CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION IN URBAN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE. FOCUS ON KICKSTARTER INITIATIVES

Abstract

The concepts of innovation and creativity, as well as the territorial construct of city, have been, especially in the last few decades, the focus of an unprecendented and concerted scientific effort from all over the world. Many geographers, economists and urban planners studied how such a notions shape the fabric of urban areas and how they help them grow and develop. Kickstarter is an element of this triad, an innovative online platform which enables people to express their creativity and help gain funding for their ideas. This paper examines the Kickstarter projects launched in the 7 largest cities of three Central and Eastern European countries (Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary), plot their distribution and attempt to see territorial patterns in their distribution across the urban areas of this part of the European Union and Europe itself.

Keywords

• innovation
• creative class
• Kickstarter
• urban
• Central and Eastern Europe