UEW in the debate on regional transformation through creative industries

On 9 April 2026, Prof. Patrycja Klimas of the Department of Advanced Research in Management at Wrocław University of Economics and Business took part in a round-table debate at Game Music Fest LAB 2026, an event organised by the Silesian Philharmonic that brings together the worlds of games, music, academia, and business.

Creative industries as a tool for transformation

The panel “Transformation through culture: the game dev and technology ecosystem in a new model of Silesian development” addressed one of the central challenges of regional policy: how to harness the potential of creative industries to diversify economies and build new areas of specialisation.

The discussion covered:

the role of the games sector in job creation and talent attraction
the importance of collaboration between universities, business, and cultural institutions
models for developing technology ecosystems in regions undergoing transformation
culture as an instrument of structural change

The discussion covered:

The debate was moderated by Michał Niechciał of Keywords Studios and brought together representatives from academia, industry, and cultural institutions, including: Grzegorz Dymek (Anshar Studios), Aleksandra Szymańska (Institute of Creative Industries), Michał Jędrzejek (Katowice Gaming and Technology Hub), Justyna Stefańczyk (University of Silesia), Patrycja Klimas (Wrocław University of Economics and Business), Piotr Budzisz (Museum of Coal Mining in Zabrze), Piotr Bartosz (Silesian University of Technology), Beata Zielosko (University of Silesia), and Anna Studnicka-Rduch (Silesian Philharmonic).

Research contributing to development policy debate

Prof. Klimas’s participation arose directly from work conducted under the GameHearts project (Horizon Europe). The research team she leads has examined models of collaboration, strategic partnerships, and value creation within ecosystems centred on the games industry and broader creative sectors, viewed through a European lens.

The findings have direct relevance to the analysis of transformation processes in post-industrial regions. Silesia represents a region in which structural transformation is not a future prospect but an ongoing reality.

Research as a participant in public debate

Participation in a debate spanning academia, regional policy, and creative industries represents a documented instance of research influencing public discourse. The presence of a UEW expert alongside representatives of academia, industry, cultural institutions, and national and regional decision-makers reflects the growing role of universities in shaping conversations about economic development.

Event programme: https://gamemusicfest.eu/index.php/program/2026-2/gamemusicfest-lab