DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS, ENERGY & INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY

Digital Platforms for Craft in the UK and China

Project disclaimer

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Description

The Creative Economies are key growth drivers and economic sectors for both China and the UK. Digital platforms such as social networks, search engines, online marketplaces, and content distribution help to generate new products and services both online and offline. They provide opportunities for innovation, facilitate greater and closer access to markets and customers, and provide opportunities to include customers more in the design process. Digital platforms are therefore key to enabling growth in the Creative Economies. By examining and promoting the use of digital platforms, this project will demonstrate how they can be used to increase the sustainable economic growth of Chinese rural and urban craft sectors. Exploiting digital platforms in the craft sector has the potential to address China’s plan to revitalize traditional craftsmanship amid efforts to protect intangible cultural heritage, and meet needs such as employment and poverty alleviation, supporting retention of rural people and sustainable rural development where many traditional craftspeople are located. Findings from China will be combined with UK best practice to generate insights into the uses, challenges, trends, and potential of digital platforms for the crafts sector in China. Beneficiaries are craft sector stakeholders in China who benefit from i) routes to increasing revenue through improved access to markets via better use of online marketplaces and cross-region collaboration; ii) increased access to new materials and production techniques of Industry 4.0; iii) increased IP protection; iv) increased innovation e.g. customer customization. These offer craft sector opportunities to remain in, and return to, rural communities, thereby sustaining and revitalizing traditional crafts and culture. They offer new employment opportunities for young and old, contributing to reducing rural poverty and emigration, and supporting inter-generational culture transfer.

Objectives

The Newton Fund builds research and innovation partnerships with developing countries across the world to promote the economic development and social welfare of the partner countries.

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Location

The country, countries or regions that benefit from this Programme.

China

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