Cultural and creative industries need access to state-of-the-art facilities and business support to innovation. The ekip Policy Labs on Artificial Intelligence in CCIs, Immersive Media, Video Games and Inclusivity, New European Bauhaus (NEB), Crafts-led innovation, Cross-innovation with performing arts, Platformisation of the music industry and Circularity in Fashion each examined the challenges and opportunities linked to infrastructure needs in their respective sectors. By bringing these findings together, this report highlights a number of shared challenges, opportunities, and complementary approaches across the four sectors, and serves as a foundation for the exploration of the theme in the  ekip Policy Lab on Spaces, infrastructures, and ecosystems for CCIs. 

How do the ekip policy labs work?

The ekip policy labs follow a three-step approach to develop evidence-based policy recommendations for the CCIs.

Setting the baseline Each Lab begins with a contextual analysis to understand the specific needs of CCI actors and stakeholders. This phase produces data-driven scoping documents that establish a baseline for each policy area.

Co-formulation phase Stakeholders then take part in dedicated Policy Labs, contributing expertise and insights to shape proposals collaboratively.

Policy recommendations The process concludes with the drafting of prioritised, data-informed policy recommendations outlining concrete actions and prioritiy areas for future implementation.

The ekip open innovation methodology guides this process, using a set of key building blocks to address challenges across CCIs. For the broader creative ecosystems, which are: sustainable competitiveness, regulation and governance, social dimensions, investment and funding, infrastructure, research and innovation, and technological solutions.

Key challenges for Europe’s CCIs

Across the cultural and creative industries, infrastructure is a critical foundation for innovation, experimentation, production, and, ultimately, competitiveness. Persistent infrastructural gaps, however, limit the sector’s ability to scale, collaborate, and adapt to technological change.  

The ekip Policy Labs focused on Artificial Intelligence in CCIs, Immersive Media, Video Games and Inclusivity, NEB, Crafts-led innovation, Cross-innovation with performing arts, Platformisation of the music industry, and Circularity in Fashion each examined challenges related to the availability and quality of infrastructure, drawing on the concrete experiences of CCI stakeholders. While the discussions differed across sectors, shared concerns emerged around unequal access to technological resources, fragmented systems, and the high costs of maintaining or upgrading infrastructure. 

unequal access to technology and digital infrastructure

Ensuring equal access to technology infrastructure, quality data, and digital tools remains a pressing concern, particularly for smaller and independent actors. Access to essential resources such as computing power, datasets, and specialised technologies is uneven, creating disparities across regions and between large and small organisations. 

fragmentation and technological asymmetries

Fragmentation and structural asymmetries further increase these challenges. In several sectors, technological gaps between EU and non-EU suppliers hinder the flow of data and the exchange of information along global value chains. Regional differences in digital readiness and the uneven availability of high-speed connectivity, such as 5G, also constrain industrial scaling and cross-border collaboration. The absence of harmonised data protocols and interoperable systems makes it difficult to implement traceability and circularity measures consistently across sectors. 

lack of accessible physical spaces

The need for physical spaces for creatives is at least as great as the need for technological infrastructure. Many CCI actors lack accessible, affordable and free spaces to create and experiment, leaving them dependent on temporary “meanwhile-use” options that offer short-term relief but lack long-term stability. 

high costs and operational burdens

High costs and operational burdens represent another major obstacle, especially for SMEs. The investment required to upgrade experimental and digital infrastructure, maintain compliance systems, and integrate new technologies often exceeds the capacity of smaller organisations. Cost-related barriers also limit participation in creative production, as the price of specialised equipment, software, or adapted hardware can be prohibitive for many independent creators.  

infrastructure and spaces for cross-sector collaboration

Infrastructure and spaces to support cross-sector collaboration with the CCIs are often missing, making initiatives reliant on passionate individuals and own resources. Effective collaboration requires experimental spaces that balance multi-purpose flexibility with single-purpose resources tailored to diverse sector needs. 

lack of shared frameworks and standards

The lack of shared frameworks and standards across the CCIs reinforces these disparities. Limited interoperability between platforms, tools, and data systems restricts cross-sector collaboration and efficient information exchange. In the absence of clear policy support for accessibility and platform neutrality, the risk of infrastructure adoption often falls on individual developers or companies, increasing the risk of exclusion and deepening inequalities between well-resourced and smaller actors. 

infrastructural barriers to inclusivity and accessibility

Finally, infrastructural barriers have significant implications for inclusivity and accessibility. Limited access to technology, production tools, and distribution platforms disproportionately affects underrepresented groups and small-scale creators, reducing diversity and participation within the sector. Regional disparities in technological readiness and digital maturity further restrict access to global markets, weakening the overall resilience and sustainability of the cultural and creative industries.

underrepresentation in cross-sectoral innovation initiatives

Many CCI remain underrepresented in cross-sectoral innovation initiatives such as the New European Bauhaus. Infrastructural barriers hinder their ability to build meaningful networks and access opportunities for participation in collaborative projects. The limited engagement of small groups of CCIs in cross-sectoral projects prevents the broader sector from being recognised as a valuable source of innovation and driver of European competitiveness. Taken together, evidence analysed by ekip highlights a set of common challenges that hinder infrastructure development across cultural and creative sectors: 

• Unequal access to technology and digital infrastructure which limits participation in innovation and production processes. 
• Fragmented systems and technological asymmetries across regions and supply chains hinder interoperability, traceability, and cross-sector collaboration. 
• High costs and operational burdens associated with developing, maintaining, and upgrading infrastructure place disproportionate pressure on SMEs and small-scale creators. 

