The cultural and creative industries (CCIs) are now one of the most dynamic sectors of the European economy: they employ around 8 million people, comprise more than 1.2 million businesses, almost all of them SMEs, and account for approximately 4% of the European Union’s added value.

Beyond their economic weight, the sector is a driver of innovation, generating spillover effects in areas as diverse as technology, the environment, tourism and territorial cohesion. This role is at the heart of the European agenda. The Joint Declaration Europe for Culture – Culture for Europe (May 2026) and the Culture Compass for Europe place culture at the heart of EU policies.

It is in this context that the workshop takes place, bringing together key actors from Braga and the region’s cultural and creative ecosystem — CCI companies and professionals, the municipality, universities and research centres, support agencies, associations and civil society — to jointly assess how public policies can strengthen innovation in the sector.

The result will be a practical and shared perspective on which policies make sense for our territory, who they should serve and what impact they can have.