Cultural and creative industries: Wallonia sets its sights on Japan

On the occasion of Expo 2025 Osaka, Wallonia is showcasing its digital and creative ecosystem through an economic and technological mission organised from 26 to 30 May by AWEX, in collaboration with Wallonia-Brussels International (WBI). This initiative aims to strengthen the international visibility of the region, particularly in the field of cultural and creative industries, and to consolidate its position as a strategic player in innovation.

On 26 May, the opening day of a week dedicated to innovation will feature a highlight: "No borders, new territories of digital creativity", a full day devoted to Belgian digital creativity. Led by KIKK and the wake! label by Digital Wallonia, this initiative will spotlight projects at the crossroads of art, technology and research.

A day at the crossroads of creation, technology and innovation

The programme will bring together a wide range of stakeholders from the fields of innovation, creation and research: companies, artists and academic institutions. Participants will include Dirty Monitor, Laser System Europe, Dreamwall, Wallimage, as well as artists such as Yann Deval, an interactive designer specialising in augmented reality, and Laura Colmenares Guerra, who will present R€¥€R$€, a virtual reality work focused on ecological issues in the Amazon. The Echo Chamber collective, led by Ilan Manouach, will explore the impacts of automation on cultural creation. Higher education institutions (HEAJ, ESA St-Luc) and universities (ULiège) will also contribute to the discussions.

Round tables, talks, performances and workshops will punctuate the day, with a clear objective: to foster international collaborations and position Wallonia as a recognised player in the field of CCIs.

A strategic sector for Wallonia and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation’s international relations

A pioneer in the field, Wallonia integrated CCIs early on into its economic development and internationalisation strategy. Since 2014, it has implemented active policies to structure the sector, notably through the Walloon creative hubs, supported by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER). These hubs aim to make creativity a driver of cross-sectoral innovation and economic transformation.

The sector also benefits from tailored tools such as St’art Invest, a public-private investment fund launched in 2009, which offers financing solutions for actors in the cultural and creative industries. Today, St’art Invest, manages a €37 million envelope to support innovative projects led by cultural institutions.

A coherent approach promoted internationally

Wallonia’s presence in Osaka is part of a broader international strategy led by Digital Wallonia International, which aims to strengthen the international development of Walloon digital companies.

Since 2022, certain key players such as KIKK have operated under a delegated mission framework, in partnership with the Agence du Numérique. As part of the Digital Excellence programme, KIKK was entrusted with the task of structuring and developing the technological ecosystem of the cultural and creative industries (CCIs), notably through the wake! by Digital Wallonia project.

Find all the information about the Wallonia-Brussels week in Osaka at: https://www.wallonia-osaka.be/en/