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CreaMED
“Fostering Creativity and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area as key
elements for Regional Sustainable Development: CreaMED Alliance”
Deliverable:
” Report on CreaMED Seminar”
Partner FTZ
Region Malta
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CONTENTS
1. Summary of event’s aims and preparatory activities ……….………………..…...3
2. Conclusions ……………………………………….………….……………………….…………7
ANNEX I List of participants ……………….……………………….………………...………8
ANNEX II Program of the event..………………………………………………….…….… 15
ANNEX III Dissemination Actions ……….……………………………………….……… 16
ANNEX IV Photos from the event…………………………………………………….………18
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1. Summary of events’ aims and preparatory activities
Fondazzjoni Temi Zammit Fondazzjoni Temi Zammit (FTZ) organized the CreaMED
Seminar– Synergy: Igniting the Mediterranean Innovation Society- 24.05. 2011. The
event was part of an initiative which aims to foster creativity and innovation within the
Mediterranean area as key elements for Regional Sustainable Development: CreaMED
Alliance.
The aims of the Seminar were:
· to transfer and exchange knowledge among public private bodies, SMEs and various
stakeholders devoted to the promotion of creativity and innovation.
· to urge and commit regional stakeholders to generate new ideas and common solutions
for improving and consolidating the development of the regional Innovation
Systems
· to present the results of the Project
· to gather main conclusions, interventions and lessons learnt in order to publish the
CreaMED Open Book. It is foreseen that CreaMED Open Book will be used as a
dissemination tool.
The above mentioned goals were well achieved. In addition to this, the event was held
at the House of Representatives, The Palace Malta. It stands in the very heart of Valletta
– the World Heritage City founded by the Sovereign Hospitaller Military Order of St John
after the Great Siege of Malta in 1565. Besides being the Office of The President, The
Palace also serves as the House of Representatives and boasts of, an armoury which
symbolises the past glories of the Order.
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Throne Room
Tapestry Chamber
The speakers of the event were the following ones:
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Dr. Michael Frendo (Speaker of the House of Representatives of Malta)
Ms. Katina Mladenova (Project Manager, FTZ)
Mr. Ranier Fsadni (Director Operations, European Commission- League of Arab
States Liaison Office)
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Dr. Sandra Dingli (Director of the Edward de Bono Institute for the Design and
Development of Thinking at the University of Malta)
Mr. Chris Briffa (Architect at Chris Briffa Architects)
Professor The Rev. Peter Serracino Inglott (Chairman- FTZ)
During the event the discussions were mainly focused on:
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Creativity and Innovation as one of the main drivers for the development of
competitivenss and world economy
Presenting and sharing the main results/outcomes from the project
Discussing „‟NGOs, Creativity and Crises‟‟
Discussing „‟Foresight for Innovation‟‟
Various topics on „‟Igniting the Mediterranean Innovation Society‟‟
Action Forward
Workshop- Creative Space.
Throughout the workshop sessions FTZ divided the auidence into 4 groups along with 4
facilitators per groups. The idea of the Creative Space – Workshops was based on the
Six Thinking Hats system created by prof. Edward de Bono. During the workshops the
main question was how to ignite the Mediterranean Innovation Society. Participants
provided various ways/answers during the Workshops and also throughout the „‟Plenary
Session to discuss Workshops‟‟.
The de Bono Hats system (also known as "Six Hats" or "Six Thinking Hats") is a thinking
tool for group discussion and individual thinking. Combined with the idea of parallel
thinking which is associated with it, it provides a means for groups to think together
more effectively, and a means to plan thinking processes in a detailed and cohesive way.
The method is attributed to Dr. Edward de Bono and is the subject of his book, Six
Thinking Hats.
It is important to note that during the workshop (Creative Space) sessions, facilitators
used the both the „‟Green Hat‟‟ and the „‟Blue Hat‟‟ method. The „‟Green Hat‟‟ is
associated with thinking new thoughts and creativity. It is based around the idea of
provocation and thinking for the sake of identifying new possibilities. Things are said for
the sake of seeing what they might mean, rather than to form a judgement. This is often
carried out on black hat statements in order to identify how to get past the barriers or
failings identified there (green on black thinking). Because green hat thinking covers the
full spectrum of creativity, it can take many forms.
The „‟Blue Hat‟‟ is the hat under which all participants discuss the thinking process. The
facilitator will generally wear it throughout and each member of the team will put it on
from time to time to think about directing their work together. This hat should be used
at the start and end of each thinking session, to set objectives, to define the route to
take to get to them, to evaluate where the group has got to, and where the thinking
process is going. Having a facilitator maintain this role throughout helps ensure that the
group remains focused on task and improves their chances of achieving their objectives.
The blue hat is also an organization of thinking. What have we done so far? What can we
do next?
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Using a variety of approaches within thinking and problem solving allows the issue to be
addressed from a variety of angles, thus servicing the needs of all individuals concerned.
The thinking hats are useful for learners as they demonstrate the need for individuals to
address problems from a variety of different angles. They also aid learners as they allow
the individual to recognize any deficiencies in the way that they approach problem
solving, thus allowing them to rectify such issues.
Professor Edward de Bono believed that the key to a successful use of the Six Think Hats
methodology was the deliberate focusing of the discussion on a particular approach as
needed during the meeting or collaboration session. For instance, a meeting may be
called to review a particular problem and to develop a solution for the problem. The Six
Thinking Hats method could then be used in a sequence to first of all explore the
problem, then develop a set of solutions, and to finally choose a solution through critical
examination of the solution set.
