Development of Creative Industries
Development of creative industries became a part of the "Estonian Entrepreneurship Growth Strategy 2014-2020" under the section of competitive position. It is stated in the strategy that:
Taking into account the potential of this sector the number of companies operating in the field of creative industries is small among the start-up companies – too many good ideas never find their way to business. The existing companies are usually either micro or small companies who are unable to grow and have not much initiative to do so. The sector lacks opportunities for product development and creating innovative solutions. The domestic market is small and the weak export capacity does not allow entering and staying in foreign markets. Entrepreneurs who do not belong to creative circles do not know much about the possibilities of creative industries and often the added value that could be created in co-operation is overlooked. Due to its innovative approach creative industries have a great potential to create added value for the rest of the economy. Therefore, it is important to facilitate the development of creative industries and to connect it with the rest of the economy. The development of creative industries is based on three pillars: raising awareness and offering training, support for start-ups and their incubation period, support for sectoral development and exports. The companies that need a range of services and a special environment for comprehensive development have the chance to operate in creative incubators. The physical environment of the incubators and their technological basis will be improved and renewed. Competitive companies are provided with sectoral services in order to help them to carry out their product development and marketing and enter foreign markets. We will take special measures to increase exports, use all the potential of creative industries to operate successfully on foreign markets and to develop companies that are able to grow.
Based on the Estonian Entrepreneurship Growth Strategy 2014-2020 and previous experience of implementing measures for the development of cultural and creative industries (CCI), the Creative Industries Development measure was designed focusing on following aspects:
- supporting incubators, business accelerators and CCI development centres;
- increasing the export capacity of CCI enterprises;
- initiating joint development projects between CCI and other sectors’ enterprises;
- developing the CCI infrastructure and technological capacity;
- increasing awareness about creative economy and developing knowledge and skills.
As a result the CCI enterprises shall have increased income generated from different markets, other sectors involve CCI in order to increase their value added, CCI contributes more to the development of regions (employment, tourism, foreign investments) and there shall be bigger tax contribution generated by CCI.
Previous measure implemented during 2009-2014 focused on awareness rising about CCI and for development of CCI support structures.
Total budget allocated for the period 2014-2020 is 20 million Euros and the measure is financed from the European Regional Development Fund.
Total budget of CCI development measures implemented during 2009-2014 was 8,1 million Euros and measures were financed from European Social Fund and European Regional Development Fund.
Implementation of current and previous measures for supporting the development of CCI have been constantly monitored in order to make relevant adaptions for achieving the results and impact of the measures. Studies carried out before drafting the first measure for CCI indicated that there was a low awareness about creative economy, poor co-operation within cultural and creative sectors and lack of appropriate support structures for developing CCI.
Before drafting CCI measures for the period 2014-2020 following aspects were highlighted: CCI entreprises have low export capacity, there is a poor co-operation between CCI and other sectors and the services of CCI support structures must become more competitive and sustainable.