Cross Con – The International Cross Innovation Conference

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New ideas and smart solutions are needed to address today’s complex challenges. One key lies in cross-sector collaborations. When artists gain access to other industries, they can bring perspectives that lead to changes in businesses, improvements in products, and the advancement of society.

We have brought together some of Europe’s leading experts in cross innovation for a conference where we discuss the future of the cross-sectoral industry. We explore how cross innovation can bridge industry gaps, create common meeting places, and promote innovation. Cross Con will be held as a full-day conference in a hybrid format. The conference will take place on 23 November from 8:30 to 17:00, followed by dinner for those who wish to attend.

International Hybrid Conference 23 November

Cross innovation is when competencies from cultural and creative sectors are applied in other industries to contribute to development. Society faces significant challenges like rapid climate change and demands for sustainability. Much too often, current innovation structures are based on old methods that are not designed to address today’s problems. The demand for alternative and resource-efficient innovation systems is greater than ever before.

Important information

Date and time: 23 November 08:30 – 17:00 (+optional dinner)
Location: Subtopia, Rotemannavägen 10 in Alby
Language: English
Livestream: Link to livestream

Conference program

Welcome to Cross Con! Registration opens 8:30 at Rotemannavägen 10. Level 1.

Opening of Cross Con 2023 and a speech by Barbara Stacher, Senior Expert at the EU Commission. Level 5.

Presentations on the topic of alternative innovation systems followed by a panel discussion moderated by Martin Q Larsson. Level 5.

Speakers: Johanna Kouzmine-Karavaïeff, Jenny Kornmacher Tingvall, André Forte

Coffee and fruit. Level 5.

Presentations on societal change and sustainability followed by a panel discussion moderated by Martin Q Larsson. Level 5.

Speakers: Paul Bourne, Thomas Arcaedius, Raffaela Seitz

Sizzle serves wraps (chicken or vegetarian options), beverages and coffee. Lunch will be served in the restaurant. Level 1.

Stories and insights from cross-sector collaborations in Sweden. Level 5.

Speakers: Marlene Johansson, CreARTive

Creative Insight as a Service explores how artists can work with artistic methods within a company, based on problem formulations defined by the company. This session presents lessons from the pilot project, the involvement of various stakeholders, and the role of intermediaries. The “Creative Insight as a Service” project is funded by the Swedish Institute and implemented in 2022-23 by Subtopia (lead partner), Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture, and Fabryka Sztuki. Level 5.

Speakers: Krista Petäjäjärvi, Agata Etmanowicz, Andrzej Konieczny, Mārtiņš Zutis

Breakout sessions with the speakers. Groups will be chosen on-site.
1. Krista Petäjäjärvi, Johanna Kouzmine-Karavaïeffi: Intermediary practices for cross innovation
2. Paul Bourne: Storytelling – When incredible meets credible
3. Jenny Kornmacher Tingvall: Cross Innovation as an alternative innovation system
4. André Forte: Decentralizing Cross Innovation

Coffee and cake will be served on Level 5.

Martin Q Larsson leads a discussion about the immediate future for Cross innovation and upcoming directions for the cross-sectoral industry. Level 5.

Speakers: Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist, Paul Bourne, Thomas Arctaedius, Jenny Tingvall Kornmacher, Raffaela Seitz, Johanna Kouzmine- Karavaïeff, Krista Petäjäjärvi, Agata Etmanowicz, André Forte.

Evening program – Requires Full pass

Bubbles and networking in the restaurant. Level 1.

Sizzle’s presents a vegetarian dinner buffet with food from around the world and non-alcoholic or alcoholic beverages. Bar. Live music by Emma Nilsdotter. Level 5.

Conference host and entertainment

Jessica Karlén is a comedian with a background in philosophy and performing arts. She runs the international production company FunnySwedishGirl Productions and teaches both comedy and project management. In August, she also released the stand-up musical ‘Queen and Sober’ digitally and on vinyl, with the world premiere of the show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Jessica is a member of Subtopia’s creative incubator.

Artist, singer, songwriter, and former member of the well-known a cappella group The Real Group. With two well-received singles, “Shelter in the Storm” and “Suitcase,” she is now working on her full-length album, set to be released in early 2024. Emma is a member of Subtopia’s incubator.

