the choice of a European development based on knowledge and innovation

In a context of globalization and ageing of the European population, and on a enlarged territory, the European Union has chosen for 2007-2013 to make knowledge and innovation the motor of its competitiveness and its development strategy. It has thus chosen to center its policies and actions around strong thematics, and notably : the research and technological development, the infomation and communication technologies, the investment in the the human capital and the encouraging of innovation in all its forms.

These strategic choices raise new questions: which place do we give to and which link do we have with knowledge, innovation and technological development in our societies? Which definition do we give to innovation and which fields is it in capacity to cover ? How these questions are translated on the territories? More globally, which place and which role do we want to give to this knowledge society in the larger framework of the definition of a new social model and of a new European industrial model that restores the taking into account of the collective and that respects equity, cultural diversity and solidarity? I.e. to which extent the European Union is in the capacity to propose its own way in the globalization?

an essential role for culture regarding these issues

Culture and the cultural and creative sector have a major role to play in this framework. As it is underlined in the study of the European Union on the economy of culture (2006), the cultural and creative sector contributes directly to the growth and employment on the European territory.

More largely, this sector contributes to a knowledge society and an innovation that are beyond the technological through its link with: the valorization of social and human capital ; the development of a learning society ; and the development of a society that is equal and responsible, which develops the responsibilisation, the citizen participative capacity as well as a respect and control behavior by the human being of the technological development.

A particular attention will be put in this framework to the territories, more particularly at a moment when the EU, in its territorial agenda has made the territorial cohesion a full objective reinforcing the strategies of Lisbon.

Culture: an under-exploited potential regarding the Lisbon strategy

The reinforcement of the link between culture, creativity and the Lisbon strategy is one of the three working objectives of common interest targeted in the European cultural Agenda adopted in 2007. It is also in the core of its implementation, with notably: the choice to dedicate the thematic year 2009 to innovation and creativity through education and culture.

Nevertheless, the potential of the cultural and creative sector regarding the Lisbon strategy remains still under-exploited. At a community level, culture is not given an asserted, clear and global strategy. At the level of the territories, the economic performances as well as the presence of the cultural and creative actors are very variable, and the community average is hidding differences between Member states and European regions, inducing a strong development potential of this sector on certain European territories.

un potentiel sous-exploité au regard de Lisbonne

Le renforcement du lien entre culture, créativité et stratégie de Lisbonne est l’un des trois objectifs de travail d’intérêt commun ciblés dans l’Agenda culturel européen adopté en 2007. Il est également au cœur de sa mise en œuvre, tant comme thématique de travail dans le dialogue structuré et la méthode ouverte de coordination, qu'avec le choix de dédier l’année thématique 2009 à l’innovation et à la créativité par l’éducation et la culture.

Néanmoins, le potentiel du secteur culturel et créatif au regard de la stratégie de Lisbonne demeure encore sous-exploité. Au niveau communautaire, la culture ne fait en effet pas encore l’objet d’une stratégie affirmée, claire et globale. Au niveau des territoires, les performances économiques, comme la présence du secteur culturel et créatif s’avèrent très variables entre Etats membres et régions européennes.

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