Local Entrepreneurship Policy: The Festival of Lights of Frederikshavn

Lucio Carlos Freire, PhD CandidateDept. of Planning & Developement

Aalborg University (Denmark)

WHAT IN THE WORLD HAS A FESTIVAL

HAVE TO DO WITH ENTREPRENEURSHIP ??

Denmark: low employment

Highest employment in labour force. EU-27.

3Q.2008

Source: Eurostat

Source: Eurobarometer 2007

Lands of opportunity for entrepreneurs: Denmark, Israel and Singapore

The EconomistIssue on EntrepreneurshipMarch 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 Enterprisepolicy 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

(Denmark)

• 64.000 population• 25.000 major city• Traditional Industrial Economy• Periphery / Provincial• Lower average income

– 2015 Energy City– Experience Economy

GERMANY

SWEDEN

NORWAY

DENMARK

Entrepreneurship Policy (Local level)

Limited maneuver on taxation, regulation, etc.

Possibilities:1. Provide info / advice2. 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:1. Provide info / advice2. 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.

For For FrederikshavFrederikshav

nn

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 FrederikshavnThe 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 This Entrepreneurship Policy can: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

  PrivatePrivate Public Public

MarketingMarketing

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

EducationEducationCompanies educate potential employees

(tech & designers)

Increase social and human capital

Quality of placeQuality of placeEmployees increase

satisfactionCitizens pride of place.

Retain young people

Local Entrepreneurship Policy: The Festival of Lights in Frederikshavn

L. Carlos Freire, PhD CandidateDept. of Planning & Developement

Aalborg University (Denmark)