ekip POLICY AREAS

AI technological wave has unleashed transformative opportunities, enabling individuals, organisations and communities to reach new levels of interconnectedness, creativity and progress. As a cornerstone of European society, the Cultural and Creative Industries play a crucial role in harnessing these advancements. Technopolis organised our first Policy Lab in January, leading towards policy recommendations that will be delivered to the European Commission and network partners.

The New European Bauhaus empowers Cultural and Creative Sectors to drive Europe’s green transition through innovation, funding and policy collaboration, highlighting their role in building a sustainable and inclusive future.

Immersive technologies like VR and AR are transforming cultural and creative industries, and EKIP’s Policy Lab explores how policy can support wider adoption and innovation, especially for independent creators.

Crafts-led innovation uses traditional skills and knowledge to create sustainable, high-quality solutions, strengthening both frugal innovation and cultural heritage in the creative industries.

Music platformisation has expanded access and data-driven opportunities, but challenges around visibility, income and sustainable revenue remain central for artists and labels.

Diversity and inclusion remain key challenges in the gaming industry, yet inclusive teams and games unlock greater creativity, innovation and healthier creative ecosystems.

Cross-innovation between the performing arts and other sectors brings together artists, researchers and technologists to drive new research, methodologies and innovation across Europe’s ecosystems.

Eco-design for circularity and open innovation are transforming Europe’s fashion and textile ecosystem by addressing the environmental, social and economic impacts of fast fashion. Through systemic innovation, cross-sector collaboration and new circular business models, the sector is moving toward a more sustainable, transparent and resilient future aligned with the EU’s 2030 vision.

Cultural heritage institutions act as trusted, community-based spaces that foster social innovation through co-creation and cross-sector collaboration. By connecting citizens, artists, researchers and policymakers, they support knowledge exchange and long-term social and cultural transformation within open innovation ecosystems. This policy area examines how everyday participatory practices are enabled or constrained by current policy frameworks and identifies conditions to strengthen the role of cultural heritage institutions as inclusive infrastructures for innovation.

As CCIs navigate shifting markets, technologies, and social expectations, there is a clear need to rethink how they are financed, moving beyond grant-only approaches toward more flexible and collaborative models.

New funding models for creativity and innovation is the policy area that explores the shift toward diversified income streams, multi-level collaborations, outcome-based investment, financial literacy, and digital monetization tools. From public-private partnerships and social impact funding to blockchain-enabled royalties and platform-based economies, these emerging funding models aim to strengthen financial resilience and create more sustainable ecosystems for creative professionals.

Infrastructures, spaces and ecosystems provide the conditions for experimentation and collaboration, shaping how CCIs participate in and benefit from European innovation systems.