Both the EU and the UN are putting the creative and cultural industries at the heart of rebuilding communities after the pandemic. It is a sector that will play a crucial role in the development of sustainable, attractive and vibrant communities, but it is also the sector most affected by the current pandemic. Now the Swedish Research Institute (RISE) is joining forces with eXpression Umeå and Västerbotten Museum in a collaboration to strengthen the creative sector. The Design Lab is the name of the initiative where tradition and future merge.
The cultural and creative sector accounts for 3.2% of Sweden's GDP and is important both for the green transition and for people's well-being. The sector has a unique potential in its ability to lead the development towards equal, attractive and prosperous cities as well as rural areas.
- We know that the cultural and creative sector plays a crucial role in the development that is taking place in northern Sweden right now. Companies from the creative and cultural sector have a place and contribute to communities where more people want to live, live and work. But at the same time, it is a sector that has been hit hard by the pandemic and therefore we want to work through the Design Lab to strengthen the sector, says Marlene A Johansson, Senior Researcher and Business and Innovation Manager at RISE.
The Design Lab works through digitalisation, design knowledge and innovation development to contribute to sustainable growth and innovation in cultural and creative industries in Upper Norrland. The project will, among other things, build a network of producers, work with open testbeds and promote stories about creators and the creative process. Another important part of the project is the establishment of a business development programme for creators and producers. Applications for the first of two planned rounds of the business development programme are now open.
DESIGNLABBET
The Design Lab's business development programme aims to raise awareness of sustainable design principles and how we can use the power of our cultural heritage for new concepts, products, services or offerings.
The Design Lab is aimed at creators and small businesses in the creative sector who want to strengthen their business model, their local production, develop their brand through storytelling and find new digital production methods to reach out with their value proposition.
- The Design Lab's business development programme is aimed at creators and small businesses in the cultural and creative sector. Through the programme, we help companies to strengthen their business model, think sustainability all the way, identify opportunities for more local production, develop their brand through storytelling and find new digital production methods to reach out with their value proposition, says Barbro Renkel, CEO at eXpression Umeå.
An important part of the programme is to increase the knowledge for longevity of concepts, objects and products based on our cultural heritage. Participating companies will have the opportunity to learn more about the intangible values and timeless knowledge that have been shaped throughout history.
- We want to inspire companies with methods and materials from previous generations and help carry this knowledge into the future. By taking sustainable design principles from the past, companies can use the power of our cultural heritage to develop new concepts, products, services or offers," says Emma Ewadotter, project manager at Västerbotten Museum. The Design Lab (Design Principles for Longevity) is planned to run for two years and the project is funded by EU funds, Umeå Municipality and Region Västerbotten.