Policy recommendations 

Across the CCIs, the ekip policy recommendations highlight the importance of improving access to infrastructure, fostering collaboration, and reducing structural asymmetries.  

ensuring equitable access to resources

A central priority is to ensure equitable access to resources such as data, digital tools, and computing power, which are essential for the development and deployment of new technologies. Stakeholders underlined the need to strengthen the availability and quality of technological infrastructures and to promote open, collaborative approaches that enable diverse actors to participate in digital innovation. Supporting platforms for distributed co-creation, physical and online residencies, and knowledge-sharing could enhance the CCI’s connection with open innovation ecosystems and enhance cross-sectoral collaboration. 

investing in hybrid infrastructures

Investment in hybrid infrastructures is desirable to combine physical spaces and their technical facilities with integrated support services such as coaching, mentorship, residencies, advisory services, and technical expertise. These environments should be adaptable for both artistic and technological practices, accommodating multi-purpose use as well as sector-specific needs (e.g., VR labs, motion-capture studios, additive manufacturing, medical theatres). Hybrid spaces which combine innovation infrastructure with cultural use and public functions also support with urban renewal and development agendas. Policy should thus encourage a portfolio of space types rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. 

strengthening intermediary organisations and shared spaces

Intermediary organisations and shared spaces were identified as crucial for connecting stakeholders, bridging knowledge gaps, and improving access to resources. Strengthening infrastructures for collaboration, such as incubators, accelerators, and cross-border consortia, was seen as essential for fostering partnerships and supporting small-scale creative professionals. These entities can play a key role in mapping existing resources, networks, and infrastructures, while providing mentoring, technical support, and community management to enhance mutual understanding among CCI actors. Fostering local embeddedness of these spaces in wider innovation and cultural ecosystems is crucial for their success and viability. 

encouraging open-source systems

Encouraging the use of open-source systems and shared (open) innovation platforms was viewed as a means to make technology development more inclusive, transparent, and aligned with public values. Such approaches can also facilitate knowledge exchange and cooperation between larger technology firms and smaller creative actors, supporting a more balanced innovation ecosystem across the CCIs.

EU responses to issues related to availability and quality of infrastructures for CCI actors 

Innovation-supportive infrastructures for CCIs are predominantly locally implemented but strongly informed by EU-level cooperation, notably through structural and investment funds (e.g., ERDF, Interreg) which can fund infrastructure development and facilitate the exchange of good practices and policy learning among regions. The EU’s role lies primarily in enabling knowledge transfer, capacity building, and regional experimentation, rather than establishing centralised infrastructure programmes. 

At European level, policy action should focus on strengthening policy for competitive and accessible infrastructures targeting the CCIs, particularly those that rely heavily on digital and technological tools and facilities. Recommendations include supporting research and innovation efforts to develop alternative platforms and software solutions and promoting EU-wide harmonisation of accessibility standards. Ensuring that creative professionals and enterprises have access to inclusive, affordable, and interoperable technologies will help reduce market dependence on non-EU systems and encourage fairer participation in global markets. 

Across Europe, a variety of models exist, reflecting regional diversity and context-specific needs. Common features include: 

• Ecosystem-building functions, linking creative actors, SMEs, public authorities, and academia. 
• Business development support, both within CCIs and across other sectors. 
• Service provision, combining physical facilities (e.g. co-working spaces, FabLabs) with advisory and financial support. 
• Multi-dimensional objectives, balancing cultural, social, and economic goals. 
• Innovation funding and access models based on grants, vouchers, or prizes instead of debt or equity, which is often difficult for small-scale CCI actors 

Examples such as Wallonia’s Creative Hubs Policy (Belgium), Blokhuispoort (Netherlands), and Officina Creativa (Italy) demonstrate how local infrastructures foster collaboration, entrepreneurship, and cross-sector innovation. These initiatives are typically embedded in wider urban or regional development strategies, reinforcing CCIs as drivers of innovation.  

In terms of ongoing action at European level, the European Collaborative Cloud for Cultural Heritage (ECCCH) represents a major step in the EU’s digital transformation agenda for the cultural sector. Funded under Horizon Europe, this initiative seeks to establish a shared digital infrastructure that interlinks cultural heritage institutions, researchers, and professionals across Europe. Its overarching objective is to enable more cohesive and efficient collaboration on digital cultural assets, ensuring that institutions of all sizes, including smaller and remote ones, can participate equally in the digital transition. 

Through advanced tools for digitisation, preservation, data management and sharing, and research, the ECCCH aims to strengthen the sector’s capacity to document, conserve, and interpret Europe’s cultural heritage in innovative ways. Beyond its technological scope, the Cloud aspires to create a vibrant collaborative ecosystem, fostering interdisciplinary exchange among scholars, curators, conservators, and cultural practitioners. Ultimately, it will provide the foundation for a more connected and resilient cultural heritage landscape, bridging digital divides and enhancing the visibility and accessibility of Europe’s rich cultural assets. 

In short, the European Union maintains many programmes which can support infrastructures for CCIs, but needs a more ‘permeable’ approach to use them their full potential. EU wide initiatives, such as those supporting and financing technology infrastructures need to recognise their role for cultural and creative industries. In return, local and regional policies supporting CCIs can benefit from the positive effects of creating innovation spaces for CCIs local economic and cultural development. These initiatives should not take place in unison but require a consciuous effort to exploit the synergies offered by instruments such as Horizon Europe, Digital Europe, the New Europen Bauhaus, and the Smart Specialisation Strategies.   

SEE related ekip policy recommendations below