Innovation in Creative sme’s in Flanders: a case Study Based Analysis ∗

Table 12 Core Creative and Cultural Sector in Flanders and Brussels,
1995-2003 (volume & growth) 
1995 2003 ∆ 
Annual 
growth 
Employment Flanders 
26,255 33,156 26.30% 3.00% 
Brussels 23,014 
22,401 
-2.70% 
-0.30% 
Flanders & Brussels 49,269 55,557 
12.80% 1.50% 
Number of 
enterprises 
Flanders 
3,076 3,888 26.40% 3.00% 
Brussels 1,629 
1,831 
12.40% 
1.50% 
Flanders & Brussels 4,705 5,719 
21.60% 
2.50% 
Source: Maenhout, De Voldere, Onkelinx (2006) 
Table 13 Annual Growth of Core Creative and Cultural Sector in Flanders and Brussels,
compared the total Belgian economy, 1995-2003 
SMEs
Large 
enterprises 
Total 
Micro Small Medium
Subtotal
Annual growth in number of 
enterprises of the total Belgian 
economy (1999-2003) 
0.82%
0.76%
0.84%
0.81%
1.10% 0.81%
Annual growth in number of 
enterprises of the core creative 
and cultural sector in Flanders 
(1995-2003) n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a. 3,00%
Annual growth in employment of 
the total Belgian economy 
(1996-2003) 
0.61%
2.07%
2.97%
1.60%
1.60% 1.60%
Annual growth in employment of 
the core creative and cultural 
sector in Flanders. (1995-2003) 
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a. 3.00%
Source: Based on De Voldere e.a. (2007) and Eurostat (2008) 
Quite obviously, the Flemish core creative and cultural sector is an emerging and fast growing 
segment of the economy. In order to measure the impact of the creative sector on the Flemish economy 
in a realistic way, the Vlerick researchers omitted the formally subsidized cultural sub sector
1
from their 
analysis and identified the core creative sector as follows: the audiovisual industry; the music industry; 
fashion industry; architecture and design; the printed media and publishing sector. (De Voldere, et al.., 
2006)
2
.
Unfortunately, detailed figures of the defined sub-sectors are not available. In table 13 the main 
findings of the Vlerick Management School research team are summarized.
1
The subsidized cultural sector is, despite its symbolic added value, evidently a non-market oriented industry, i.e 
museums, authors, theaters, etc (De Voldere et al., 2006) 
2
For more a detailed definition of these sub-sectors we refer to De Voldere et al. (2006) 

---

255