A Proposal for a Standard With Innovation Management System

Elissaveta Gourova, Ivan Draganov and Kostadinka Toteva
3. Challenges for CCI environment in Europe
3.1 Facilitating CCI growth in Europe
Despite their specificity, CCI encompass enterprises which need targeted support for their
development and growth like other enterprises from high-tech industries. It is acknowledged that the
entrepreneurial performance could be fostered by targeted measures linked to: access to capital,
technology and R&D, entrepreneurial capabilities, market conditions, regulatory framework and an
entrepreneurial culture (HKU, 2010). Generally, appropriate support policies and coherent industrial,
cultural and trade policies are necessary to establish an environment that will encourage the
development of CCI.
In fact, many European countries already considered CCI as a priority of their economic policy.
Several policies and strategies on CCI have been recently developed (e.g. UK, Germany, Denmark,
Estonia, Finland, etc.). This has contributed to economic growth not only in countries with traditions in
the sector, but also in countries with much smaller national markets, however, with targeted
programmes for CCI development (Tomova et al. 2011; UNESCO, 2010).
It is generally accepted that the economic development of CCI depends on the availability of funding
and support systems that respond to their needs. Synergy between financial and creative inputs along
the value chain (development, production to distribution and marketing) determines success or failure
in creative industries (Cunningham et al., 2008). The lack of financing is impeding the growth of the
sector, even in developed economies. The capital required for the development and implementation
of promising ideas is frequently lacking. Creative businesses get sometimes funding from sources like
personal investments, grants for promoting creativity or for business start ups, private R&D spending,
tax deductions, loans, etc (UNIDO, 2010).
� In the UK, for example, creative services industries (design, architecture, advertisement) are
mostly self-financed, whereas creative experience providers (art, visual arts, music) are
subsidised. A medium position takes the audiovisual sector where public subsidies are mixed with
self-funding opportunities.
� An Austrian report considers the promotion of creative clusters and observes that their future
depends on: the supply of ‘creative products’; marketing, together with tourism; regional
development; innovative inspiration and transfer of know-how (IKM, 2003).
� In London, a ten-year action plan supports CCI, including funding to facilitate business growth and
provide venture capital. Ten creative hubs in London provide flexible workspace, training,
mentoring, exhibition, showcasing, marketing and networking facilities, and services like creative
property advice; legal support for IPR; marketing for the attraction of investment; etc.
Structural Funds have a particular role for CCI – for preserving national heritage, building cultural
infrastructure (theatres, museums), increasing the visibility of culture and the attractiveness of local
centres or regions. The main priorities set by the European Commission (EC) in Operational
Programmes focus on raising the regional competitiveness, employment and social cohesion, and
balanced territorial development. CCI activities are funded if linked to protection and preservation of
national cultural heritage or raising the regional attractiveness, rural and cultural tourism development.
There are evidences that many EU countries (Greece, Portugal, Italy, France, etc.) have explored the
funding opportunities for cultural infrastructure and preserving national heritage, as well as developing
cultural sites attractive for tourism. Except the revitalisation of the cultural sector, the funding
contributed also to higher employment and in some places to higher growth of many creative
companies (CSES, 2010).
In last decades the development and stimulation of CCI in Europe became one of the EU priorities.
Following the recent Europe 2020 strategy, the European Commission (EC) faces a challenge how to
promote CCI and how to harness culture and creativity for innovation and growth. In order to move
forward, there is a need first to understand creativity as a driver of innovation and then to look for the
contribution of innovation in CCI to smart growth, entrepreneurship, employment and wellbeing.
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