The Cultural, Creative and Industries (CCI) are important both in terms of their impact on the economy but also as drivers for change and transformation. Innovation processes involve experimenting, testing, and exploring ideas in a network or ecosystem of many stakeholders. These ecosystems of large and small companies, institutions, organisations, researchers, and citizens are needed to develop and try new concepts, attract investors, and get new companies and businesses up and running more quickly.

The ekip collaborative platform deals with complex innovation processes involving many stakeholders. ekip’s approach is based on Open Innovation principles, aiming to provide evidence-based policy suggestions while involving broard stakeholder groups.

“The challenge is that good support mechanisms for these networks and open ecosystems are lacking. The ekip project, European Cultural and Creative Industries Innovation Policy Platform, aims to change this” says coordinator Charlotte Lorentz Hjorth, Lund University.

An engine for innovation policy
To achieve this, the project targets specific policy areas using the “ekip engine” where tailored co-creation will create engagement strategies. The goals are to increase awareness, educate stakeholders, gather feedback, facilitate dialogue, influence decision-making, and empower stakeholders to participate in policy-making for positive societal change.

The ekip engine’s process is organized into three main activities: (i) Identifying, Prioritizing, and Investigating policy areas, (ii) Formulating policies, and (iii) Outreach.

• First, potential policy areas are identified through data collection, social listening, and policy corners.

• Next, specific policy challenges are addressed through inclusive, interdisciplinary policy labs. Recommendations are developed and tested within city ecosystems, providing practical implementation strategies for these innovative policies.

• Finally, the formulated policy recommendations are shared through the ekip Observatory and Knowledgebank, and by organizing and participating in various events across Europe.