New Centre to bring together education, research, policymaking and industry collaboration around the emerging ‘Orange’ economy
Kozhikode [Kerala], September 4: The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Calicut has established the Centre for Creative Economy and Public Policy (CCEPP), a pioneering academic initiative aimed at bringing education, research, policymaking and industry collaboration together around the rapidly emerging creative and ‘Orange’ economy.
Described by the institute as one of the first initiatives of its kind in a higher education institution in the country, the Centre will focus on emerging areas of the creative economy while facilitating policy and institutional interventions, capacity building and consultancy.
Interdisciplinary Platform for Education, Research and Policy
Announcing the initiative, Prof. Prasad Krishna, Director, NIT Calicut, said the Centre would function as an interdisciplinary platform for education, research, policy engagement and advocacy in the creative economy and allied fields.
The Centre will develop courses, electives, executive education, capacity-building and continuing education programmes in public policy and the creative economy. It will also facilitate the development of future academic programmes, including Master’s and doctoral research programmes.
Experienced Leadership to Guide the Centre
K. Satish Nambudiripad, a retired senior civil servant and former Indian Information Service officer who served as Director General of Doordarshan until recently, has been appointed Chairperson of the Centre.
An information and communication specialist, Nambudiripad has also headed the Electronic Media Monitoring Centre and the New Media Centre in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
His experience in public broadcasting, digital media and communication is expected to strengthen the Centre’s work in the emerging Orange economy, which encompasses sectors driven by digital media, cultural expression, creativity and artistic innovation.
Abhishek Kumar, Assistant Professor in the Department of Architecture, NIT Calicut, and Althaff Ahmed, Assistant Professor in the Department of Management Studies, have been appointed Vice-Chairpersons of the Centre’s Creative Economy and Public Policy verticals, respectively.
Building Networks Across Government, Industry and Academia
The Centre plans to establish professional networks and undertake collaborative initiatives with government departments, research institutions, industry and other stakeholders.
It will also explore initiatives such as Creative Economy Councils, Creative Economy Regions, Creativity Awards and Creative Cities Networks.
Prof. Krishna said the Centre would work in collaboration with relevant departments and centres of NIT Calicut and seek to develop itself as a leading intellectual and academic space in India for creative economy and public policy.
Creative Economy Emerging as a Global Growth Engine
The establishment of the Centre comes at a time when creative industries are increasingly being recognised as important contributors to economic growth, employment and innovation worldwide.
According to figures cited by NIT Calicut, the creative economy accounts for approximately 6.1 per cent of global GDP, with its contribution to national economies generally ranging between 2 and 7 per cent.
United Nations estimates indicate that creative industries generate more than $2 trillion in annual revenues and support nearly 50 million jobs globally.
The sector covers a broad range of activities, including music, visual arts, architecture, software development and other creative and cultural industries.
An IBM study cited by the institute has also identified creativity as a critical leadership skill, with 97 per cent of employers highlighting its growing importance.
Creativity and Innovation Gain Importance in Urban Development
The growing integration of creative industries into urban development strategies has further strengthened the case for dedicated academic and policy platforms in the sector.
Creativity and innovation are increasingly being viewed not only as cultural assets but also as drivers of economic competitiveness, employment generation and social cohesion.
The initiative also assumes significance in the context of Kerala’s growing association with the global creative and learning cities movement.
Kozhikode has been recognised as a UNESCO Creative City of Literature, while Thrissur and Nilambur have been recognised as Learning Cities.
With India’s expanding network of UNESCO Creative Cities, the NIT Calicut Centre is expected to emerge as an academic hub for collaboration, knowledge sharing and policy development in areas such as urban development, creativity and economic competitiveness.
The Centre’s multidisciplinary approach is expected to bring together academia, government, industry and creative practitioners, providing a platform for developing new ideas and policy frameworks for India’s evolving creative economy.I can also make the headline more punchy and media-friendly if this is being submitted to a major news portal.
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