This document summarizes a presentation about making creativity happen and establishing Flanders as a district of creativity. It discusses the need to transition to an innovation-driven economy based on creativity. Three crucial questions are identified about whether tasks can be done cheaper or faster elsewhere. The mission is outlined to make Flanders more entrepreneurial and creative through targeting policymakers, organizations, and individuals. Activities proposed include research, inspiring events, generating ideas, and coworking spaces. International projects are discussed like the Creative Tools project to support creative business development. Statistics are provided on the size and economic impact of Flanders' creative industries. The presentation concludes by thanking the audience.

1. Making Creativity Happen
Flanders District of Creativity
CARLO VUIJLSTEKE – EICI WORKSHOP – NOVEMBER 18, 2011, GENK

2. Challenges ahead…

3. Wanted: a new economic model
Finland?
Prosperity per capita
Flanders
Innovation driven
economy
China & India
Productivity driven
economy
Factor driven Strength= Strength= Strength=
economy Low cost Efficiency Creativity

4. A Market Space

5. Too many choices…

6. 3 Crucial questions
• “Can a computer do it faster?”
• “Can someone overseas do it cheaper?”
• “Is what I’m offering in demand in an age of
abundance?”
- Daniel Pink, A Whole New Mind

7. “Human creativity is the ultimate economic resource”
- Richard Florida, Rise of the Creative Class

8. One way of innovation…
Science/Technology New product

9. More ways of innovation…
Science
Technology
• New product
• New service
• New process
Creativity • New business model
Creative Society • New answers
Industries Market • …

12. Our mission
Make
Make creative
entrepreneurial
Flanders more
Flanders more
entrepreneurial
creative

13. Target groups
CREATIVE
REGION
Policy
Set the framework
Organisation
Allow & support creativity
Individual
Think creative

14. Activities
Research Inspire Activate

15. Build knowledge
Scientific research
on entrepreneurial
creativity

16. Inspire
Inspiring
Events & Talks

17. Activate
Generate creative
ideas
Create awareness

18. Activate
Coworking space
Coworking network

19. Activate
Creative Tools

20. INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS

21. Districts of Creativity Network

22. Reverse mission

23. CREATIVE TOOLS
Last November the Creative Tools project
was launched by Flanders DC together
with CIDA, Chamber of Commerce of
Terrassa and Creative Tampere.
This Leonardo da Vinci transfer of
innovation project wants to address two
subjects: How can you make the
entrepreneurial class more creative? How
can you make the creative class more
entrepreneurial?

24. EXPERIENCE BASEDthe toolbox
Goodies for
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Provide local and regional public sector
business consultants with knowledge of
and insight into creative business
approaches and the dynamics of
experience-based business development
Enable business consultants to support
and inspire local companies to bringing
creative approaches into the company,
its marketing and product development
processes.

25. Creative Industries?

26. Creative Minds

27. Definition?

28. Music
Visual Arts Fashion
Architec-
Design
ture
Creative
Printed
Media Industries Audiovisual
Arts
in Flanders
Communi-
Performing
cation &
Arts
Advertising
Gaming New Media
Cultural
Heritage

29. 25 organisations
12 creative sectors

30. Impact?

31. >120.000 € 7 billion
People work in the Added value of the
creative industries Creative Industries
Economic Impact

32. A Common Strategy

33. Position Paper
6 priority themes
More than 50 policy and sector
recommendations

34. Improve
entrepreneurial skills

35. Enhance Crossovers

36. Thank you!
Carlo Vuijlsteke
Project Manager – Creative Industries
Carlo.vuijlsteke@flandersdc.be
Twitter: @cvuijlst