“our aim is to develop an inclusive definition of innovation in the cultural and creative industries that fits the experience and vocabulary of the creative entrepreneur”

 

PI: Yosha Wijngaarden

Expected end of subproject: winter 2015

 


 

Defining innovation in the creative and creative industries

Innovation is one of the numerous terms in social science that are defined in many different ways. Historically, the vast majority of research on innovation was on R&D in sectors. These technological product and processes approaches to innovations do, however the creative industries. Over the last few years, some studies developed alternative definitions, such as Caves (2000), Miles & Green (2008), Stoneman (2009), Jaaniste (2009), Bilton (2009); Pratt & Gornostaeva (2009) and Gordon & McCann (2005). Yet, these definitions are highly different, ranging from hidden innovation, soft innovation, cultural product and process innovation and radical innovation.

As the creative industries are often associated with their contribution to innovation, and considering the lack of a shared definition in this field, our aim is to develop an inclusive definition of innovation in the cultural and creative industries that fits the experience and vocabulary of the creative entrepreneur. The methods we propose are first comparing and contrasting established descriptions of innovation in order to draft an overarching operationalization of innovation in the cultural and creative industries. This, in turn, will be tested against the notions cultural entrepreneurs and artists have themselves by interviewing them about this term.