Tallinn introduces some good examples of Cross Innovation – Study Visit
Within the framework of the Cross Innovation project, European experts from various fields of the creative economy visited Tallinn from 20 to 22 September 2012. This time, the visitors were from Amsterdam, Lisbon and Pilsen, a small town in the Czech Republic that, together with the Belgian city of Mons, will bear the title of European Capital of Culture in 2015.
Tallinn`s best practices in cross-sector interdisciplinary cooperation
The study visit was motivated by the wish to discuss and introduce Tallinn`s best practices in cross-sector interdisciplinary cooperation between creative industries and other branches of the economy, which have helped the development of innovation. This topic was also the main focus of the project. Thus, the programme included introductions of projects that characterise the development of the creative economy sector and meetings with companies with practical cooperation experience.
Anu Lõhmus from the Tallinn Creative Incubator focused on the aspect of spatial cooperation, by introducing the creation of the incubator’s environment and the synergy between companies and research institutions. Juta Fomina, the representative of the Estonian Design Centre, shared her experiences related to the recently initiated Design Bulldozer project, which promotes the bringing together of designers as the suppliers of creative services with potential beneficiaries, and provided an overview of the various governmental financial measures that enable cooperation between Estonian designers and engineers in the development of new products, services, and technologies. Initiatives of the Creative Estonia programme in the field of product design and product development were introduced by Tiiu Allikmäe.
The representatives of two companies, Andrea Castelnovo from Fits.Me and Lauri Hirvesaar from Cleveron, highlighted the practical dimensions of the innovation that has developed with the help of cooperation and measures that promote innovation. The unique solutions developed by both companies, which are related to changing people’s consumption habits, have merited international attention, which has enabled the companies to actively expand into foreign markets.
Good examples of culture-based innovation were provided by the recently renovated Tallinn TV Tower and the Seaplane Harbour, where culture and history are presented together in a modern context. According to Ott Sarapuu, the project manager for the expositions, all the special solutions were produced from A to Z in Estonia, which actively cooperated with companies in various sectors.
Estonian Design Awards
The participants in the study visit also had the pleasure of participating in the presentation ceremony for the 2012 Estonian Design Awards that took place during Design Night, and listening to Oskar Metsavaht, a Brazilian designer of Estonian heritage, speaking about the development of OSKLEN, his world-famous fashion brand.
The impressions were recorded by Manuela Carlos and Joana Sobral from Lisbon.
Read more at http://www.cross-innovation.eu/tallinn-introduced-some-good-examples-of-cross-innovation/news/
