Secret to Creativity: What Is Needed for the Development of Creative Industries

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The importance of creative industries in driving economic development is undeniable today. Russian and foreign researchers came together at HSE University for the IIV International Academic Conference 'Creative Economy: Main Development Trends and State Policy' to discuss the factors and specific aspects shaping this field.

The International Academic Conference 'Creative Economy: Main Development Trends and State Policy' started at HSE University on October 30.

The event is organised by the Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge (ISSEK) in the framework of the Decade of Science and Technology and the activities of the HSE World-Class Human Capital Multidisciplinary Research Centre with support from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.

Evgeniy Kutsenko

Four thematic sessions were held on the first day of the conference. The first session focused on creative cities. 'This is a complex topic, and it's currently very pressing, highly relevant, and widely discussed in Russia. In 2020, things were entirely different—four years have changed everything. Our data indicates that creative industries are distributed very unevenly across regions and cities, with high concentrations in specific areas. In other words, their presence is highly selective. This is valuable knowledge, and we certainly want to understand which types of cities and spaces attract the creative industry—and uncover their secret,' according to the session moderator Evgeniy Kutsenko, Director of the Centre 'Russian Cluster Observatory' of the HSE Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge.

Viktoriya Boos

Viktoriya Boos, Head of the Creative Industries Unit at the HSE Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge, presented the HSE Global Cities Innovation Index, offering an analysis of the global distribution of creative industries.

'The key feature of our ranking is that it serves as an information base for making strategic decisions in urban management. Another unique aspect is our system of indicators: we do not rely on municipal statistics or expert assessments. Instead, we use data from independent platforms that aggregate information about the top representatives of creative industries—the leaders in the field,' she said.

The study comprises eight industries, which collectively account for approximately 90% of the total income generated by the global creative sector. These industries include cinema and animation, computer games, music, fashion, advertising and PR, architecture, industrial design, and art, which encompasses literature, performing arts, and contemporary art.

The top five cities with the highest concentration of leaders in the creative industries are London, New York, Tokyo, Los Angeles, and Paris. 'If we examine this ranking, we will see a balance between East and West in the top twenty, while the top thirty features a greater number of Western cities. Thus, we can conclude that the East is establishing itself as a full participant in the creative industries market,' according to Viktoriya Boos.

At the same time, the study revealed that the top five cities outpace all other cities by a large margin. 'Don't assume that all mega-creative cities do is attract creative leaders from other areas. The reality is that these mega-creative cities not only develop themselves but also nurture their own creative leaders,' the speaker emphasized.

The researchers also observed that over the past two years, the balance between developed countries and the Global South regarding the number of representatives in the creative industries has shifted. Today, one in ten artists behind the most downloaded music tracks is from Latin America, while 150 of the most popular fashion brands, designers, and architectural firms are based in North Africa and West Asia.

Creative industries are also thriving in small towns, where they feature their own unique style of creativity. It turns out that in some industries, over 5% of the stars are located in cities with populations of less than 250,000.

Many cities have demonstrated impressive growth over the past year, according to the presenter. For instance, Dubai climbed from 76th to 38th place, while Tokyo soared to the top three. Viktoriya Boos emphasized the need for innovative support measures to foster the development of creative industries. For instance, a special economic zone is being developed in Dubai specifically for representatives of creative industries. Similar economic zones have recently started to emerge and grow in China. Australia is home to three professional associations focused on architecture and sustainable construction. Localised music streaming services are emerging in Chile. Korea provides subsidies for cable TV rates. India and Russia are establishing cinema cities.

Other speakers at the session included Dina Abdrakhmet, Chair of the Board of Trustees at the Foundation for Creative Initiatives and Cultural Heritage, Kazakhstan; Sergey Georgievsky, Co-founder and Chair of the Expert Board at the CENTRE Agency for Strategic Development; and Guy Eames, Chair of RuGBC.

The second session focused on tools for managing creative industries in Russia, the third on best international practices for strategic planning in the sector, and the fourth on education and skills relevant to this field.

The second day of the event, October 31, features the IV International Forum of Young Researchers of the Creative Economy. Authors of academic papers selected through a competitive process will present their findings.