More Than Just Creativity

Economic Policy Committee Calls for a Roundtable on the Creative and Digital Economies

Text by Annette Kusche | Advisor on Policy Issues and Committees

At the invitation of Co-Chair Sabine Clausecker, our Economic Policy Committee met with Jeannine Koch, Chair of the Board and Managing Director of medianet berlinbrandenburg, at the new offices of CBE DIGIDEN AG.

Jeannine Koch explained that this economic sector comprises approximately 44,000 companies and self-employed individuals, who generate 56.4 billion euros in revenue with 244,000 employees. This makes the creative industries a key factor for Berlin. They account for about 15 percent of Berlin’s gross domestic product. For more on this, see the latest Creative and Digital Economy Report.

The film industry, as well as the gaming and software sectors, are experiencing particularly dynamic growth. This sector, which is predominantly organized into small-scale entities, faces major challenges: a shortage of skilled workers, lengthy visa and approval processes, increasingly scarce space, international competitive pressure, and the profound transformation brought about by artificial intelligence.

It calls for greater visibility, stronger advocacy, and more intensive collaboration across the boundaries of individual market segments. Berlin needs reliable structures, central points of contact for businesses and creative professionals, and spaces throughout the city where new ideas can emerge and flourish.

An important step would be to hold a “roundtable” for the creative industries at the Rotes Rathaus. After all, Berlin’s strength lies in its freedom, its diversity, and its creativity. We must safeguard and promote this potential.

A heartfelt thank you goes to Sabine Clausecker for the invitation and to Jeannine Koch for the presentation. To learn more about the work of the VBKI committees, please contact Annette Kusche.