Europe’s cultural and creative industries (CCI) offer unique perspectives and value that remain largely underutilised in other sectors. From driving user-centred design to sparking digital and green transitions, CCIs have the potential to make a significant impact across Europe’s industrial landscape. However, this potential is often overlooked, and opportunities for cross-sectoral collaboration remain underexploited. At the same time, CCIs face their own structural challenges, including limited access to finance, fragmentation, and a lack of formalised collaboration frameworks. 

To explore how clusters can support this two-way exchange and unlock the full value of cross-ecosystem collaboration, the European Cluster Collaboration Platform, on behalf of the European Commission, organised the EU Clusters Talk "Creative Crossroads: Building Synergies Across Eco-systems with Cultural and Creative Industries" on 14 May, 8:30 – 9:45 CET. The session examined the challenges facing the CCI ecosystem, presented insights from Eurocluster projects, explored cross-sectoral collaboration, and highlighted metaclustering efforts aimed at formalising cross-sectoral partnerships that enable both creative and industrial innovation.

Speakers included: 

• Kati Uusi-Rauva, Director Regional Hub North, EIT Culture & Creativity North
• Georgiana Mihailovici, General Secretary, OpenHub Creative Cluster 
• Raffaele Vitulli, President, Basilicata Creativa, and Project Manager, European Digital Innovation Hub "Heritage Smart Lab"
• Genoveva Christova, President, Bulgarian Furniture Cluster & Createch Cluster
• Gian Angelo Bellati, President, Venetian Cluster 

WATCH THE SESSION RECORDING

This event is part of regular online meetings brought to the cluster community by the European Cluster Collaboration Platform. They offer up-to-date insights into the latest industrial policies and clusters’ involvement, projects, and best practices, the latest ECCP news, and funding opportunities. The EU Clusters Talks are a space to exchange knowledge and to discuss cluster-relevant topics, which will change with every meeting.