Lund University: “The Buzz of Europe is Creativity and Culture”
Lund University, with its event “The Buzz of Europe” on 29 April 2022, showcased its work on shaping concepts and partnerships to work with a KIC in cultural and creative industries. A KIC is a strategic development initiative undertaken by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).
Finanisär
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) manages the huge innovation effort KIC, Knowledge and Innovation Communities, which is directed towards strategic development areas. KICs are part of the giant innovation programme emanating from the EU. Now the EIT is at the start of its new initiative lasting 10-15 years on “Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KIC) for Cultural and Creative Industry”. In Lund, universities took the lead in bringing together Swedish and Nordic players in the field to shape themselves for the opportunities this will entail.
In May 2021 bid Lund University inn to a start-up meeting for anyone who was curious about what the Nordic Creatives & Friends collaboration could mean and Bo Ahrén, professor of medicine and former vice-rector, gave the opening speech:
“The cultural and creative industry is the heart and soul of Europe. This sector is a potential success factor for countries across Europe in strengthening competitiveness vis-à-vis other countries. The cultural and creative sector is an important driver of sustainable growth and job creation. The KIC will be a way to empower the next generation of innovators and creatives.
Lund University has taken a leading role in shaping cooperation.
What benefits could a KIC bring to the university?
“We hope that a KIC will have a positive impact on society as a whole, both locally and in Europe. You should not join a KIC primarily for the sake of money, but precisely to develop and find topics to collaborate on. Forming ourselves in a KIC makes us playable for a wide range of European collaborations and when we prepare ourselves for what is important and what we are interested in, we open a door to Europe,” says Charlotte Lorentz Hjorth at Lund University.
In creating a concept and opportunities for collaboration, Lund University has, among other things, used the multi-year cooperation that exists with the municipality of Lund and Future by Lund (which is a Vinnova initiative for innovation).
Future by Lund works, among other things, through “Multistakeholder governance”, which is a model for how to cooperate in an area between organizations where no one decides.
“We aim for a strong concept and good cooperation with many partners of different sizes and in many different areas. In order for it to work so that everyone feels involved, the Multistakeholder Governance model is a good fit to use, says Charlotte.
Fact box
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) manages the huge innovation initiative KIC, Knowledge and Innovation Communities aimed at strategic development areas. Lund University has previously been linked to the EIT through, among other things, a Climate-KIC and a Food-KIC. Now it can be a completely new venture for 10-15 years linked to a Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KIC) for Cultural and Creative Industry.
Watch the film from the event “The Buzz of Europe”
