Cultural and Creative Industries as Innovation and Sustainable Transition Brokers in the Baltic Sea Region: A Strong Tribute to Sustainable Macro-Regional Development

Abstract

Recent research shows increasing efforts to unfold the potential of Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) for regions in order to pursue new sources of innovation, competitive edge and to manifest sustainable and inclusive growth paths driven by creativity. Due to its strong commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, on the global level, the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) has become a role model in sustainable development. Yet, individual BSR countries face challenges in the implementation of those goals. In this light, by building on the intermediate results (2017–2020) of two EU Interreg projects—Creative Ports and CTCC—this research reveals CCIs’ potential for sustainable development avenues. The investigation is based on case study methodology underpinned by empirical data gathered from participating Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) and topical experts met during the projects’ implementation and study visits. The present multi-project applied research reduces the research-to-practice gap pertaining to the so far underestimated role of CCIs for supporting traditional SMEs in the implementation of their sustainable ideas. Once engaged into cross-sectoral collaboration with traditional SMEs, CCIs become important brokers—sustainable innovation drivers and enablers within regional ecosystems through contribution to environmentally responsible, socially equitable and economically feasible solutions for the business they work with. Thus, on the one hand, CCIs support SMEs in their transition towards more sustainable managerial performance. On the other hand, CCIs overcome disconnection and increase their recognition through new collaboration opportunities, thus providing them with new capitalization avenues on the regional and international level.

How do CCIs contribute to regional innovation?

“…In the last phase, CCIs are brokers that connect with external industries to stimulate innovation largely outside and beyond CCIs. Gerlitz and Prause (2021) used a qualitative case study to demonstrate how CCIs acted as creative brokers to upgrade traditional sectors and stimulate innovation at the firm, cross-border regional and global levels. The supply side of brokerage is the innovation potential of traditional small and medium enterprises (SMEs) empowered by creativity-driven CCIs, and the demand side of brokerage is the traditional SMEs.…”

Does Cultural Agglomeration Affect Green Total Factor Productivity? Evidence from 279 Cities in China

“…At the same time, government budgetary allocations and socioeconomic status in the entertainment and cultural industries are crucial to ensure environmental sustainability, as they contribute to lower carbon emission levels. Therefore, regions are increasingly striving to demonstrate the potential of cultural and creative industries (CCI) to seek new sources of innovation and competitive advantage and to demonstrate sustainable and inclusive growth pathways driven by creativity [12].…”

The Social Network of Creative Economy Actors in the Padang City Tourism Destination Area, West Sumatra

“…If creative economy actors are able to master digitalization to promote their business widely, it will have a very good impact on increasing the livelihoods of creative creative actors. However, even though creative economy actors have been able to use social media digitization in promoting their businesses, they are still regional in nature, so this is certainly not perfect enough (Gerlitz & Prause, 2021;Redjeki & Affandi, 2021).…”