Transcript Document

Creative Knowledge and
the Competitiveness of EU
Metropolitan Regions
The EU ACRE FP6 Project
Julie Brown, Caroline Chapain, Alan Murie, Austin Barber,
John Gibney and Jane Lutz.
Introducing the ACRE project
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EU 6th Framework, Priority 7 ‘Citizens and
Governance in a Knowledge-based Society’
4 years, started October 2006
Central themes: creative-knowledge economy, cityregion competitiveness
13 partners in 13 European cities
Key Research Questions
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What are the conditions for creating or stimulating
creative knowledge city-regions in the context of the
extended European Union?
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How do creative knowledge city-regions develop?
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How can we promote the development of creative
knowledge city-regions?
Specific sub-questions
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How has history influenced development?
 To what extent do some particular groups influence
the development of creative knowledge city-regions?
(graduates, creative industry workers, managers of
creative companies and trans-national migrants)
 What is the role of ‘soft’ factors?
 What is the role, significance and impact of the policy
framework?
 What policies and strategies work best?
The 13 Project Partners
Birmingham &West Midlands Local
Partnership (LOP)
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Discuss the ideas that emerge from the ACRE project
Provide policy maker and practitioner input into key
interim papers
Consider and comment on the draft final ACRE report
Participate in 3 planned ACRE conferences
What is ‘Creative Knowledge’?
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Creative Industries: Definition DCMS
ICT manufacturing and services (OECD)
Finance, insurance
Law and other business services
R&D and Higher Education
Work Package 2 : Pathways to Creative
Knowledge Cities
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Historic roots of current economic, social, political
profile (path dependence)
Recent economic, social, political trends
Current state of the Creative Knowledge economy
in Birmingham
Recent policies to improve competitiveness
(especially as creative knowledge city/region)
1. Historic development – 19th /20th Century
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Victorian Birmingham ‘The City of a thousand Trades’
and ‘The Workshop of the World’;
Industrial structure unique in the UK context
1950s key manufacturing region in UK
Progressive narrowing of economic base: dominant
focus is automotive and associated industries;
1980s attempts to diversify economic base around
high value-added growth sectors
Creative-industries and culture embodied within wider
urban regeneration and social welfare agenda
2. Birmingham Today
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A young, diverse population but challenges in
terms of social issues.
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A growing and diversifying economy but still facing
challenges in terms of skills and qualifications.
3. Creative Knowledge Sectors in Birmingham
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Around 28,000 jobs in Birmingham and 58,000 in the
metropolitan region in 2004.
5.7% of Birmingham’s Economy (compared to 6.1% in UK).
Most important sectors in terms of employment: Software,
Architecture/Engineering design, Publishing.
But also specialisation in:
– Manufacture of Jewellery, Glass and Musical Instruments,
Radio and TV, Architecture/Engineering Design, Advertising,
Heritage and Museum.
– Higher Education, Finances, Law and other Professional
Services.
Birmingham: ‘’Europe’s’’ Meeting place?
3. Creative Knowledge Sectors in Birmingham
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Dynamic sector (48% of firms created in the last 10
years).
 Highly skilled sector (over 40% of the workforce has
a degree or more).
 21% of freelancers (35% in Music and Performing
Arts).
 Purchase (60%) and workforce (85%) are mostly
local.
 More than 30% of firms export to UK or
internationally.
4. Policy framework
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Strategic ambitions and economic development
initiatives embedded in formal planning frameworks.
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2002 Creative City Strategy ‘‘The Creative City’’
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The creative-industries seen as one of the key sectors
to contribute to the growth and expansion of the City.
4. Policy framework
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Large number of strategies at local and regional level
– lack of ‘joined up’ approach.
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Complexity of institutional arrangements.
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AWM cluster approach - creative-industries not
designated a priority cluster in the Region.
Next steps – 2007/8
Survey and Interviews
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Managers of creative knowledge firms
Other employees of creative knowledge firms
Graduates (arts, media etc)
Trans-national migrant workers