Anatomy of a techno-creative community – the role of brokers, places, and events in the emergence of projection mapping in Nantes

Abstract

This article aims to study the role of brokers, places, and events in the structuring of a community of innovation whose practice is at the intersection of art and technology -projection mapping. Using an exploratory case study, we observe the relationships between the different actors who form a community, sharing a common interest in a techno-creative practice -but whose collective innovation dynamic is only in its beginnings and remains unstable. We document the critical role of places and events as intermediary platforms for these actors. This reveals preferential circulations -patterns of moves among a set of focal locations in the city for a community -and the crucial role of these locations in communities' emergence.

Which types of firm use collaborative innovative spaces?

“…Behind this generic concept, formal CIS can take different configurations. Some places can be equipped with technical or technological tools, like FabLabs or makerspaces, for instance (Lhoste, 2020), whilst others can provide specific internal workspace for enhancing collaboration, creativity and change (Capron et al, 2021; Cohendet et al, 2021; Sgourev, 2013). Furthermore, some can be dematerialized, with ‘proximate’ interactions taking place in virtual space on the Internet (Elia et al, 2020; Marchi et al, 2011).…”