Kulturanalys som innovationsverktyg

Abstract

During the last years "innovation" have been highlighted as a prime target for both universities, regions and companies. The role ethnology and other related disciplines may have in enhancing the innovative capacity have, however, rarely been addressed. The article discusses the possibilities of using cultural analysis as an innovation tool, based on two cases; the creation of a cooperative association for culinary tourism in southeast Sweden, and a foresight exercise for Skane Food Innovation network with the aim to improve the innovative capability of the food sector in the region. A starting point for the discussion is that recent innovation research have claimed that innovation often occur in the interfaces between different sectors, which demands new cross sectoral networks and collaborations. The author concludes that the creation of functional cross sectoral collaborations is easier said than done, but that the use of cultural analytical skills such as analysing and translating cultural differences, the historical perspective, and the focus on the everyday life for the end users are important tools in this process.