20 September 2012, Groningen, The Netherlands

In the creative sector, cross-disciplinary collaboration and knowledge sharing have always been powerful catalysts of innovation. So one can argue about the role of the creative industries in cross-sectoral knowledge transfer and therefore in the innovation ecosystem, in smart and sustainable growth.

With project partners from the EU North Sea Region Hamburg, Bremen, Oldenburg, Kortrijk, Høje-Taastrup, Göteborg, Dundee, Newcastle, Delft and Groningen much work has been carried out in developing and exchanging expertise and experience in the field of creative knowledge clusters, hotspots/incubators, entrepreneurship and transnational networks. Time for sharing and debating!

20 September 2012, Groningen, The Netherlands

On 20 September 2012, the Municipality of Groningen organized the final conference of the European project entitled Creative City Challenge (CCC).

With our partners from the North Sea region – Hamburg, Bremen, Oldenburg, Kortrijk, Høje-Taastrup, Göteborg, Dundee, Newcastle and Delft – much work has been carried out in developing and exchanging knowledge and experience in the field of creative knowledge clusters, hotspots, etc.

The conference was held in the rising creative urban area of Groningen: the Ebbingekwartier (Ebbinge Quarter). There, the grounds of the former Gas Factory have been given a temporary layout and access routes. The 'Open Lab Ebbinge', which is a component of this creative zone, functions as a new breeding ground for the creative economy and forms a practical laboratory for new types of interim architecture, urban planning and new environments for creative entrepreneurship and the mingling of ideas. A living lab for open innovation.