Cultural and creative industries are an increasingly important driver of the Swedish economy and are highlighted as a key force in the development of sustainable and attractive regions. The Re:Do project has now been given the green light to strengthen cultural and creative entrepreneurs in Västernorrland – and create a more sustainable, innovative, and attractive business community throughout the region.
The project is being carried out byBizMaker,Västernorrlands Museum, andInnovationsbolaget, together with five of Västernorrland's municipalities andMid Sweden University. The initiative aims to contribute to a more diversified business sector, more sustainable companies, and stronger regional appeal.
"Creativity is one of our most important forces for the future. Västernorrland has strong but long-underutilized creative expertise that is crucial for the region's future development. With this project, we are joining forces to create opportunities for a more creative and sustainable business community and a more vibrant place, says Anna Kollberg, future strategist and project manager at BizMaker.
Joint effort to meet industry needs
Apreliminary study conducted by BizMakerin 2024 shows that cultural and creative enterprises lack business support tailored to their needs, relevant networks, and opportunities to develop sustainable business models—despite being a growing engine of growth and an important part of the region's appeal. The project therefore brings together relevant business development, cross-sector innovation, cultural heritage, and current research to create structures and collaborations that enable creative forces to contribute fully to the development of Västernorrland.
“One of Re:Do’s greatest strengths is that we do this together. Through our collaboration with Innovationsbolaget and Västernorrlands Museum, we have brought together skills that rarely meet otherwise – innovation and entrepreneurship, creativity and culture, the history of the place and the possibilities of the future. This gives us a completely different breadth and weight in our work,” says Anna Kollberg.
The project will, among other things:
- strengthen the capacity of cultural and creative enterprises to develop sustainable products, services, and business models
- create new meeting places and networks where culture, business, and sustainability converge
- drive cross-sector innovation processes to create sustainable solutions
- integrate cultural heritage as a unique resource for creative development and innovation
- raise awareness of cultural heritage and identity as a basis for sustainable place development
- build structures that support entrepreneurship within the limits of the planet
"It is very valuable that cultural heritage plays such an important role in Re:Do. By basing the project on the cultural heritage of Västernorrland, we are creating opportunities to strengthen cultural and creative industries, as well as enhancing attractiveness and sustainable development," says Jenny Samuelsson, County Museum Director at Västernorrland Museum.
Where creativity meets industry, sustainablesolutions for the future are created
The innovation company leads the project's cross-sectoral innovation component, where creators meet industry and traditional business in idea workshops, prototype labs, and development processes.
This is an important investment for the future, as creative and cultural enterprises are a new basic industry for Sweden and a driving force in the Swedish economy with a global impact. In the project, creative companies get to work together with other industries to create new solutions – a way of working that strengthens both the ability to shape more sustainable solutions and to solve complex challenges. Innovation arises when different worlds meet, says Frida Knutsson, CEO of Innovationsbolaget.Facts about the Re:Doproject
- Project period:September 2025 – August 2028
- Project partners: BizMaker (project owner), Västernorrlands Museum, Innovationsbolaget
- Funding bodies:European Regional Development Fund(ERDF),Region Västernorrland,Sundsvall,Härnösand,Ånge,Örnsköldsvik, andKramforsmunicipalities, andMid Sweden University.
- Project budget:SEK 19million
Facts about cultural and creative industries
The cultural and creative industries comprise 40 sub-sectors that together form a powerful engine for innovation, social development, creativity, and place development. These include architecture, art & design, media, communication, music, performing arts, computer games, and cultural tourism.
Contact
Anna Kollberg, Future Strategist with overall responsibility for Re:Do, BizMaker
+46 (0)73-372 22 27,anna.kollberg@bizmaker.se
Jenny Samuelsson, County Museum Director, Västernorrland Museum
+46 (0)70-348 16 01,jenny.samuelsson@vnmuseum.se
Frida Knutsson, CEO, Innovationsbolaget
+46 (0)76-128 66 34,frida.knutsson@ornskoldsvik.se
