Why we support creative industries in Styria

Eberhard Schrempf

Creative Industries Styria (CIS) is a public company whose aim is to develop the creative industries in Styria and Austria. A wide-range of creative industries is present in Styria, including architecture, design, fashion, music as well as communication and advertising. In Graz, CIS focuses in particular on design. We are preparing a project for Graz to become the “City of Design” within UNESCO’s programme “Creative Cities,” which currently includes eight cities, such as Berlin, Buenos Aires and Kobe. CIS was established after the Chamber of Commerce of Styria, the Government of Syria and the city of Graz commissioned in 2006 a report about the potential of the creative industries in the region. The report found that the industries employ 35,000 people, that they are growing very quickly and that they generate an income of 1,5B Euros. In order to increase the strength and the impact of the industries, it was important to build good networks for the creative industries and to connect them with the traditional industries. It is of benefit for the entire region and for the people living here, including the 40,000 students studying here. In 2007 the Government of Styria appointed the CIS to work to further develop the creative industries in the region. Since then approximately 3,000 people have joined the network, including small and young companies as well as big companies, including architects, designers, fashion designers, people working in music, animation and the games industry. One of the main reasons why creative industries are so important in a region like Styria is the fact that the classical industries, driven by production, are moving to places such as China and India. So what can we do? We can keep the know-how and the ideas and we should support the people who have the ideas. The only way to develop innovation is to invest into people who have ideas – and that’s the creative industries. In this respect, the Government of Styria made a very wise step to do this early enough and be prepared for the future of the region

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Eberhard Schrempf

Eberhard Schrempf

Managing Director of the Creative Industries Styria in Graz, Austria

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