eXpression Umeå, Umeå's fast-growing incubator for the cultural and creative industries, has received additional EU funding to create conditions and strengthen the growth and internationalisation of the creative industries. The initiative will run for 3 years and has a budget of 13 million SEK.
Sweden's export strategy points out that cultural and creative industries should increase their internationalisation and that we should promote culture-driven exports. Creative businesses are driving digital developments in areas such as design, music, fashion, film, media and games. The digital dimension is likely to explain to a large extent why cultural and creative industries in Sweden record almost twice as many exports as the average Swedish company and why they are more innovative than average.
"It is important for us to build on the strong foundation and creative cluster we have built at eXpression and take the next step in supporting companies in their market growth and into the international market. We work with designers, architects, artists, film producers, musicians, fashion companies, tourism companies and gaming companies that are of a high international standard and to meet their needs and create the best conditions in the region we need developed support structures to grow and to reach out internationally" says Marlene Johansson, CEO eXpression Umeå.
Creative industries in music, film, media, design, games and fashion are strongly emerging industries in Umeå and throughout Västerbotten. They are creators of high international calibre, demonstrating innovative forms of digital marketing concepts and establishing dynamic ecosystems of independent businesses with extensive digital reach and characterised by co-creation. Successes such as Random Bastards, Sisters in Law, Team Scandi, Persikamy, Bautafilm, Johanna Forsberg Design are just a few examples.
The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth's report 'Ge plads på Scen, kulturföretagen vill växa' (2019) shows how KKN companies are more innovative than the average company, as a result of building their business models on collaboration to a much greater extent, usually in their core activities such as production, distribution, marketing and export. The willingness to grow for CCIs is found in the same study to be higher than the average for all firms, with 80% of CCIs wanting to grow compared to the average 69%.
23% states that it wants to expand internationally.
"We will work together with High Cost Creatives in Örnsköldsvik and Artic Design of Sweden to strengthen the growth of the cultural and creative industries on the global stage and to support the development of new innovative business models to reach out internationally", says Marlene Johansson.
Co-financiers of the accelerator are Umeå Municipality, Umeå University, Region Västerbotten, Örnsköldsvik Municipality, Företagarna i Örnsköldsvik.
eXpression Umeå, is today a business that has grown strongly, especially in the last two years, supporting and developing some 50 ideas, creators and businesses in the cultural and creative industries throughout the region. The incubator has a high attractiveness and a well-developed business development process that supports the development of sustainable businesses. eXpression is characterised by high equality and diversity among the creators who develop their ideas and businesses in the environment.
For more information, please contact:
Marlene Johansson, CEO
eXpression Umeå
