As part of CREW’s EU Spotlight series, we are highlighting the opportunities, knowledge and connections emerging from our European projects and international engagement – and increasingly, the experience and expertise that CREW is contributing to European networks.
In July, CREW CEO Niamh Costello was invited by Interreg Europe to join a panel of European experts for a two-day Peer Review hosted by Toulouse Métropole in France, focused on the development of La Brique Créative and its governance, business model, stakeholder engagement and long-term sustainability.
For CREW, the invitation was a valuable recognition of the experience developed through building our own creative enterprise ecosystem in the West and North West of Ireland, from establishing a collaborative governance model and developing the CREW Creative Enterprise & Innovation Hub, to entrepreneurship programmes, industry partnerships, community development and European collaboration.
What is an Interreg Europe Peer Review?
Peer Reviews are one of the expert support services available through the Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform. https://www.interregeurope.eu/peer-review
They enable public authorities to bring together experienced practitioners and policymakers from across Europe to examine a specific regional policy challenge. Based on peer-to-peer learning rather than traditional consultancy, the process draws on approaches and experience from other regions to develop practical recommendations for the host region.
Importantly, public authorities can access this support free of charge through the Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform, without having to develop a new Interreg project.
Sharing Experience in Toulouse
The Toulouse Peer Review brought together six peers with experience from Ireland, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Austria and Hungary, including representatives from CREW, Designregio Kortrijk, Hamburg Kreativgesellschaft, the Municipality and University of Bologna/Nessun Indietro APS, Into PROJECTS and CTRIA.
Over two days, the group worked with Toulouse Métropole and stakeholders from across the local creative ecosystem on questions that will be familiar to many organisations working in regional innovation:
How do you build strong collaboration between industry, education and the public sector? How should that collaboration be governed? How do you create a sustainable business model? And what role should physical infrastructure play in developing a successful creative ecosystem?
CREW brought a practical perspective on governance and stakeholder engagement, community building, entrepreneurship programmes, diversified funding and the relationship between a physical innovation hub and the wider ecosystem it supports.
One of the strongest conclusions from the review was particularly resonant with CREW’s experience:
Build the ecosystem first. Infrastructure should amplify it.
The recommendations emphasised that the success of La Brique Créative will depend not simply on its buildings, but on the strength of its partnerships, community engagement, relevant programmes and a sustainable business model – including diversified funding combining public investment with private income, programmes, services, partnerships and European projects.
Learning Works Both Ways
One of the most striking aspects of the Peer Review was just how similar many of the challenges are across different European regions. While our organisations, funding structures and local contexts may differ, we are all grappling with many of the same questions around sustainability, governance, community, collaboration and impact.
What also stood out was the willingness of people to share – not only successes, but lessons learned and approaches that haven’t worked. These mechanisms for peer learning and exchange help build a more connected, collaborative and ultimately more competitive Europe – where regions can learn from one another rather than continually reinventing the wheel.
For CREW, the experience was also an opportunity to reflect on our own journey. Being invited to Toulouse to share CREW’s experience demonstrated that the knowledge and expertise being developed here in the West and North West of Ireland has relevance beyond our own region.
Equally, the experience brought new ideas, relationships and perspectives back to CREW that can inform the next stage of our development.
Industry Growth and Internationalisation is a key pillar of CREW’s strategy, Where Creativity Means Business (2025–2029). Our European engagement enables us to build relationships and bring knowledge and opportunities back to creative enterprises in our region, while also contributing the experience being developed here in the West and North West of Ireland to the wider European creative economy.
Could Your Region Benefit from a Peer Review?
Interreg Europe Peer Reviews are designed for public authorities facing a regional development or policy challenge where experience from other European regions could provide new perspectives and practical solutions. The support does not end with the visit: the Toulouse process includes a report and roadmap for implementing recommendations, followed by opportunities to assess progress and continue the exchange with peers.
Organisations and public authorities interested in exploring whether a Peer Review could support their region can find further information through the Interreg Europe Peer Review service.
