A new study on ‘Fostering knowledge valorisation through the arts and cultural institutions’ is out

How are arts and cultural professionals and organisations across Europe responding to the opportunities to foster innovation and knowledge valorisation as prioritised in the new European Research Area (ERA)? The recently published study on ‘Fostering knowledge valorisation through the arts and cultural institutions’ looks at this question and identifies the drivers and formats of engaging arts and cultural organisations in knowledge

processes, the unique value(s) and competencies that they bring in and the enabling conditions supporting their participation.

The study highlights that fostering knowledge valorisation with the arts can be found in all phases of the knowledge chain or knowledge flow – from formulating the right research questions and communicating about new research results or innovations, to transforming data and research results into sustainable products and solutions that benefit society. Artists and cultural organisations dispose of a unique set of competencies – artistic skills, art-based thinking methods, artworks – with a clear potential to increase the valorisation of knowledge coming from research in society. However, several obstacles still hamper the creation of multi-disciplinary collaborations between cultural actors, academic researchers, industry and citizens, such as, among others, silo thinking at actor and ecosystem level and the lack of awareness of the impact that the involvement of the arts can generate on valorisation processes. Policy makers (at Member State and EU level) play a crucial role in creating the needed conditions to overcome these obstacles. They have a set of policy instruments that can incentivise systemic change in the way the arts and cultural organisations are involved in knowledge valorisation processes.

Another focus of the study is spreading inspiring practices across Europe. The study does so by collecting almost 100 inspiring practices, with examples from 23 EU Member States and some neighbouring countries and by analysing in more detail eight case studies. The case studies illustrate how the arts and cultural organisations engage in knowledge creation and valorisation processes, and discuss the impact that has been generated, while at the same time pointing out the main challenges that they face in collaborating with academia, industry and policy makers.

The study was commissioned by DG RTD of the European Commission and was conducted by IDEA Consult, with the expert support of Prof. Bart Van Looy (INCENTIM, Catholic University of Leuven). The foreword to the study was written by European Commissioner Mariya Gabriel. We are glad to read that the insights from our study will be used in ensuring appropriate conditions for knowledge valorisation with a more decisive role for the arts and cultural institutions.

The study is accessible via this link.