Industrial Culture - 'Creativity and innovation shaping the economic transition'

Fostering creativity and innovation in the environment of industry and its remains

Central Europe is home to a number of strongholds producing industry. However, latest industrial development, e.g. towards Industry 4.0, demands a.o. availability of enhanced creative and innovative potentials for maintaining both economic and regional competitiveness. This Work Package strived to foster creative economies and innovative spirit in such challenging (old-indstrial, non-metropolitan) environments. It reconnected these current needs with the historic pioneering culture for which these regions are known.

This Work Package focussed on utilizing the attractive assets of old-industrial sites for establishing creative and cultural centres as well as on measures fostering innovation, entrepreneurship and local value chains in an industry-based setting. Throughout the Work Package research partners supported with input, moderation, reflection, evaluation.

The Work Package had two main action plans:

  • Regional action plans for fostering creativity and innovation 
  • Pilot-actions setting up creative-cultural, experimental, multifunctional spaces in vacant industrial sites considering both, physical and human resources.