The first in person meeting of EIT Culture & Creativity’s Co-Location Centre (CLC) South West took place on February 2nd in the premises of the Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) fair in Barcelona. The meeting gathered over 40 attendees from CCSI organisations from Spain, Portugal and the South of France. They represented 6 partners and 21 associates including universities, technology centers, public organizations and companies from the culture and creativity sectors. The meeting was opened by ISE director Mike Black, the Chair of EIT Culture & Creativity’s Constituting Supervisory Board, Daria Tataj, and Xavier Vilalta, representative of ACCIÓ, the Catalan Government’s agency for business competitiveness. The Director of the Catalan Institute of Cultural Companies (ICEC), Edgar Garcia, attended the meeting as well.
The goal of the meeting was to provide first hand information on EIT Culture & Creativity development to partners and organisations who have been involved in the consortium since the application phase. “It has been a long journey since the first time we all met, and we decided to work together to make EIT Culture & Creativity a reality. Now it is a matter of time for us to get this Knowledge Innovation Community up and running, and to be able to initiate our first business year in 2024”, affirmed Patricia Castillo, interim Chief Communication and Engagement Officer (CCO). Bernd Fesel, interim CEO, joined online to thank all attendees for their commitment and eagerness to be involved.
CLC South West interim Director, Joan Guasch, and Aurea Rodríguez proceeded to explain CLC’s priorities and next steps. Later on, Roger Font and Xavier Cubeles from Eurecat, led a workshop for partners to get to know each other, and map initiatives for promoting connections with the regional CCSI ecosystem. The meeting provided participants with the opportunity to discuss ideas on the local innovation ecosystem, as well as the cross-sectoral and climate action approaches of the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries. These topics will also be embedded in the Culture & Creativity Days event planned in October by CLC South West.
EIT Culture & Creativity has 6 Co-Location Centres (CLCs) located all over Europe. Each CLC serves as a key node to connect with regional stakeholders across the Knowledge Triangle by building on existing networks and relationships. CLCs will be the first entry point for organisations willing to join or participate in the KIC activities. CLC South West is based in Barcelona and covers the CCSI ecosystem of Spain, Portugal and the South of France. CLC South West has a main focus in the cross-sectorial impact of the cultural and creativity industries in other sectors as well as mobilization for climate action.
About EIT Culture & Creativity
EIT Culture & Creativity is the ninth Innovation Community by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union. It is designed to strengthen and transform Europe’s Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI) by connecting creatives and organisations to Europe’s largest innovation network. It takes a holistic and open approach to innovation – from tech to artistic driven innovations, from business to citizen driven – and reinforces the appreciation and anchoring of European values and identities. EIT Culture & Creativity will unlock latent value from a multitude of small CCSI stakeholders through technology transfer, improved cross-sectoral collaboration and their effective integration in production value networks. EIT Culture & Creativity will support technology and business innovation; artistic innovation and social innovation. It will also harness the unique position of the CCSI to facilitate the Triple Transitions in Europe – green, digital and social.
About Eurecat
Eurecat is the main Research & Technology Organisation in Catalonia and the second largest private research organization in southern Europe. It brings together the experience of more than 705 professionals who generate an annual turnover of 55,8 million euros and provides services to more than 2,000 companies. Applied R&D, technological services, highly specialized training, technological consultancy or valorisation and exploitation of industrial property are some of the services that Eurecat offers for both large and small and medium-sized enterprises in all sectors. The technology centre participates in more than 200 large national and international consortium projects of high strategic R&I and has 181 patents and 7 spin-offs. The added value provided by Eurecat accelerates innovation, reduces spending on scientific and technological infrastructures, reduces risks and provides specialized knowledge tailored to each company. It has eleven centres in Catalonia (Spain) and one in Chile (Latam).
About Integrated Systems Europe
Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) is the world’s leading professional AV and systems integration show. The annual event provides a unique showcase of technologies and solutions for commercial and residential applications. The extensive show floor is complemented by a five-day professional development programme curated by the show’s co-owners, AVIXA and CEDIA. ISE also showcases a range of conferences, keynotes and events that take place before and during the show. ISE 2023 will take place from 31 January to 3 February 2023 at the Fira de Barcelona, Gran Via complex. The event is a joint venture of AVIXA, the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association and CEDIA, the global trade association for companies that design, manufacture, and integrate technology for the home. For further information, please visit: www.iseurope.org.
