CCI sector employed 8.7 million people in 2018, which is equivalent to 3.8% of the total number of employed persons within the EU-28. Eurostat estimates the total added value of CCI at €290 billion in 2016 equivalent (4% of EU GDP). The contribution of CCIs in Bulgaria to the national GDP (4%) and employment (2.7%) is comparable to the EU average. CCIs are also at the forefront of the creation and adoption of innovations and are the source of their spill overs to other sectors of the economy as well as to society as a whole. With the emergence of more and more complex value chains and business models, ICTs are increasingly becoming a crucial component in the value chain of almost every product and service. Also in this decisive decade for climate action digitization has a major role to play in supporting sustainable growth and competitiveness of SME. Indeed, digital solutions could reduce global emissions by 20%, according to the World Economic Forum. Adopting a ''twin transition'' approach can bring the digital and sustainability agendas together to future-proof the SMEs in CCI.
The twin transition approach recognizes that there is a huge and largely untapped opportunity for technology to drive sustainability goals. Rather than treating digital technologies and sustainability in isolation, a twin transition strategy combines these critical functions to unlock huge benefits in terms of efficiency and productivity. The twin transition can make a positive impact by ‘greening’ technology processes, data assets and infrastructures while accelerating sustainability across the organizations. This is valid for all economy sectors but is particularly decisive for the development and competitiveness in CCIs. While SMEs understand the urgency of the twin transition, many struggle to put it into practice. Contributing factors include the lack of a consistent approach, inertia caused by perceived and real complexities, and conflicting strategic priorities. Part of the factors for the greening and sustainable growth of Bulgarian SMEs in CCIs are related to the availability of information and knowledge, as well as the use of innovative technologies. An effective way to improve access to them is by networking and learn from each other and clustering along the value chain
The following activities took place during the project implementation period :
1. Research on opportunities of immersive technologies application in creating value in other creative sectors.
Ligna Group Ltd. performed analysis / overview on the current situation (importance, types, trends, application frameworks, impacts), the existing solutions and business models incorporating successfully the twin transition goals through the AR/VR and extended reality technologies in relevant creative sectors in Bulgaria and worldwide. The study helped to create a roadmap for developing a sustainable business model, assess the capital and operational expenditure needed and the sustainability impact of it.
2. Field Study among VRINN members on how immersive technologies are entering the CCI for creating new products and value chains.
The Norwegian partner VRINN performed a field study to identify best practices, models and technology solutions among its members - companies in the fields of VR/ AR (XR), gamification and other relevant organisations operating in Norway. Mentoring and coaching curriculum have been prepared and relevant Norwegian collaboration partners have been dentified.
3. Norway Study trip and matchmaking mission – visit of representatives of Ligna group and companies - members of Createch Bulgaria, took place in Norway with the objective to learn about good practices from VRINN Cluster and meet potential partners among its network.
4. CREATECH Conference in Bulgaria
The main goal was to emphasize the economic importance of the creative industries in Bulgaria and the region, to stimulate the sharing of knowledge and experience between participants, experts and professionals from various fields related to the cultural and creative industries from Bulgaria and Norway, to help build capacity for process management in the sector and to maximize its development opportunities. Setting up of partnership networks has been facilitated in order to contribute to the creation of new sustainable value chains, development of new and enrichment of cultural products. Possibilities for spill over of know-how and innovation from other sectors such as education, tourism, urban development, green policies, etc. have been explored.
The project outcomes helped Ligna Group and members of Createch Bulgaria to improve their capacity for developing sustainable business models in creative industries by adopting innovative immersive technologies. The target group, SMEs from creative industries, have received support to increase their knowledge and improve their business skills for creating competitive and dynamic immersive technologies-based products and services. The support the SMEs helped also:
- To develop innovative business ideas and skills by means of co-creative approaches in the development of the service portfolio and integrating SMEs into the European and global value chains.
- To build capacity by means of exchange of good practices, networking and think tanks;
- To increase and improve the cooperation between SMEs from Bulgaria and Norway including implementing a cluster approach in the aim for achieving the green and digital transition
Summary of bilateral results
The Norwegian partner in the project is the VRINN cluster, Stange Komnune. The members of the cluster are mainly companies operating in the fields of VR, AR, and gamification. VRINN has been involved in all project activities for capacity building of the Bulgarian companies and facilitating matchmaking meetings and cooperation between Norwegian and Bulgarian companies.