A LEADING EDGE THROUGH Internationalization Knowledge Visibility Thinking "Out of the Box" Development and Quality Increase ADDED VALUE

Creativity is a key prerequisite for economic success. There may well be plenty of inventiveness around, but it is not always immediately apparent. It is therefore instrumental to focus our support on creativity in order to make it accessible. In that respect, Graz is in a fortunate position: as a university city, a city of culture and a major a science and business location, Graz has enormous potential to translate creativity into products and solutions for people and society as a whole. As a result, Graz meets all the prerequisites for becoming a “creatope”: a vibrant design and creative scene, a young urban attitude to life and a local economy that is both innovative and effective. It is therefore hardly surprising that almost half of all Styrian creative enterprises have their headquarters in Graz.

The city of Graz aims to step up efforts to integrate more creativity in future urban development work. A clear commitment was made to take further action in the last municipal council period, in which shares in Creative Industries were increased from 10 to 39 percent. We are proud that Graz enjoys an excellent international reputation as a UNESCO City of Design and will continue to expand on this position in the future. With their expertise, their global network and role as an effervescent supplier of ideas, Creative Industries Styria is the perfect partner to implement these goals for the benefit of our Styrian state capital.

Günter Riegler City Councilor Graz responsible for Economics and Tourism City of Graz