Vorstellung des 7. Hessischen Kreativwirtschaftsbericht „Connecting Worlds“

Hesse’s cultural and creative industries are a key driver of innovation in the economy, technology and regional development. On 4 July 2026, the Hessian Ministry of Economic Affairs will present the 7th Hessian Creative Industries Report, entitled ‘Connecting Worlds’.

Look forward to a keynote speech by Minister for Economic Affairs Kaweh Mansoori, insights into the report’s development with Susanne Stöck (Hessen Agentur), and a high-profile panel discussion featuring, amongst others, Ina-Marie Orawiec (qualified engineer, architect and urban planner, OX2architekten GmbH, CreativeLab rethink*rotor) and Anastasios Jakopanec (Head of Strategy + AI & Operational Excellence, Merck Group) on the innovation potential of the creative sector. The subsequent get-together will provide an opportunity for discussion and networking. The session will be moderated by Mechthild Harting (FAZ)

About the report’s topic: Cross Innovation

What is the connection between Formula 1 and fast food? What links beer bottling to sushi? And what about pushchairs and aircraft landing gear? The answer is unexpected: cross-innovation. The principle of the pit stop enables quick food purchases at drive-throughs, whilst the conveyor belt used for beer bottling was adapted as an assembly line for the Japanese speciality. The first easily foldable pushchair was inspired by aeronautical engineering.

These striking examples from the fields of product and process design illustrate a phenomenon that has several historical precursors: even in antiquity, progress arose where artistic, technical and scientific perspectives converged – for example, in Roman engineering or in the thinking of Archimedes. During the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci arrived at ingenious insights at the interface between science and art, whilst in the 20th century, the Bauhaus systematically organised interdisciplinary collaboration based on the ideas of the Deutscher Werkbund.

Often, the key elements of innovation and solutions to problems already exist in separate contexts: thus, networking and drawing analogies can effectively create something new.

The 7th Creative Industries Report gives a voice to numerous Hessian companies, institutions and creative professionals on this topic. From wind turbines to AI butlers and leather alternatives to space debris: the skills of cultural and creative professionals play a central role in facilitating and implementing innovation processes – in successfully bridging worlds.

Please register free of charge.