Local Entrepreneurship Policy:
The Festival of Lights of Frederikshavn
Lucio Carlos Freire, PhD Candidate
Dept. of Planning & Developement
Aalborg University (Denmark)
WHAT IN THE WORLD HAS
A FESTIVAL
HAVE TO DO WITH
ENTREPRENEURSHIP ??
Denmark: low employment
Source: Eurostat
Highest employment in
labour force. EU-27.
3Q.2008
Source: Eurobarometer 2007
Lands of opportunity for entrepreneurs:
Denmark, Israel and Singapore
The Economist
Issue on Entrepreneurship
March 14th-20th 2009
Early-Stage Entrepreneurial Activity Rates
and GDP Per Capita, 2008
Intrapreneurship
is crucial to understand Denmark
Pct. of new ventures engaging in intrapreneurship (Denmark GEM 2004)
Small & Medium Enterprise
policy worldwide
Purpose: Increase supply of
entrepreneurs and growth of firm
(Reynolds et al. 2000, Lundström and Stevenson, 2005)
– Basic features very similar worldwide
– No matter so much of political orientation
Entrepreneurship policy areas
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Promotion
Education
Counseling and information
Financing
Administrative burden
Target groups
Policy relevant research
(Lundström, 2005, 2009)
place matters!
“The city/region has an important role to play
in entrepreneurship policy. As every
city/region is different, it needs a specific
strategy, instruments and delivery”.
Potter, OECD Local Entrepreneurship Review, 2004
Municipality of
Frederikshavn
NORWAY
(Denmark)
SWEDEN
•
•
•
•
•
64.000 population
25.000 major city
Traditional Industrial Economy
Periphery / Provincial
Lower average income
– 2015 Energy City
– Experience Economy
DENMARK
GERMANY
Entrepreneurship Policy
(Local level)
Limited maneuver on taxation, regulation, etc.
Possibilities:
1. Provide info / advice
2. Incubators, tech parks
3. Develop rich networks (incl. public, private, education)
4. Help local products to stand out.
5. Local annual festivals.
Sources: Hart et al 2004, Holtz-Eakin et al. 2004, Mourdoukuotas & Papadimitriou, 2002 and Julien 2007
Entrepreneurship Policy
(Local level)
Limited maneuver on taxation, regulation, etc.
Possibilities:
For Frederikshavn
1. Provide info / advice
2. Incubators, tech parks (not that effective S&G 1999, Florida 2003)
3. Develop rich networks (incl. public, private, education)
4. Help local products to stand out.
5. Local annual festivals.
Sources: Hart et al 2004, Holtz-Eakin et al. 2004, Mourdoukuotas & Papadimitriou, 2002 and Julien 2007
The impact of local festivals…
“can extend far beyond the economic
repercussions of tourist inflows, if
they help create a sense of belonging
and pride among local residents, thus
fostering the sharing of local
resources and local purchases, and
even helping keep much needed
workers in the area instead of
migration to the cities”
Julien, 2007
Evolution of the festival
?
2004
2006
2008
2010
The Light Festival in Frederikshavn
Street Light Projects
Education Light Camp
International Conference
Other Activities: Expositions, Downtown open,
Concerts (streets & restaurants), Children activities, etc.
Main sponsors:
Original Idea: Local Goverment
Main stakeholders (2008)
Local
Media
Educational Light Camp
• 4-day student workshop
• 50 Students of design, architecture, engineering, theatre
and technology
• Lighting equipment loaned from manufacturers
• Lighting and technical knowledge provided by educators
and experts
Light Camp Students
This Entrepreneurship
Policy can:
• Increase collaboration
between businesses, higher
education, arts and culture.
• Enrich networks
• Helps stand local products
• Enhance business
performance
How supporting such a policy can affect
the private and the public
Private
Public
Owners promote their buildings.
(Special prices from light firms)
Increase tourism
(present)
Projects can be photographed
(future)
Firms can try and showcase
their products to clients
Brand city
Companies educate
potential employees
Increase social
and human capital
Marketing
Education
(tech & designers)
Quality of place
Employees increase
satisfaction
Citizens pride of place.
Retain young people
Local Entrepreneurship Policy:
The Festival of Lights in Frederikshavn
L. Carlos Freire, PhD Candidate
Dept. of Planning & Developement
Aalborg University (Denmark)