Building on the experience of the Creative Industries Cluster, which has been operating in Pécs since 2007, a nationwide creative industries network is taking shape. The goal of the National Creative Industries Competence Center is to raise the profile of domestic creative enterprises, strengthen their connections, and open up new business opportunities for micro- and small businesses offering intellectual products, design, and creative services.
Pécs’s history and current presence in the creative industries may take on a new role of national significance. The model of the Creative Industries Cluster, which has been operating in the city since 2007, is now expanding to the national level: coordinated by the Pécs-Baranya Chamber of Commerce and Industry, funded by the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and with the participation of 22 county and Budapest chamber organizations, the National Creative Industries Competence Center project is being launched.
This initiative addresses a problem that many players in the creative industries are all too familiar with. A graphic design studio, design workshop, fashion designer, communications specialist, cultural enterprise, or digital creative service provider often performs high-value-added work, yet struggles to reach new clients, establish cross-industry collaborations, or access international markets. The creative industry is full of micro-enterprises, one-person workshops, and small teams that possess the professional expertise but often lack visibility, a network of contacts, and a business development infrastructure.
The national network aims to change precisely this. The goal of the project is to ensure that players in the creative industries do not operate in isolation, but rather become accessible to other economic actors through an organized database, a professional map, and a chamber-based network. This is particularly important because the creative industries are not a self-contained sector: it is linked to tourism, the food industry, city marketing, the cultural economy, digital services, interior design, fashion, the events industry, product development, and communications.
According to information from PBKIK, the program aims to reach at least 1,000 domestic creative industry businesses. Participants can connect to a broader professional network, gain greater visibility, and access new business development opportunities. The goal is not a one-time campaign, but rather the creation of a sustainable system: the national database and the expanding Creative Industries Cluster can be integrated into the chamber’s structure over the long term.
This is a particularly positive development for Pécs. The city has a strong cultural and creative identity; the Zsolnay Quarter, the Faculty of Arts at the University of Pécs, the design and visual arts scene, the festivals, galleries, studios, and independent creative communities all create an environment from which a creative industries cluster could naturally emerge. Now, this Pécs model could become a national benchmark.
The economic significance of the creative industries is often less visible than that of industrial investment, yet it is an increasingly important factor in competitiveness. A strong brand image, a well-structured brand, a user-friendly digital platform, high-quality packaging, strategic communication, or an experience-based service can directly influence a business’s market success. A rural food brand, winery, tourism service provider, or technology-based small and medium-sized enterprise can also become stronger if it finds the right creative partner.
Expanding the cluster nationwide could therefore open up new opportunities not only for the creative industries but also for other sectors of the economy. Businesses will find it easier to connect with graphic artists, designers, content creators, communications specialists, digital service providers, and cultural and creative partners. This networking can be particularly beneficial for businesses in smaller towns and rural areas, where the market for creative services is less transparent.
Membership is primarily intended for micro- and small businesses that create creative services, intellectual products, or high-value-added solutions and wish to expand their network of contacts, their customer base, market presence, or export opportunities. According to PBKIK, cluster membership does not entail any additional administrative burden, while at the same time offering professional networking opportunities.
Creative industry businesses can join the initiative through the registration portal of the Creative Industry Database. Joining the initiative allows businesses to be included in the national creative industries map and to connect with the expanding cluster network.
For Baranya, one of the project’s most important messages is that Pécs can be not only a follower but also a shaper of domestic creative industry collaborations. Expanding the local model nationwide could strengthen the city’s economic visibility, help local businesses gain market access, and foster new client relationships between the creative sector and other industries.
In the coming period, the key questions will be how many creative industry stakeholders from Pécs and Baranya County join the new system, what kind of database and industry map will be developed, and whether concrete business partnerships will be formed. If the network truly becomes an active marketplace and a platform for networking, then the Pécs creative industries model could pave the way for a new path of development on a national level as well.
Sign Up:
Creative Industries Database – Registration Page
Sources:
Pécs-Baranya Chamber of Commerce and Industry: The Pécs Creative Industry Cluster Model Expands Nationwide—Join Us!, July 8, 2026.
Creative Industry Cluster