So the meeting may start with everyone assuming the Blue hat to discuss how the
meeting will be conducted and to develop the goals and objectives. The discussion may
then move to Red hat thinking in order to collect opinions and reactions to the problem.
This phase may also be used to develop constraints for the actual solution such as who
will be affected by the problem and/or solutions. Next the discussion may move to the
(Yellow then) Green hat in order to generate ideas and possible solutions. Next the
discussion may move between White hat thinking as part of developing information and
Black hat thinking to develop criticisms of the solution set.
Because everyone is focused on a particular approach at any one time, the group tends
to be more collaborative than if one person is reacting emotionally (Red hat) while
another person is trying to be objective (White hat) and still another person is being
critical of the points which emerge from the discussion (Black hat).
The participants at the Seminar and at the Workshop sessions were mainly SMEs,
University students, Government individuals and various stakeholders. One of the main
idea was to combine various people with different backgrounds coming from different
sectors so as to find solutions and therefore to ignite the Mediterranean Innovation
Society.
The groups members were provided with 2 cards with different pictures which inspired
their answers/solutions.
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2. Conclusions
The Seminar organized on the 24.05.2011 received attention from various sectors in
Malta. There were around 50 participants and 4 Creative Space groups (Workshops).
Out-of-the-Box Thinking
To solve any problem in today‟s fast-changing global marketplace, organizations need
people who are not "boxed-in" by traditional modes of thinking and who can approach
situations with innovative solutions. Today‟s organizations are seeking to break out of
the so-called bureaucracy box, develop effective communications, enlighten their
leadership, and rebuild loyalty.
This creativity training seminar explored the qualities and practices necessary to really
make breakthroughs in an era of rapidly changing technology and expanding
information. Participants learnt practical, proven, effective techniques that will enable
them to creatively think "out of the box."
Some of the Lessons Learnt
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Benefits of Thinking "Out of the Box"
Tools for Opening "The Box"
Overcoming the Most Common Blocks to Creativity
How to Encourage a Creative Organizational Climate
How to Generate Ideas Alone or in Groups
Smart Questions to Help People Evaluate New Ideas
How to Brainstorm for Increased Productivity
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ANNEX I
List of participants
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ANNEX II
Program of the Regional Seminar held in Malta, House of
Representatives, The Palace, Malta, Tuesday, 24th May 2011
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ANNEX III
Dissemination Actions
Press Release
Igniting the Mediterranean Innovation Society
At present, Fondazzjoni Temi Zammit (FTZ) is organizing a Seminar on creativity
and innovation in the Mediterranean. The event is part of an European Project
called CreaMed- „‟Fostering Creativity and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area
as key elements for Regional Sustainable Development: CreaMed Alliance‟‟under the MED Territorial Cooperation Programme.
It is inteded that the Seminar will raise awareness of the importance of Creativity
and Innovation for Social Development and Economic Growth, as well as to
develop creativity and innovative potential in both private and public
organizations, encouraging them to make better use of their creative capacities.
Participants will be given the opportunity to be part of workshops and therefore
work with already identified creative thinking tools in order to generate further
ideas.
Why Creativity and Innovation?
Movement, new ideas, imagination, new forms and solutions, change in society
and in the economy, design activities, transform and create values. Is that all?
Perhaps, one has to imagine and therefore see creativity and innovation through
the prism of everyday life, so as design his or her own description of creativity
and innovation.
By definition, creativity and innovation involve the creation of something new
that “... is central to the entrepreneurial process” (Barringer & Ireland, 2006, p.
15).
Creativity has been identified as a gift of a small number of talented people. This
is not true anymore. The idea is that organizations and groups can be as creative
as a small number of talented people. Once this has been reached, creativity is
then seen as a driver of innovation and organizational success. It is importnat to
realize that Human resources have an important statute when it comes to
organizational values.
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Creativity and Innovation are crucial because: They are a process of discovery
that can take place voluntarily. Discoveries are made in the subconscious and to
reach the subconscious one has to free himself/herself from the belief that things
cannot be done differently. Moreover, in discovery, the affective elements
(enthusiasm, taste, empathy) are more important than the intellectual ones
(reason, logic and calculation).
We believe that the you will find the Seminar of interest to you and we eagerly
await your participation.
Interested parties wishing to learn more about the project are invited to contact
FTZ by calling on 2340 2189 or sending an email to Ms. Katina Mladenova on
katina.mladenova@ftz.org.mt
The Press Release was sent out to various local newspapers.
Fondazzjoni Temi Zammit produced for the Seminar:
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A Banner
A leaflet- specifically designed for the Seminar
Stickers with the CreaMED logo
Seminar folder packs
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ANNEX IV
Pictures from the Regional Event
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From left to right Dr. Sandra Dingli, Mr. Ranier Fsadni, Mr. Joseph Woods
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Centre Dr. Sandra Dingli
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Roll-up poster designed for the event
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One of the Main corridors at the Parliament
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Mr. Joseph Woods- chairing the Seminar. At the back Ms. Katina Mladenova and Dr. Sandra Dingli
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2 of the Workshop Sessions
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A slide during Dr. Sandra Dingli’s presentation
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