EIT Culture & Creativity is open for business at new Cologne HQ

EIT Culture & Creativity held its first in-person partner meeting on the 18 and 19 November on the premises of the Cologne Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK Cologne).

More than 150 participants from about 65 founding partner organisations took part. The opening remarks by Dr. Christian Ehler, Member of European Parliament, and Dr. Jens Brandenburg, State Secretary to the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, set the scope for the new KIC's ambitions and actions for the coming years.

The political understanding of the cultural and creative industries and sectors has matured over the last few years. They have been recognized as one of the 14 ecosystems at the heart of European industrial policy. They also play a central role in the New European Bauhaus movement initiated by President Ursula Von Der Leyen.

Dr. Christian Ehler, Member of European Parliament

During the meeting, participants were able to exchange ideas on the future of the Innovation Community, including the green, digital, and social transformation of Europe. These principles will be embedded in EIT Culture & Creativity’s first open call for proposals for education, innovation, business creation, and social innovation initiatives planned for February 2023.

With EIT Culture & Creativity, the European Commission is establishing a pan-European structure for the innovative power of the entire creative industries for the first time – for all small and large, profit and non-profit stakeholders. This is a one-time opportunity for the creative industries and for Europe. We are pleased to be able to drive these endeavours forward from Cologne in the future, in collaboration with our regional centres and offices in Barcelona, Amsterdam, Helsinki, Košice, Vienna and Bologna.

Berndgvfvd Fesel, Interim Chief Executive Officer of EIT Culture & Creativity

EIT Culture & Creativity moves to the Rhine!

The announcement of Cologne as the future location for EIT Culture & Creativity headquarters was confirmed by Henriette Reker, Lord Mayor of the City of Cologne, as well as Dr. Manfred Janssen, Managing Director of KölnBusiness Wirtschaftsförderung (the Cologne business promotion agency, which also sponsored the event), during the evening programme:

I am very pleased to welcome EIT Culture & Creativity to Cologne, a high-profile agency of the European Union. It not only strengthens the city’s European identity in a particular way, but also provides precious pan-European networking opportunities for Cologne-based companies in the creative industries as well as our universities. A European innovation community for the creative industries will strengthen and enrich the industry, not only in Cologne but also across Europe.

Henriette Reker, Lord Mayor of the City of Cologne

Henriette Reker, Lord Mayor of the City of Cologne.

Approximately 10 000 companies in Cologne generate annual sales of around EUR 9.5 billion in the creative industries and create employment for around 60 000 people. The Cologne network is already confidently and successfully serving international markets. The establishment of EIT Culture & Creativity in Cologne will make the city an even more important player in Europe’s cultural and creative economy and provide further important stimuli for the industry. 

Dr. Manfred Janssen, Managing Director of KölnBusiness.

Dr. Manfred Janssen, Managing Director of KölnBusiness.