The first edition of Digital Media 2009 was held on October 18, 2009 as part of the Business Street activities during the fourth edition of the Rome International Film Festival (October 15-23, 2009).
Digital Media 2009, an international matchmaking event targeting the digital media and the creative industries sector, was attended by more than 20 companies from around Europe (prevalently Italy and the United Kingdom).
The international matchmaking event was organised by Filas with Advantage West Midlands, Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the Enterprise Europe Network, the European gateway to competitiveness and innovation that offers support and advice to businesses across Europe, and with the cooperation of INNOMEDIA, an European innovative scheme for supporting and financing the digital media and creative industries.
Michela Michilli, Head of the Filas Eu Programmes and International Unit, underlined the significance of an event specifically addressing the digital media and creative industries held within the framework of a traditional film festival. Indeed, Ms. Michilli stressed the importance of this vast cutting-edge sector as a fundamental pillar of the global economy, one worth €300 billion and expected to rise exponentially in coming years. "This area is not only crucial for the world economy, but it is also vital for internationalisation, innovation and research activities concerning enterprises around the world. This is the reason why we plan to extend our efforts in this area signficantly," Ms. Michilli added.
The Digital Media event is part of a greater effort by Filas that coordinates Project ImMediaTe (see News) and will also organise a further event on October 21st as part of the Hello Digital! 2009 in collaboration with Birmingham, Singapore and Seattle that will expand the equation to the current explosion of the social media phenonmenon.
Filas has been actively involved in the digital media and creative industries sector since 2005 with its groundbreaking Silk Avenue Project featuring an international matchmaking event with European and Southeast Asian companies working in this sector.
Filas is currently coordinating ImMediaTe: a project that aims to consolidate the digital media and creative industries sector and catalyse its growth and continued development.
Digital Media 2009 is a concrete platform for digital media, creative industry and ICT companies to meet potential business and technological cooperation partners and provides a real market to identify and discuss business opportunities.
Digital Media and Creative Industries represent a vast sector that brings together technology development and content production for digital television, radio, the Internet and a vast array of fixed and mobile devices. It is one of the most promising high-growth sectors in the EU and worldwide, one that is projected to rise drammatically as the generation of the digital natives begins to enter the working world.