A look back and forward, by director Bart Ahsmann
Dear colleagues, partners and friends,
It is with pride that I look back on a fruitful year full of new collaborations with the top sector of the creative industry. Our joint efforts have led to inspiring results that will further shape the future and social progress of the Netherlands.
A particular highlight of the past year was the festive news that our Growth Fund proposal from the Creative Industries Immersive Impact Coalition program has been conditionally honored. With an allocation of 200 million euros, we are launching an ambitious five-year program. Together with more than 100 stakeholders, we will launch in 2024. With the Ministry of OCW at the helm and in close cooperation with Regieorgaan SIA, RVO, the Ministry of EZK and the Creative Industry Top Team.
We look forward to the "boost" this collaboration will bring to the immersive design field.
Another milestone is the creation of the new Knowledge and Innovation Agenda on social earning capacity, which is called KIA MV, to be launched in 2024. Created in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Affairs, our fellow top sectors, Regieorgaan SIA, NWO, the ROMs, TNO Vector, and the Association of Universities of Applied Sciences. The creative industry will make a concerted effort to create social added value.
In addition to the development of the KIA MV, hard work is being done behind the scenes on a new agenda for the creative industry, namely the Agenda Ontwerpkracht (Design Power). Plus, a new KEM Agenda as the basis for the knowledge that distinguishes the creative industry and change agents in general. Both agendas will see the light of day in February 2024. Moreover, from the KEM agenda, the Exceed program was launched and NWO initiated a nice research program for experimental environments.
The successful conclusion of the 'Design Approach' pilot program has led to the establishment of PONT (Public Design Practice). DDF will implement this in cooperation with many parties in the creative industry in co-direction with CLICKNL. With an allocation of €9 million for the next three years, we are on the eve of innovations that will push the boundaries of creativity and impact in the public domain.
An important milestone in our cooperation with Regieorgaan SIA is the creation of the KIEM MV grant scheme, in which we jointly invest 2.7 million euros. These efforts not only strengthen our network but also underscore our commitment to sustainable growth and development.
In 2023, we shifted the course from internationalization to long-term, knowledge-driven collaborations. This resulted in the development of a concept for an international fieldlab, through which we intend to strengthen our influence globally. Our participation in BODW Hong Kong with more than 50 participants conveyed strong circular message, but also opened perspectives for multiple research and design collaborations. In 2024, we will continue this course: we will leave for the US, where we will seek similar collaborations around the theme of Immersive Experiences during the prestigious SXSW.
Speaking of events. The highlight of the year was undoubtedly the ten-year anniversary of our knowledge and innovation festival DRIVE during Dutch Design Week (in collaboration with 4TU.Design United). With four days of livestreams and inspiring work sessions, with more than 50 participants per day.
But that wasn't all during Dutch Design Week. Our collaboration with the Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie in the Innovatielabs program resulted in an exhibition that brought creativity and innovation to the forefront. The international label CreativeNL drew full houses with a substantive networking program on knowledge exchange and collaboration abroad.
What else? Our involvement in the Digital Citizenship NL initiative for the Social Digital Standard is on its way to further implementation and validation. In doing so, we are laying the solid foundation for a digital future that is not only technologically advanced, but above all inclusive and social.
The ability to create such visions of the future is a unique and distinctive strength of the creative industry. Together with various sectors, we are committed to contributing to solutions for global challenges. A commitment that we will continue with enthusiasm in 2024. Because contributing to impact is not just an aspiration, it is our essence: "Contribute to impact."
Happy holidays,
Bart Ahsmann
Director of CLICKNL
