NDPC study identifies 7 important cross-sectoral innovation trends to which policy makers should pay attention

A recent study published by the Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture (NDPC) suggests, amongst other findings, that there are seven important cross-sectoral innovation elements which should be taken into account when developing policy in this area. They are:

• Connectivity is the key to the preparatory phase of cross-sectoral innovation teamwork;
• CCIs’ roles as mediators or initiators of cross-sectoral innovation to be better understood;
• Multilevel approaches should embrace innovation risks taken by diverse partners; 
• A broader definition of CCI innovation and its impact (including ‘soft’ innovation) to be adopted;
• Attention needs to be given to long-term assessment of impact and tracking of results;
• A broader vision of cross-innovation in relation to sustainable development goals (SDG) is timely;
• Legal frameworks to be developed to facilitate CCIs’ involvement in cross-sectoral innovation.

The study “Collaboration and Innovation in the Northern Dimension Countries” was carried out within the framework of an EU-funded study project “Cross-sectoral cooperation and innovation within Creative and Cultural Industries – practices, opportunities and policies within the area of the Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture”. The project was conceived and its activities supported by the NDPC secretariat. One of the aims of this project was to support the NDPC’s 2021–2024 strategy development. However the results of the project should be of interest to policy makers and representatives of CCIs and industries across the Northern Dimension (ND) region. NDPC is hopeful that the ideas presented in the study will help to trigger new policy improvements and cross-innovation activities in the wider ND innovation ecosystem.

The key objective of the study was to assess the ability of CCIs to connect with other sectors and contribute to cross-sectoral innovation. It provides the foundation for defining CCI inter-sectoral ‘cross-innovation’ potential and international opportunities related to the ND countries. A mixed-method approach that forms the background of the study was based on the data analysis of 121 recent case studies from 11 countries that were collected in the course of nine months, thanks to the support of over 100 contributors.

The wider components of the project also included four thematic Experts’ Focus Group events, four Policy Briefs, one Scientific journal publication and other articles, as well as  Wrap-up events. Information about the project and its results are available on the new web resource ndpccrossinno.eu.

The final event of the project which will include the presentation of the findings of the study, as well as a feedback and networking session with CCI representatives and experts from across the ND region will be held on 11 March.

NDPC wishes to thank everyone who contributed to identifying and sharing cross-innovation experiences, case studies and stories. It would also like to acknowledge the inputs of all the experts who took part in the focus group events generously sharing their knowledge and experience which was invaluable to the study development process.

The project, carried out from January 2020 to April 2021, is financed by the European Commission, with the NDPC as the beneficiary, and managed by A.R.S. Progetti S.P.A..