Digital Creative Industries and Beyond

The goal of the project is to create concrete support and training activities as well as successenhancing technological and sustainable development know-how to enhance business and increase production of companies in digital creative fields (AV, audio, XR, game industry) that are starting out and seeking international growth.

The project utilizes the cooperation, know-how and resources of the universities and cities of Helsinki metropolitan area to implement the project's measures and create added value for operators in the digital creative industries, which is especially reflected in the Helsinki metropolitan area and the whole of Finland as a new, internationally competitive innovation activity, business and jobs.

Universities and cities play a significant role in the development of ecosystems, their enabling effects, information sharing and accessibility. In accordance with Uusimaa's Research and Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialization, the Helsinki metropolitan area ecosystem agreement and the National R&D Roadmap, universities and cities support the development of digital creative industries ecosystems by investing in companies' business feasabilities , increasing customer identification and understanding, competitive technological and sustainable development know-how, launching new companies and initiatives, and increasing networking nationally and internationally.

The project collects and utilizes published researched data on economic, ecological and regional information from digital creative fields, deepens understanding of technological changes in the field and changes related to sustainable development goals, on the basis of which trainings are organized that strengthen business and develop multidisciplinary foresight ability of companies, organizations and municipalities, and streamline decision-making, producing added value foresight that supports business -, evaluation and preparation processes.

The project implements the EU's Baltic Sea region strategy, Uusimaa's survival plan and the Research and Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialization by assisting the growth of companies, internationalization and the development and utilization of new innovations, as well as by promoting the green transition, carbon neutrality and the growth of digitalization. As Metropolia UAS and Aalto University being official partners of New European Bauhaus initiative they are committed to promote the EU's Green Deal with their actions and expertise. The project pays attention to inclusive and equal participation opportunities. The project's measures take the gender perspective into account, and e.g. the project's selection of experts and communication materials aim to support inclusivity and equality. This affects the gender imbalance observed in the creative fields and the deficiencies observed in inclusivity. The project's measures have a positive effect on ecological sustainability. The project develops the business structure of the local ecosystem and increases knowledge capital, intangible products and services for use in several different sectors.

Coordinator: Metropolia University of Applied Sciences (Joint applicant) (lead)
Partner: City of Helsinki (Joint applicant)
Partner: Aalto University (Joint applicant)