Storying connectivity and value: the south west creative technology network’s cultural ecologies as network visualisations

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper explores the productive connectivity developed by university-industry knowledge exchange (KE) programmes for research and development (R&D) and their emergent cultural value. The South West Creative Technology Network (SWCTN) is our case study. We build on Dovey et al.'s. work to visualise the cultural ecology supported and created by cohort-led R&D programmes. Our visualisations, combined with interview data, evidence that new connections create diverse forms of value, including inspiration, mentoring, training, and recruitment opportunities, and cooperation through collaborative working. We supplement social network and visualisation tools with rich qualitative data to explore the “why,” “how” and “to what end” of new connections, contributing to the field of Mixed Methods in Social Network Analysis (MMSNA). This methodology is novel to the field of creative economy research. We argue for new forms of R&D funding for the creative sector to take a cultural ecology approach if we wish to take seriously and invest in the diverse forms of value beyond economic drivers, sometimes described as “intangible,” that play an important role in building regional capacity, innovation and productivity.