Artist, author, and researcher within the field of conjuring. Internationally known for his practical and whimsical creations. Author of several instructional books now considered ”classics” in the field, facilitator for further educations for professional magicians, founder of the experimental magic ensemble ”Mystique”, and the recipient of the 2015 Creative Fellowship from the Academy of Magic in Hollywood. Tom is a member of Subtopia’s incubator.

Read more about the speakers for Cross Con 2023

President of Impact Foundation, a long-term collaborator of Fabryka Sztuki, and co-creator of Fabryka’s ART_INCUBATOR. Agata has been a culture worker her whole life, from technical production and coordinating accessibility of art events to co-creating European culture policy. Supporting fellow culture professionals has always been a crucial part of her work – in workshop rooms and “in a field”, through the structures of public institutions, international organisations and NGOs.

Head of Business Development for the Arts at UPTEC – Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto, where he supports and mentors companies and entrepreneurs hacking creative projects, blockchain, educational technologies, and sustainable businesses. André majored in communications, having worked both in the Portuguese startup scene and in the cultural and creative industries, as a freelance journalist and communications specialist for several festivals, art venues, and cultural producers.

Senior Expert at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Education and Culture, specializing in cultural policy. Her work centers on the synergy between cultural and creative sectors, driving regional development, social inclusion, and job creation. She played a key role in launching the CreativesUnite platform and focuses on cultural and creative industry policies, innovation, and artist working conditions in collaboration with EU Member States’ expert groups.

Swedish politician and entrepreneur. Regular member of parliament for the Center Party since 2022, representing the Stockholm Municipality electoral district. Between June 2011 and March 2015, she served as the CEO of Företagarna (the Swedish Federation of Business Owners).

Works with the development of cultural and creative industries. Promotes innovation within the creative sector and through collaboration with other industries or areas of society: cross innovation. Contributed to “Creative Sweden,” a proposal for a national strategy on sustainable development in cultural and creative industries. Interim innovation director in the European knowledge and innovation community (KIC) ”EIT Culture and Creativity”.

Researcher, consultant and cultural manager equally founding partner for the innovation partnership consultancy Artisans of Innovation. Lead-author and chief analyst of the policy brief “Arts & Design Based Collaboration and Cross-Innovation” (NDPC 2023). In 2022 based at the Algerian ministry of finance within the context of the EU-Algeria Association Agreement (P3A) to develop operational mechanisms and policy advice for an economically viable cultural policy.

Helsinki based expert in Arts-Based Innovation and currently the Acting Head of the Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture (NDPC) secretariat. PhD candidate in the Lapland University Faculty of Arts with work revolving around the value of arts in societal transformation and the needed knowledge, skills, methodologies and skills.

Senior researcher at Research Institute of Sweden (RISE) and affiliated researcher at Umeå University. Research focuses on entrepreneurship, cross-innovation and ecosystems within the cultural and creative sector and industry (CCSI). Long experience of the innovation system for CCSI, former CEO of an incubator eXpression Umeå and a cross-innovation arena. Expert and researcher in “Creative Sweden” forthcoming national strategy for CCSI. RISE coordinator for EIT KIC Culture & Creativity and New European Bauhuas.

Composer, musician, and business coach. Since 2018, incubator manager at Subtopia’s cultural incubator Katapult and president of the interest organization for Sweden’s cultural incubators, CreARTive.

Theatre Director based in Cambridge. When not commissioning and directing “stories that matter” for the theatre, working in Entrepreneurship as “Storyteller in Residence” with Carbon13: The Venture Builder for The Climate Emergency, Cambridge University Enterprise and Harvard University Wyss Institute. Consult creative processes, ideation and storytelling for organisations including Astra Zeneca, NIKE, Fairtrade, BBC and The United Nations.

Co-leads the Cross Innovation Hub by Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft. As a studied cultural scientist (Leuphana University of Lüneburg) and art historian (University College London) with economic study background (University of Mannheim, Leuphana University of Lüneburg, London School of Economics and Political Science), she moves and acts along the intersection of art, culture, science and business.

Thomas Arctaedius, PhD – Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, with a focus on artistic entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship education. Thomas teaches artistic entrepreneurship and works to develop collaborations between industry and artistic researchers.

Cross Con is part of Creative Insight as a Service, a project by Subtopia, NDPC and Fabryka Sztuki. Funded by the Swedish Institute.