Spaces of differing scales have appeared in different cities around the world in recent years. Sometimes referred to as incubators, labs, hacker-spaces, maker-spaces; they have been both independent and corporate, physical and digital, temporary and permanent. From warehouse spaces in East London, to Google’s corporate headquarters in Silicon valley; what links these spaces is the open, flexible environment that enables people to access and share experience, tools, knowledge and investment.
Often linking people from diverse backgrounds together to develop concepts and fresh innovation. When currently 85% of global employment growth is estimated to come from small start-ups ( source British Council 2015 ) supporting these creative spaces appears increasingly important. Especially when these spaces cannot just benefit artists and designers in tech and social media, but also finance (fin-tech), bioscience and engineering. Fostering new forms of knowledge sharing and early economic support are relevant across many sectors. The spatial, organisational and technological requirements of creative hubs are complex. Spaces have to be responsive and flexible to accommodate a diversity of needs from the mix of academic, commercial and community uses.
Creative start-ups and SMEs flourish in tailored and curated spaces, where their environments can change as they grow. These spaces also require stewardship, with an organisational structure that addresses the relationships and differing needs of users within a creative space. Central to the future-proofing of a flourishing community is the effective design, management and provision of knowledge exchange, research and education between stakeholders. A prime role to be served by Compassogroup
Since the late 1990s, London has incubated a vibrant high-tech creative scene in inner east London.The so called ‘Silicon Roundabout’ cluster doubled the count of digital economy firms in the area between 1997 and 2010, producing an employment base of over 50,000 jobs. Among these are many ‘clean-tech’ and ‘clean-web’ start ups that look to address environmental concerns and opportunities. Many of these companies feed into the growing smart-city market. With solutions that help us navigate cities, manage services and use resources in the most efficient way possible. The benefits of such developments also feed into the wider economy, boosting GDP figures in the UK by £71.4 billion per annum through the creative economy, whilst providing one in twelve jobs in the UK, as indicated in a recent report from the UK Government Department of Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS)
Once they are established, creative hubs become critical to the continued development and sustainability of the wider creative industrial district or neighbourhood in which they are based.
Example
Energy efficiency in buildings, public lighting, waste management and the supporting smart grid systems are all “high potential” sectors in Italy’s urban centres. Whilst clean-tech and clean-web technologies have arrived, the next two decades will see a ‘deployment period’, as they become embedded in our urban environments. The opportunity is there for development from the Venice Arsenale to push this further, acting as a catalyst. The UK department of trade and industry estimates the potential value of the smart cities market in Italy alone is EUR 1.15 billion.
In a rapidly evolving technological landscape, it is recognised that spaces in which to design, test, develop and launch new ideas are increasingly important. Creative hubs and their relationship with the “talent incubation” of higher education activities providing vital support to the growth of innovative technologies.
