A Call for Cross-Border Synergy
Anna-Kaisa Ikonen, Finland’s Minister of Local and Regional Government, and former mayor of the City of Tampere, opened the conference with a compelling message: cities, as the closest administrative units to their citizens, hold immense potential to drive impactful change. She emphasized the importance of cross-border and cross-sectoral cooperation, highlighting the need for shared learning and synergy in tackling regional challenges.
This spirit of collaboration is at the heart of the new Interreg Baltic Sea Region (BSR) platform project, REAVES – Resilient Ecosystems for AV&M Entrepreneurial Support, set to launch in July 2025. Tampere University of Applied Sciences is among the key partners in this strategically significant initiative with partners from six countries. The REAVES platform addresses a critical issue in the Creative and Cultural Industries (CCI): fragmentation. While often treated as a unified sector, CCI encompasses vastly different sub-sectors—from opera houses to pop bands—each of which faces unique challenges. This diversity often leads to siloed efforts, even when tackling similar problems within the field.
REAVES aims to break down these silos by uniting R&D projects from the AV, music, and gaming industries. It supports emerging creative talent that leverages technology to innovate and build commercially viable ventures. These entrepreneurs are vital to fostering resilient regional ecosystems that can thrive both locally and globally – firstly, by making an impact in their respective cities.
REAVES is more than a collection of projects—it’s a collaborative ecosystem. By aligning goals and pooling resources, participating initiatives can streamline their solutions and strengthen support from public authorities. The platform focuses on talent retention and innovation through cross-regional and cross-sectoral efforts, ensuring a sustainable future for the CCI. The partnership includes 22 projects in total. Among these, five are part of Interreg BSR, eleven are from Interreg Subregions, three are funded by Creative Europe, one is supported by Erasmus+, one by Horizon, and one by the Norway Grant. These projects are represented by 14 core partners, many of whom are involved in more than one initiative, which, again, emphasises the force of networks and collaboration.
The gaming sector is notably overrepresented, which aligns with its strong presence in the BSR region. In contrast, the film and commercial music sectors are currently underrepresented – besides TAMK’s AV-Growth project. The consortium believes that
collaboration with the gaming industry will have a positive ripple effect across all three sectors.
All in all, the REAVES consortium brings together a well-balanced mix of expertise. It includes two public authorities, five higher education institutions, four business support organizations, one small or medium-sized enterprise (SME), and two interest groups. In addition, the associate partners include three interest groups, four public authorities, three business support agencies, six higher education institutions, four vocational education and training (VET) centers, and one SME. Many of these organizations have previously collaborated on related projects, creating a strong foundation of trust and shared experience.
Culture as the Infrastructure of Hope
In these times of rapid change and uncertainty, it is more crucial than ever to join forces and elevate the role of the creative industries in all their forms – just as REAVES have done. The IBSR Programme Conference 2025 reminded us that collaboration is not just a strategy—it’s a necessity. As one of the conference speakers, Tetyana Simchuck from RESCOM – CBSS project, so wisely put it:
“Culture is not a luxury; it’s the infrastructure of hope.”
This powerful statement encapsulates the essence of the REAVES platform and the broader Interreg vision. By working together across borders, sectors, and disciplines, we can strengthen this infrastructure—making it more inclusive, resilient, and ready to face challenges. Let’s continue building this hope, together.
