Creative Steps 2.0 is about to kick off

Creative Steps 2.0 is the innovation programme funded by a creative momentum project. The first of 4 rounds will start on Wednesday 18 May, when 4 companies from Northern Ireland, Mid-Sweden and the West of Ireland will meet the 4 companies from Finland as well as a team of students from Lapland University of Applied Science.

Based in Warrenpoint (NI), NuTech Renewables Ltd is a company specialising in integrated renewable energy systems and has developed and patented a new Solar Enhanced Heating, Ventilation and Hot Water system. They have been matched with Jo-Jo the Dog Films Ltd.

NuTech Renewables would like to focus on the production of a marketing video that could be used across social media and email marketing, and at meetings and conferences: “Because our product has wide appeal both domestically and internationally” – a company’s spokesperson explains – “it is ideal to work with international partners to fully develop the marketing of this product.  This ensures that the final video can be used throughout Europe, and would be clearly understood”.

Grace of Sweden is the name of the Swedish company selected to participate in Creative Steps 2.0. For Grace of Sweden, diversity is a value: “it is a completely natural aspect for us in everything we do”, Tina Olofsson explains.

Grace of Sweden are currently working on their international strategy and “Great Britain, Ireland and the Nordic region is our first goal”, Tina adds.  The company has been matched with Forest Camp Entertainment Oy, which deals with photography and visual communications.

Sallyann’s Handmade Bags are created in a small sewing room overlooking Doo Lough and the Atlantic Ocean in West Clare (WOI) by their creator, Sallyann Marron. Every bag is made from scratch, cutting out the fabrics, the matching patch pockets and making the zip tops for the bags. Each bag is unique, made with love and massive attention to detail. Sallyann’s Handmade Bags won the Bank of Ireland Start Up Silver Award for a craft business in 2015.

Sallyann’s Handmade Bags have been matched with Finnish Susivilla and Sallyann is delighted about this collaboration and says that “without  Creative Steps 2.0 she could not have anticipated collaborating with craftspeople and artists across northern Europe in my wildest dreams”.

Black Hole Studio from Co. Roscommon (WOI) enables the production and promotion of high quality artwork in a variety of disciplines and media. They have been matched with Urbanid –a company from Kemi (FI), which offers innovative, professional 3D visualisation services.

We are looking forward to seeing the outcomes of this process!